TheSamba.com :: View topic - My Hubby's First Love--his 66 VW Bus. What to do?

Mon May 05, 2008 11:46 am

By no means am I a VW aficionado so I won't pretend to know anything. Here's what I do know, my husband is a struggling teacher who desperately wants to restore his first love...his van. He bought it when he was 16 and drove the little loaf of bread around until about 5 years ago when it just sputtered out and died. Then we bought a fixer upper of a house...need I say more? Since then he started a savings envelope in his sock drawer labeled "my van." Sadly, we only have about $500 in there.

Well, we now have a newborn son and we've been camping more and more and his old van (it's a camper) comes up now in conversation weekly. He would love more than anything to get it restored.

I have been racking (sp) my brain trying to figure out how I could make it happen for him. I thought of that TLC show Overhaulin' which I realize is quite controversial since it led me here, to this site. I know now it's out of the question.

So, my question to you folks, who can we turn to in So Cal to do honest, quality, affordable work on the beloved old thing?

Sorry for the long post. I'd appreciate any feedback.
Cheers,
Korie

Mon May 05, 2008 11:52 am

What grade does your husband teach? If it's high school, then check to see if they have an auto shop. Many people have had mechanical and body work done this way with good results.
I know that's how I worked on my first VW when I was in high school. Late night open shop time supervised by my teacher.

Good Luck and post some pictures if you have them.

Chris

Mon May 05, 2008 12:00 pm

What was wrong with it when it stopped running if you know? It might not be that hard/expensive to fix.

Mon May 05, 2008 12:02 pm

I'd be willing to donate some parts for this effort. What you are doing is great, I think, your husband is lucky! And you are in the right place to get help restoring a bus, hopefully it is not a basket case and can be put on the road without too much expense. If you find someone to help with the work and are in need of parts, let me know.

Cris

Mon May 05, 2008 12:08 pm

If you only have $500 saved up, I'd start with a good service manual.

Depending on what year it is,
'63-'67: http://www.bentleypublishers.com/product.htm?code=v267

'50-'62: http://www.bentleypublishers.com/product.htm?code=v262

Learning how to repair and/or restore the bus yourself will provide long term satisfaction and confidence if something breaks while travelling. You still might need to have shop do some of the work, but having a good manual will still be very helpful and you'll understand what the shop is talking about better.

Mon May 05, 2008 12:10 pm

Being in So. Cal. you are in a good location for help.
If it was a running and driving bus before it died and it is just mechanical work, that is alot better than a rusty hulk to start from.
With $500 I would take it to a good shop and get it running and all the routine matainance done on it first.
I would not tear it apart for a full resto, that may lead to it being apart for many, many years (and $$$$) before you will get to enjoy it again.
Take it in and get the brakes bled, change oil and tranny fluid, grease the beam up, and give it a full tune up and see if that will get it running enought to drive and enjoy.

Mon May 05, 2008 12:19 pm

as everyone has stated here if it is simple just fix it otherwise start weighing priorities the ultra affordable splitty is long gone. i am sure somebody here has a good lead on a nice local shop.

Mon May 05, 2008 12:43 pm

You guys are awesome, thanks for the questions, info. and support. I wish I knew more. I hear things like "it needs a new engine" and "it has cancer."
We took it to some guys (when it was still running) a few years ago in Fillmore, CA because he was concerned about rust on the body. They basically told us it wasn't worth the cost and the only thing to do would be to have it "dipped."

Haha, I told you I know nothing. BUT... that is what really broke him down about it I think. Now he has it in his head that the whole van would need to be stripped apart, dipped and put back together. It's almost too much to think about or even start because realistically, he has a family now, so I think that prevents him from even attempting (insert meddling wife here).

I'd love to just figure out what we can do so he can get over the trauma of this dipping idea and get back to enjoying it and accepting it for what it is. In other words, if it does have some rust issues how much of that do we fix, and how do we fix it? If it hasn't been running in a few years and needs a new engine, how much does that cost?

I'm sure my hubby knows about this, but it's his 30th birthday this year so I'm just wondering what I can do/get figured out without involving him. Maybe a non-option because you are right, maybe it's a matter of getting a good manual, clearing out the garage and digging in when he has time....

I'll try to weasel more info. out of him on the sly.

Mon May 05, 2008 12:45 pm

There are many good shops in the Ventura area. I don't think $500 will get you much in terms of restoration. It may be enough to get a 5 year non-op bus road worthy. In the past couple years I've resurrected three local non-op VW and I just picked-up another. I'd be willing to come and give you my $0.02 and lend a hand if you are doing the work yourself. Also, Strictly Vintage 2s meets in Ventura. See sv2s.com for more info. Good luck!
Paul

p.s. I'm not a vulture looking to get another bus.

Mon May 05, 2008 12:50 pm

Why don't you post some good detailed pictures, inside, outside and underside so we can give you an unbiased opinion of it?

Mon May 05, 2008 12:54 pm

Ok, thanks for the offers of parts, 2 cents, etc. I just might take you up on it. I'll post some pics today. It's parked in my mother in law's driveway so I'll make the trip over there and then upload.

This is so helpful. THNKS!

Mon May 05, 2008 1:13 pm

I'm waiting to hear about the 8 little windows in the roof and those weird plastic windows in the back corners. HAHA

Mon May 05, 2008 2:23 pm

Sounds to me like you might be better off to keep saving until you have enough money to start restoring or getting the old bus road worthy. Depending on how rusty it is, 500 wont get you too far unless you or your husband do a fair amount of the work yourself. Right now might not be the best time to start a restoration especially with a new born in the household. It's taken me almost eight years to were I'am at now saving a bit here a bit there. If you don't have the money or know how then now is not the time. Don't mean to sound harsh just trying to keep it real here good luck.

Mon May 05, 2008 2:59 pm

RobzKombi wrote: Sounds to me like you might be better off to keep saving until you have enough money to start restoring or getting the old bus road worthy.

I think that is why everyone was just saying consider getting it going as it is. Have a fun old clunker until you can afford to fix it up type of thing.

When I bought my current bus it had been sitting for a few years, and it really just needed a good tune up. Chances are she wont be so lucky, but it most likely wont cost a fortune to get it going after sitting for just a few years. If the engine is toast, he can just replace it with a smoker for temporary use.

Mon May 05, 2008 3:14 pm

To me it sounds like he/she/they won't be content just getting the bus running. She want's to "surprise" him with a restoration. Which as all or most of you know five bills won't even scratch the surface.
I could be wrong though and hopefully they just want to get it mechanically sound to enjoy which is totally ok but even then five hundred is still pushing it and to just get a "smoker" might even cost them more in the long run.
She/he/they need to come up with a plan as to what they want exactly if not a restoration. Then maybe we can be of more help. Still though I wish them good luck getting it back on the road.

Mon May 05, 2008 3:48 pm

If it were me and my wife secretly getting my bus fixed, It probably would bring a tear to my eye just having it running and able to drive.

as it is right now my bus isn't worth fixing, but damn if I keep trying, at least I drive it every day.

Mon May 05, 2008 4:03 pm

codeMechanic wrote: If it were me and my wife secretly getting my bus fixed, It probably would bring a tear to my eye just having it running and able to drive.

as it is right now my bus isn't worth fixing, but damn if I keep trying, at least I drive it every day.

If that's your bus in your gallery pics, it looks pretty damn good to me.

Mon May 05, 2008 4:11 pm

zozo wrote: codeMechanic wrote: If it were me and my wife secretly getting my bus fixed, It probably would bring a tear to my eye just having it running and able to drive.

as it is right now my bus isn't worth fixing, but damn if I keep trying, at least I drive it every day.

If that's your bus in your gallery pics, it looks pretty damn good to me.

tis an illusion of funky green panels and a bit-o-bondo

actually its the underside and the floors that are the bad areas
BUT back on topic, If all it needs is a new long block and some TLC she could be in business very shortly

Mon May 05, 2008 4:27 pm

Hey Korie, i think that Andy Hall is definitely going to be your man for getting the bus going.

Check this out, his feedback is AMAZING 8)

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=253701

He`s really come through for me and many, many others :wink:

Mon May 05, 2008 4:35 pm

I'm supposing that since the bus is in So Cal, it is probably perfectly structurally sound, but has some rust holes in the rockers (the curved bits on the lower edge of each side) and has some rust holes in the front floor.

I'd consider doing a 'mechanical resto' in terms of

new brakes
get the motor going, or get a new one if it needs it.
make sure the lights and horn work (new battery?)
make sure the steering isn't too sloppy.
Make some new curtains...

use it for short local drives at first till it feels like you've worked the kinks out, get at least 500 miles on it before any long drives, get the 200 mile tow on AAA
and go camping.
There a balance of wanting everything really nice, and reality in terms of time and a budget. If you & him are willing to work on it, you can make some money go a lot farther. But that takes up time. Hmmmm. Sounds like you can get someone to have a look at it, and get some useful advice.

Some stuff you'ld really need to fix now to drive it, and some stuff you can upgrade later.
Getting a total resto is $$$$$$$$$ pricey.
You can always screw old liscence plates over holes in the front floor.

Buying a Bentley and a Muir Idiot book is also a good idea.
Reading various stuff in the forums might help.
Check out the shows listing and go to some VW shows.