thom, there are also two types of the earlier aprons.  one is just like 
you described and the other has a slotted hole in the notch for a hand 
crank starter handle.  i think that goes up to around 1958 but not sure.
take care and God BLess
matt

On Wed, 20 Sep 1995, thom fitzpatrick wrote:

> And Michael Heron thus wrote:
>  
> > 1. "correct" engine lid for 1965 van (does anyone know what years of engine
> > lids are "correct" and interchangeable?? I could use two of these lids IN
> > GOOD CONDITION puh-leasse no rusted out dented up ones ( i already have
> > those ;)
> 
> The correct one for your year will have the lip over the license plate
> light and a church key hole.  And engine lid from '55 1/2 to '67 _will_
> fit, provided you have the correct _apron_ for the lid.  But you want
> the one that is correct for your bus...
> 
> There are 2 styles of aprons.  (splits only here)
> 
> The earlyones have a "notch" in the middle,t hat is actually offset slightly,
> and a metal tab brazed on for the latch.  I think these go up to '65
> The engine lids that go with these come in 3 flavors:
> 1 - the center brakelight ones with the (duh) center brakelight mounted on a 
> flat panel above the license plate - up to '56, although I've seen some
> '57s that claim that they were factory.  The clue to whether or not a
> center brakelight is "correct" (not you Michael, just in general) is 2 sets
> of wires coming out of the loom at the top/rear/center of the engine compartment
> instead of just one.  The one set is for the licenseplate light, the second is
> for the brake light.  There will also NOT be a brake light circuit in the
> two tail lights.  This means you should also have "bubble" tail lights.  The
> '57s that claimed to have center brakelights also had brake circuits on
> the sides, which to me proves they don't know what they are talking about...
> 
> 2 - same as above with no light, but with a flat panel where the light 
> shoulda been.
> 
> 3 - has a lip (and thus not a flat panel) above the license plate light.
> 
> all three of these have the church key latch
> 
> the later aprons have no notch, and have a screw-on tab to catch the latch
> The engine lids for them have the lip, and a larger, more sqare hole for
> the latch.
> 
> Thom
> --
> > First thing we'll do is kill all the lawyers!
> Thom Fitzpatrick 
> tfab@netcom.com
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