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

Mon May 05, 2008 5:08 pm

Dont listen to some dumbass that tells you the van needs to be dipped. Sounds to me like they need to be dipped or maybe they are already dipped. . . dipshits! I doubt seriously the van needs to be dipped.

Just give him a hand. Trust me, you will love it too. You could yank the seats out, rip the apholstery off, buy new seat covers with the dough, along with the seat padding and hog ring pliers. . . find a good space to work in, study the instructions on the net and give it a go. He will be so damned excited to see the seats done, he will get fire in his pants to move to the next thing. You two will both get smiles seeing one detail after another completed. In no time at all (5 years or so, he he), you will be driving that thing. Maybe it wont be done but it will be serviceable. From there, you will be on your way.

You wont regret it. I swear you will not regret it.

Mon May 05, 2008 5:22 pm

66uno wrote:

You wont regret it. I swear you will not regret it. THAT is a bold statement!!! :lol: :wink:

Mon May 05, 2008 5:57 pm

I'm awaiting the pictures.
I've got my fingers crossed....

Mon May 05, 2008 8:52 pm

Ok, so I just posted the images in the Gallery. I'm a novice so I hope I chose the right category, etc. I posted them under
"Gallery Index -> 55-67 Bus - Campers."
There are 8 photos called "My hubby's VW Bus"

I'm so incredibly curious to know what you think. My head has been spinning all day. I think when I first posted here I had this fantasy about getting it totally restored, like take out a loan and get it done for him. It's just not a realistic option...in my heart I know that's not the smart thing to do for us right now.

Then, as I read more feedback I thought what would it take to just get his worries about the rust taken care of and get it running so we can go camping...

THEN, I shot back to a total restoration and thought what if we did this project together over time...like years and years as some of you have done.

So, I'm pretty much all over the place. I do have access to the $500 in the sock drawer and could definitely throw a little more money at it (I think family would pitch as a b-day present).

Looking for your guidance here as I'm just totally floored by all of you, each point of view, your advice...it's been nice.

Thanks!
Korie

Mon May 05, 2008 9:03 pm

honestly its not THAT bad.

I agree with the get the mechanical done and then work the details out over time.

Mon May 05, 2008 9:13 pm

Korie, I looked at your gallery pics and that's NOTHING! I have 3 buses, 2 of which have similar rust. Get the mechanicals fixed so you can drive it. Keep it garaged or well-covered to temper the spread of the cancer for now. Cover up the holes with aluminum tape, shingled like a rooftop. Look at pics of what the majority of Sambanites outside of California drive and you'll feel lucky with what you have. To most of them, that's a dry, clean bus.

Mon May 05, 2008 9:25 pm

I bet you could get that thing running and stopping safely for $500, IF you do the work yourselves. A '66 VW bus is not complicated technology - It might be very rewarding to get that thing going yourselves, and camping with the little one would be a great bonding experience.

Oh, and 2X on the idea of getting a service manual first.

Mon May 05, 2008 9:28 pm

That's easily driveable in the condition it's in. Fix the brakes first, then get it running and enjoy it. Fix the rust as the budget allows.

Mon May 05, 2008 9:37 pm

Most of the rusty areas you've shown are pretty typical for a Bus. I'd like to see the underside (rockers, frame rails, etc) but it doesn't look bad at all from those pictures.

I think you should take care of the mechanical issues and drive it as you restore it. It certainly looks solid enough for that. As for the "have it dipped" comment, that's nothing but a load of BS, as you've probably figured out by now.

Mon May 05, 2008 9:50 pm

I think for the $500 you could get that bus on the road. I know of one, maybe two, local mechanics in my area that could probably do it for that much, though I'm not sure what is exactly wrong. There must be someplace in your area that the people here could recommend. Definitely get hooked up with the SV2 club. Great group and more than willing to help I'm sure. Maybe somebody from the Samba who is local to you would be willing to come by and have a look at the bus, maybe tell you what might need to be done before you dive it?

Mon May 05, 2008 10:14 pm

Rick wrote: Definitely get hooked up with the SV2 club. Great group and more than willing to help I'm sure.

i agree with this. there are about 30 companies that give 10% discount to sv2s member including : wolfsburg west,BFY,bill & steves, jbug/ cal pacific,west coast metric , vw paradise......... i am vice president of SV2S (strictly vintage 2 s...) go to www.sv2s.com for membership info. that bus has lots of potential..

Tue May 06, 2008 12:52 am

I am one of the lucky ones to have a very supportive wife and 2 young sons who love the bus. We've had "the bus" for about 8 months now and it truly has been a bonding thing for the family, as we look forward to our next trip to the beach on a Sunday afternoon.

I'm certainly not an expert, but the bus looks pretty good. Maybe when your husband checked into the bodywork years ago, "it wasn't worth it". The value of these things have skyrocketed, and it *may* be worth it now.

Please follow the advice of the people on this website, they are some of the best, most helpful people I've never met. They won't steer you wrong. Most importantly, have fun. and keep us posted on the decisions/progress. I love following stories like this. Good Luck!

Tue May 06, 2008 1:16 am

It will probably be cheaper and better in the long run to just buy a passenger side dry door from a donor bus (the same might apply for the driver's side). SV2s can probably help you locating one, or check the classifieds in this site.

After getting it running, I would give priority to the windshield area to prevent any further damage there and water from coming in and damaging the parcel tray, front floor, etc. You can temporarily and inexpensively fix this by (with the windshields out) removing as much rust as possible and then applying POR 15 or similar. And new windshield seals will be a must, obviously.

Keep us posted.
Cris

Tue May 06, 2008 6:05 am

bill may wrote: Rick wrote: Definitely get hooked up with the SV2 club. Great group and more than willing to help I'm sure.

i agree with this. there are about 30 companies that give 10% discount to sv2s member including : wolfsburg west,BFY,bill & steves, jbug/ cal pacific,west coast metric , vw paradise......... i am vice president of SV2S (strictly vintage 2 s...) go to www.sv2s.com for membership info. that bus has lots of potential..

Well hell that bus is not bad at all and all that BS about the only thing you can do is have it dipped well that's BS.
Get it running first and stopping safely, that will give you guys the fire needed to move forward with the rust repair and definitely hook up with SV2's and take advantage of the 10% discounts the club offers, I did and still do.
Also hit some VW show/swaps, you will find most if not all your parts needed but by the pics you posted it looks like you don't need too many parts.
Looks like you guys have a cool bus now get it on the road where it belongs! :wink:
Matter of fact it looks like you need a front emblem, I have a spare original one. PM your address and I will send it out to help get the project up and running!

Tue May 06, 2008 9:04 am

I agree with Cris on the doors. If the skins are rusty then the bottoms are probably gone.
It needs a lower nose panel, not that hard to fix. Get some rust converter on the other rust to stop it spreading until you can afford to have that work done. If water is leaking in anywhere, stop that from happening by replacing seals.

Tue May 06, 2008 9:16 am

Ok, I dig what you are trying to do for your husband and I hope you can accomplish it. If all else fails DO THIS...... go get a chrome VW front emblem and the clips. Wrap it in a pretty box. I bet you he wets himself, or gives you a great night in bed at the min. :wink:

I wish you the best of luck!

Tue May 06, 2008 9:37 am

Getting that bus roadworthy does not look like a big deal, especially if the motor runs.

I found this bus a couple years ago and am driving it regularly now.

I started with mechanical repairs and basic body repairs (battery tray). The holes in the roof were made from rodent nests and repaired with aluminum tape and brown duct tape (for looks). So far my temporary repairs to the roof kept the inside very dry.

You made need professional help with the bottom of the front window repairs, but lots of other things can be done yourself. Lots of pix in my gallery for inspiration, as with other Samba member's galleries.

Tue May 06, 2008 9:46 am

I was waiting to comment until I saw pictures. I agree with the others that the rust issues do not appear that bad. Get it mechanically safe and drive it.

Any insight on why it just sputtered and died five years ago? How was it acting right before that? When was the last time anyone tried to start it after it just "died?"

Arthur

Tue May 06, 2008 10:37 am

Once you get it road worthy, take it to some shows or just go yourselves. You will soon realize how good your bus is compared to a lot of others out there! 8)

Tue May 06, 2008 12:53 pm

WOW that bus is not bad at ALL.

you have a GREAT project to start with there.

like everyone else has said, I would suggest focusing on getting it running and driving and enjoy it the way it is. Looks like with a good bath and a few hours buffing it out, it could look mighty presentable.

buses that have been restored and painted, are often a bit too nice to really want to hop in and go beat around on camping trips.

that engine bay looks pretty good, my guess (similar to everyone elses) is that the engine just need a little bit of love and it will fire right up. There are PLENTY of VW enthusiasts around that im sure would be more than willing to lend you a hand in getting it running.