My 59 Bug

[JRANGER]

your getting stuff done quickly.. Keep it up

[Boog]

Ill assume those were loose in the car chuck? They look like they could be reenforcements around where the pan bolts to the body. I dont remember sedans having these. Just a guess. Could be a convertible had something like that.
If i remember correctly the serial # on the chassis is stamped on top of the tunnel next to the shift rod access plate at the rear inside the car.
If you want to see what that pan went to.

[Tx Firefighter]

Four lug wjeels are 68 and newer, or perhaps some aftermarket parts fitment.

Beginning through 67 got kingpin front end. 68 and newer were ball joint. A quick way to differentiate between the two without getting too technical is to look at the front shock absorbers. Early, kingpin front ends, used shock with eyes at top and bottom. Later, ball joint, front ends used an eye on the bottom and a stud at the top.

On the rear, do you have IRS or swing axle transaxle ? One has straight tubes from the trans to the wheels, the other has definite axles with CV joints on each end.

[thelonerife]

I have IRS with the CVjoints. My frontend has been narrowed so they cut the top mounting point off and fabbed up a bracket for the top of the shock to mount to. They are the stud type on top. My front has disc brakes and are of corse after market. I am still waiting on my new spare rim to come in.

[Tx Firefighter]

You can also narrow down the vintage of the pan by the heater control. Early cars had a turny knob that stuck out of the tunnel while later cars had two lift levers, one on each side of the park brake handle.

With the IRS though, I'd wager the pan is 68+ vintage. It's kind of a trip to take to convert swing axle to IRS so you don't see if often.

Sorry for geeking out on the details here. I was a hardcore air cooled guy for a long time and have cussed and sweated over a bunch of them.

[thelonerife]

My car has the white turn knob, but on my e-brake handle I see the studs for the two lever types. I also was given one lever with the extra parts.

[thelonerife]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

You can also narrow down the vintage of the pan by the heater control. Early cars had a turny knob that stuck out of the tunnel while later cars had two lift levers, one on each side of the park brake handle.

With the IRS though, I'd wager the pan is 68+ vintage. It's kind of a trip to take to convert swing axle to IRS so you don't see if often.

Sorry for geeking out on the details here. I was a hardcore air cooled guy for a long time and have cussed and sweated over a bunch of them.

I am geeking out here trying to find out what I've got lol. I am a complete novice at these old bugs but i like it a lot. I'm thinking I have a 68-69 pan. Since the motor is a 5H one. But I know that it can easily be retrofitted with just about any year with a little work. I think I would like to get the vent windows back in it since whoever put them in left a screw in the rubber piece and scratched it real bad. I like vent windows if there is no A/C.

Thanks for all the advice and what to look for!

[thelonerife]

My 3 point seat belts came in. New Hummer ones. And my new EMPI spare wheel.

[thelonerife]

Found out my headliner is for a different year that has a 6 bow. Mine is a 4 bow. Oh well. Swap meet stock. lol

[JRE]

I miss my 56 rag top I had with a 2275 cc motor and dual 48 IDA Weber carbs super fast. Those pieces you where wondering about are all suppose to be flat and they go on the back of the rear seat. When the back seat is folded down they protect it from what ever is sitting on it.

[thelonerife]

Thanks JRE. Your bug sounds like it was a fast one

[thelonerife]

I got my 59 tag in today.

[knomadd]

Cool looking Bug!

[flashed]

I love those bugs with the full bumpers like yours ,a lot of them got trashed and replaced with those little push bar looking things .

[jkeating1]

Johannes Cash had a hit song in Germany about that car--"I Got it Einer Piece at a Time"

[thelonerife]

Lol

[thelonerife]

I put a new starter on and put some 6x9 speakers in the back deck. I still need to run the wires for those. I also bought some kick panels for 6'' speakers. I got some smart car tires and got those mounted. I bought new door handles w/keys so I can lock it up. I also degreased the motor. I have to tackle the oil leaks one day. The motor will have to come out for the rear main.

[flashed]

I love the BUG ,always wanted one .

[thelonerife]

Me too. I just got lucky and found this one locally on craigslist.

[flashed]

I know where several are that look good but the owners are going to fix them up one day ,yea right .

[BigMike]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Beginning through 67 got kingpin front end. 68 and newer were ball joint.

Actually 66 was the first year of the ball joint in bugs, you might have been thinking buses they were king in 67 & ball in 68. 1968 was actually the first year of the IRS but only in the autosticks, all the rest were swing axle until VW making them all IRS in 69. There are kits out now to convert the older swing axle pans to an IRS and it's actually pretty simple and straight forward. I've converted a 58 and a 61 pan to IRS back in the day before the kits were available. Oh the VW's I wish I still had...but I digress

Very nice bug you have. I was going to put in a couple of the over 100 air cooled VW's I've owned but I don't wanna hijack your thread...lol

[thelonerife]

Thanks Mike for the info. So I think my pan/motor are 69. I bought an engine seal kit for it. I ran the wiring for the speakers today and connected my iPhone through the bluetooth. It works great. I have the model 2. I'm going to gather some more vw tools and parts for when I pull the motor and seal it.

[CRees]

Clean bug to start with chuck, love pre 67 bugs. My dad and I just started building a 1953 vw oval window.

[BigMike]

I've always wanted an early 53. The early 53's had a split window but the oval window dash, then mid 53 they went to the oval window. Never cared for the split dash but love the look.

[thelonerife]

Originally Posted by CRees

Clean bug to start with chuck, love pre 67 bugs. My dad and I just started building a 1953 vw oval window.

Cool. Start a thread so we can follow along.