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Fri Apr 20, 2007 7:05 pm

Well, I've been wanting to start a thread where i can post the progress of my bus, so here it goes...
I found the bus in the classifieds here on the samba last fall, looked to be in excellent condition

I was originally searching for a bug, but after seeing this, i had to go check it out. So my father and I bought it, he agreed to pay half as long as i bought all the parts. The documentation shows it was originally from Michigan, brought to California, then to Connecticut, finally to Maine where we picked it up. It didn't run, but that was the least of my worries, and the body is quite clean.

We spent a few days scrubbing and buffing the scum encrusted on it, and the paint came back to life

Fri Apr 20, 2007 7:20 pm

There was the usual sum of rust beneath the front windshield, so we got a repair panel form bus depot to fix it
(before)

(after)

The interior was pretty much useless, a homemade back seat that wasn't even secured to the floor, and a saggin home made headliner, so we just ripped it out

My father got it running, but he doesn't trust the engine case's line bore, so rather than putting any more money into the engine, I'm saving up for a brand new turnkey. Not going very fast, cause i only make 3 hours a night washing dishes at a nursing home :( .

I ordered some rock & roll bed hinges and building a bed.

My interior is gonna be all red vinyl with a black & white checkered floor 8)

This is the current state of the bus:

I'll be updating my progress as it is gained, thanks for looking, and i appreciate any comments you may have :D

Fri Apr 20, 2007 8:06 pm

What started out as a wreak, turned into a beautiful swan. Man, I'm impressed with your progress, even more so based upon your income from your job. Your old man must be one in a thousand to help out.

A full restoration may not be your game plan, but as a daily driver, it's going to be fantastic. Great job, keep sending in pics as your work progresses.

Fri Apr 20, 2007 8:08 pm

hows the heat in that bus ? I know if I took my bus to N.H. form Florida I would want heat. Born in N.H. but live in sunny FL. good luck

Fri Apr 20, 2007 8:16 pm

UncleDannie wrote: Your old man must be one in a thousand to help out.
Yeah, he's way into air cooled VWs, he got me hooked. He's been working on them since he was 14.

LILBUS wrote: hows the heat in that bus ? I know if I took my bus to N.H. form Florida I would want heat. Born in N.H. but live in sunny FL. good luck
Well, i haven't driven it yet, as it has been garage bound. but i wouldn't expect much in the heat department, and i don't think I'll be driving it during the winter anywho :oops:

Sat Apr 21, 2007 3:46 am

Great project.

This will be a sweet ride.

Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:54 am

Went to home depot yesterday, picked up a panel of this fiberboard stuff for $10 and made some door panels. Don't have them covered yet, cause i'm still waiting on the vinyl from the upholstery shop. They came out pretty sweet, if i do say so myself.

Gonna be covered in red vinyl to match the seats that are currently being upholstered

Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:59 am

Looking good.

See if you can come to Kittery Point on May 5th. Come over and say hi. http://www.mainevwclub.org/

Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:09 pm

Looks like a good time :D , not too far either
I'll see if i can make it, my dad would probably be into it, he's been wanting to see some vw shows.

Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:24 pm

Look for my license plate and come over and say hi.

Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:22 pm

Well, it's been a long time since I've posted any progress, simply because i haven't made much :(
But tonight i just got done making a divider curtain for the bus (i swear i didn't steal this idea from theguitarguy)
I found room divider's at building 19 (your 1 stop shop for useless crap) for $3 each, so i bought three, and made my own.

^me working on it

And here's a current picture of the bus

Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:30 pm

hey,
nice job on the window rust repair. how did you match the paint up.
did you repaint the whole front. it looks great

Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:35 pm

pumpkinthing wrote: hey,
nice job on the window rust repair. how did you match the paint up.
did you repaint the whole front. it looks great
To be honest, the paint is rustoleum :oops: , but it's a perfect match though :D
Just had to repaint under the windshield, and the fresh air grille

Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:38 pm

Hey, I live in Nashua..
I wouldn't mind stopping by to check it out.... Hint.

Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:02 pm

how what the replacement of the metal under the windshield? Alot of wielding?

Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:54 pm

oreoucky wrote: how what the replacement of the metal under the windshield? Alot of wielding?
My father actually brazed the repair piece in over the cleaned up original section(what was left of it) and smoothed it out with body filler.
We didn't have a mig welder at the time, which is what i would have liked to use. I bought one for my dad for this fathers day though.

Sat Jun 16, 2007 6:48 am

wow looks great for just using body filler...i am sure the welder would of been better but this definetly did the job...looks good

Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:16 am

Bus is looking good. Going to be a fine driver if not already.
Are you going to stay with a stock motor or get one with a little extra punch?

Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:56 am

4Doora wrote: Well, it's been a long time since I've posted any progress, simply because i haven't made much :(
But tonight i just got done making a divider curtain for the bus (i swear i didn't steal this idea from theguitarguy)
I found room divider's at building 19 (your 1 stop shop for useless crap) for $3 each, so i bought three, and made my own.

^me working on it

Just curious, how old are you? You look young. I ask because it's cool to see some younger kids still into these buses. It's also nice to see younger kids who can actually type and use proper English, spelling and pronunciation.

Cool bamboo curtain! Does it make a lot of noise when you're driving?

Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:26 am

BeetleWarrior wrote: Bus is looking good. Going to be a fine driver if not already.
Are you going to stay with a stock motor or get one with a little extra punch?
I've been saving up for a new turnkey, and have my eye on this right now:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=441562
nothing too big, want too keep it practical.
renobdarb wrote: Just curious, how old are you? You look young. I ask because it's cool to see some younger kids still into these buses. It's also nice to see younger kids who can actually type and use proper English, spelling and pronunciation.

Cool bamboo curtain! Does it make a lot of noise when you're driving?
Yeah, I'm 17. I have yet to drive the bus, with it not being registered and all, so if the curtain gets annoying, i can always tie it off.