'55 Oval Restoration

Mitchvwnut · 2021-05-08T11:57:16+00:00

Hi Guys! I've been pretty inactive on here for several years, but thought I should change that and begin to contribute more. I'll start with a thread on my oval window project i've had for a while now. I'll begin from the start, with how I got this car.... A little over 6 years ago, during my first year as an apprentice mechanic, i began looking for my third beetle. To begin with, I wasn't looking at any specific model, just a project i could work on. I looked around and checked out a couple of cars, but didn't make a deal. As time went on, I began to think more, I should just keep saving and get the model I had always wanted. A ribbed door, heart taillight '54 oval. I put a wanted ad out for what i was looking for, and waited. Over the next couple of months, I had a few people contact me with various oval windows they had available. One of those vehicles stood out above the rest, a February '55 beetle in South Australia. It looked to be a solid, somewhat original car and also fitted my budget. The owner mentioned that he'd only sell the car if I flew from Sydney to SA to meet him, and look at the car in person. So I did just that. I flew to Adelaide on the Friday afternoon, spent the weekend there to check over the car and made a deal. After returning home, I organised to have the car transported from South Aus to Sydney. In June 2015, a month before my 17th Birthday, the car arrived to Sydney. I've attached a teaser photo of the day i took delivery of it. As I get time, i'll keep adding the things that have followed to this thread. To be continued...

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 23 Aug 2021, 1:00 pm

#1044596

Mitch

You have to something every weekend other wise it will go on for ever

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 · 24 Aug 2021, 2:03 pm

#1044603

vw54 wrote:whats the date stamp on the back
u will have to get some LED globes in 6 Volt

Where do you get speedo LEDs from? (12v)

I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 24 Aug 2021, 5:40 pm

#1044605

Just fitted both my cars with LEDs red greens blues n whites in Speedo n VDO instruments

and stop parkers n Blinkers also Interior lights depending on which you need both 6 and 12 volt available

https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/search?q=ba7

great service had them within 2 weeks

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 · 24 Aug 2021, 7:10 pm

#1044606

vw54 wrote:https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/search?q=ba7

great service had them within 2 weeks

That's good they even do + earth for your oil light.

I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 25 Aug 2021, 8:36 am

#1044610

Only if you had a Pommy Car for + earth

they use + Earth on Lucas Fridges thats why they warm beer instead of cooling it

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

hulbyw Insano Dub Head

819 posts · joined Sep 2009 · 25 Aug 2021, 8:48 am

#1044611

Ahh, Lucas Prince of Darkness

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 · 25 Aug 2021, 9:28 am

#1044613

vw54 wrote:Only if you had a Pommy Car for + earth

they use + Earth on Lucas Fridges thats why they warm beer instead of cooling it

Have a look at your oil light. The negative is the push on connector on the back. The body (earth) is +.

I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 25 Aug 2021, 12:30 pm

#1044614

yes

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 · 25 Aug 2021, 2:37 pm

#1044615

vw54 wrote:yes

Ordered some today. Thanks Dave. It looks like they have 6v oval headlight LEDs as well. That could be handy for someone.

I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 25 Aug 2021, 6:13 pm

#1044616

I ring them and Duncan is really helpful
i have 6V Quartz Halogen headlight bulbs in both cars so would be interested to see difference in brightness

the blinkers n stops are better for sure

did u but buy blue green n red as well as white for the speedo or all whites

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 · 25 Aug 2021, 6:30 pm

#1044617

vw54 wrote:I ring them and Duncan is really helpful
i have 6V Quartz Halogen headlight bulbs in both cars so would be interested to see difference in brightness

the blinkers n stops are better for sure

did u but buy blue green n red as well as white for the speedo or all whites

I got some of each for the rainbow effect. I mainly wanted a couple of greens for the blinkers but the postage is expensive so I got the others.

I've got the Chip Birks LED tail lights.

I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

hulbyw Insano Dub Head

819 posts · joined Sep 2009 · 29 Aug 2021, 9:36 pm

#1044633

Have a look at your oil light. The negative is the push on connector on the back. The body (earth) is +. [/quote]

Now you have me confused. On my '68 Beetle, the earths for all the warning lights are connected on a bus bar. Am I missing something here?

(Sorry Mitch. No wish to hijack your thread)

Cheers

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 · 30 Aug 2021, 6:57 am

#1044636

hulbyw wrote:Have a look at your oil light. The negative is the push on connector on the back. The body (earth) is +.

Now you have me confused. On my '68 Beetle, the earths for all the warning lights are connected on a bus bar. Am I missing something here?

(Sorry Mitch. No wish to hijack your thread)

Cheers [/quote]

That's a + busbar excepted for the turn indicator light. The busbar is connected to the ignition switch.

I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

hulbyw Insano Dub Head

819 posts · joined Sep 2009 · 30 Aug 2021, 2:27 pm

#1044644

Yes you are correct, had a look and no brown wires to be seen in the vicinity of the warning lights. Something new every day!

Mitchvwnut Seriously Crusin Dubber

103 posts · joined Dec 2013 · 30 Oct 2021, 10:56 pm

#1044814

Sorry guys, haven't managed much time on the 54. It's been a busy a couple of months. Still been organising parts for it though.

Had a bunch of work to get done on my T3 transporter, then it started having gearbox issues in it, ended up rebuilding the box. Then the van was sent to Armidale for new upholstery and carpet, the week before our Wedding in early October. Been away on the coast on honeymoon until Tuesday just gone.

The day before driving home i came across an ad online for a registered 62 beetle located in Armidale. It wasn't very clear what condition it was in, or how much it they even wanted, so i thought why not check it out, its on the way home. I looked at it on Tuesday, did a deal and picked it up Thursday. Getting it home was a bit of an ordeal, but save that story for another time.
It's a one owner car, daily driven up until a year or two ago. Mostly rust free, and was pretty well known around Armidale.
Not sure what the plan is long term, but for now it will just get some mechanical work and get driven round town.

I must add, i'm a pretty lucky man, my wife was all for buying another beetle on our honeymoon!

1 attachment · Log in to view

- Feb '55 beetle
- '89 transporter - EJ25 engine & gearbox

Mitchvwnut Seriously Crusin Dubber

103 posts · joined Dec 2013 · 30 Oct 2021, 10:59 pm

#1044815

Not sure why the photo isn't uploading??

- Feb '55 beetle
- '89 transporter - EJ25 engine & gearbox

beetleboyjeff Custom Title Time!

1,790 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 31 Oct 2021, 7:54 am

#1044816

The beetle looks great. Nice find

From your ole' mate Jeff

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 10 Dec 2021, 7:32 am

#1044909

Dosent look like much work is being done on your 54 ???

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409