TheSamba.com :: View topic - Rescued a '76 Westy this weekend! *slowly reviving*

Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:54 am

Riguy718 wrote: Thats a awesome set up for only 500 bucks. jeezzzz..you pretty much stole the thing :)
Next on the list is to get the motor going, does it even turn over..
I would want to get a nice engine like a camper special to put in it and then your set.

Motor turns over just fine, i'm going to order all new hoses, fuel lines, etc for the engine bay along with a new engine to body seal because it's missing. Then it'll either need a new distributor or i'll have to rebuild it. Then hopefully i'll be able to fire it up, pending a compression check.

I won't be able to work on it for a few weeks though, i'm taking a trip to Mexico for spring break, but i'll have the whole second week of break to work on it. Sweet!

Mitch

Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:24 am

NICE SCORE!! i thought i had a heck of a deal getting a 79 for 300 without engine or trans... but wow!!!

very cool!

i love craigslist!

Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:50 am

Yeah I can't get over that deal. Just judging the condition by what little you can tell from online with the photos and whatnot, you basically stole it :D.

You must be a UMO student? I think they get the two week lump break in March. I go to USM and ours is split up into two breaks, one last week and another in March. Perfect times to be working away on the Bay. Who needs Mexico when you've got a cold cement floor in Maine to tinker away at a VW. 8)

Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:28 pm

brotha bran wrote: Yeah I can't get over that deal. Just judging the condition by what little you can tell from online with the photos and whatnot, you basically stole it :D.

You must be a UMO student? I think they get the two week lump break in March. I go to USM and ours is split up into two breaks, one last week and another in March. Perfect times to be working away on the Bay. Who needs Mexico when you've got a cold cement floor in Maine to tinker away at a VW. 8)

Yup, I go to UMO. We have two weeks for spring break, starting this Saturday (2/28). So hopefully i'll have the second week to actually work and get paid, along with working on the Bay.

Today, I ordered:

-Germansupply.com fuel line kit to take care of ALL of the fuel lines

-fuel filter

-Tune-up stuff (points, condensor, cap, rotor, plugs)

-Belt, clutch & accelerator cables,

-Few oil change kits, along with 2 new oil filters and a new air filter & valve cover gaskets

Hoping this stuff will at least help me to get her running to see where the engine stands. It really needs a new engine - to - body seal, so I won't be running her for long periods until that gets installed. Just didn't have the extra $50 to spend right now.

I'm hoping to make it to Sears this week to get a fuel pressure gauge.

Thanks for all of the comments everyone!
Mitch

Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:51 pm

73superb wrote:
That must of been quite the sight to see a septic truck hauling an old bus down the road!!

73superb wrote:
-Stool is out of another year Westy, correct?
Yup. That AWESOME blue plaid is from a '74-'75 Westy.
(I'm not being sarcastic either... I love that color plaid!!)

73superb wrote: P.S. I have named her Lucy.
I like it! She looks like a Lucy.

Make sure you get her running for all the summer shows coming up!! 8)

Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:28 pm

thewalrus wrote: 73superb wrote:
That must of been quite the sight to see a septic truck hauling an old bus down the road!!

Make sure you get her running for all the summer shows coming up!! 8)

EVERYONE was looking in the window of the truck to see what I looked like. Too funny!

I'm really exited for the summer, i'm hoping to actually make it to some of the shows this time around. I really want to go to transporterfest.

Mitch

Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:19 pm

Probably the best score I've heard of and I got my bus for FREE!

And you used a Septic truck to tow it away. I can imagine the look on the PO's face when you pulled up with that rig!

Well done and keep posting pics.

Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:19 pm

73superb wrote: I really want to go to transporterfest.
It's not to be missed!!

What about Terryville and Litchfield too? That's a haul from Maine but if you camp there you should be fine.

Tue Feb 24, 2009 1:52 pm

thewalrus wrote: 73superb wrote: I really want to go to transporterfest.
It's not to be missed!!

What about Terryville and Litchfield too? That's a haul from Maine but if you camp there you should be fine.

This summer is definitely going to be busy, but we will see where the Bus stands come summertime. I'm hoping that I can get it on the road for as much as I paid for it, but you know how that goes...

Mitch

Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:04 pm

73superb wrote: MOX wrote: yeah what someone said above is true about the childs cot, the later bays are wider so maybe they picked one up hoping it would work and left it in there or never tried it ???

OK, cool. Is the fabric the same? i.e. can I just try and find new poles and use the fabric that I have?

Thanks!
Mitch

Just wondering if anyone knows ?

Mitch

Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:13 pm

73superb wrote: 73superb wrote: MOX wrote: yeah what someone said above is true about the childs cot, the later bays are wider so maybe they picked one up hoping it would work and left it in there or never tried it ???

OK, cool. Is the fabric the same? i.e. can I just try and find new poles and use the fabric that I have?

Thanks!
Mitch

Just wondering if anyone knows ?

Mitch

Later bays aren't any wider, but the cot was moved up the A and B pillars when they got headrests in 74/75, the canvas may be a tiny bit shorter and narrower because of the taper towards the roof but I've never compared them myself. Late bays (Berlins) use the collapsible poles because they won't fit under the bed whole, earlier bays had a spot above the RR closet for the cot when not in use.
I'll bet it'll work, just may be a little saggy and bunch up at the ends. :shock:

Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:27 pm

I'm going to try and find just the poles, but there does not seem to be any up right now. I'll probably just end up selling the one I have and buying the correct one.

Mitch

Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:58 pm

congratz on a great deal- have fun!

Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:26 am

Well, just a little update.

A few weeks ago I pulled the distributor, dissassembled it completely and cleaned it up. The contact plates all had surface rust on them due to being exposed for a few years. It is all cleaned up and back together & in the Bus with new Bosch points, condensor, cap & rotor. Nice!

I am slowly collecting parts. Germansupply fuel hose kit is in, along with valve cover gaskets, fuel filter, oil filter & air filter. I am hoping to have a full weekend coming up to get all of the fuel lines changed, oil changed, valves adjusted, timing set, and finally rear harness installed so I can try and fire her up.

I found some goodies under the front seat, too. California plate from '03 and a brand new socket set. SCORE!

Solar panel has been keeping the battery charged up to full. Damn is that sweet.

Mitch

Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:43 am

nice job, good score, on the childs cot try wetting the fabric and see if it will stretch that 3/4 of an inch then let it dry in place, maybe that might work. :idea:

Fri Apr 03, 2009 7:14 am

Well, I have not had any time to work on the Bus, since I have been working on my girlfriends motorcycle build for the last month and a half or so. If you're interested, info is here: http://forums.ninja250.org/viewtopic.php?p=739173#739173

Have a small order on the way, engine - to - body seal, rear main seal, flywheel o-ring, and fuses.

I'm still up in the air as to whether I should pull the engine or not...I need to:

-replace fuel lines
-probably replace misc. vacuum lines, or at least thoroughly inspect them
-replace engine-to-body seal (can this even be done with the engine in?)
-Will probably replace filler neck

Engine does not appear to leak from rear main, only source of leakage looks like it's coming from the oil pump, where the two oil lines come out.

Thanks for looking,
Mitch

Fri Apr 03, 2009 9:57 am

dubluvv wrote: I'm still up in the air as to whether I should pull the engine or not...I need to:

-replace fuel lines AND VENT LINES
-probably replace misc. vacuum lines, or at least thoroughly inspect them
-replace engine-to-body seal (can this even be done with the engine in?)
-Will probably replace filler neck
Fixed it for you. :wink:
I'd say pull it. You might find a broken or loose something that needs attention and better to do it now then come summer and rush to get it back on the road.
dubluvv wrote: -replace engine-to-body seal (can this even be done with the engine in?) Yup.

Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:40 am

Well, a little update...kind of.

More stuff is on order, and I will be pulling the engine. Hopefully this weekend.

Here is what is on the way this week:

-New front and rear wheel bearings & seals
-New battery tray
-New tailpipe & gasket
-Clamp kit for catalytic converter to muffler
-Bunch of 3 bolt exhaust flange gaskets to seal up all of the joints
-heater box to head gaskets
-New gas cap
-Plug wire set (Bosch)
-Pilot bearing
-Flywheel seal & O-ring
-Engine - to - body foam seal
-Clutch release bearing
-Clutch pedal clevis pin

More stuff on order from German Supply, awaiting shipment in a few weeks when it is all available:

-New clutch bolts since i'll have to pull the clutch to replace the rear main seal
-New metal flywheel washer
-New felt washer for pilot bearing
-2 Meters 12mm breather hose (used to replace hoses to charcoal canister)
-Fuel vapor recovery hose kit
-Vacuum tee for decel valve
-Vacuum hose kit
-New fuel filler neck & hose
-New fuel vapor recovery tee
-4 New intake manifold sleeves

(Thanks again Scott for all of your help!)

SO this should get me well on my way to having a running Bus, pending that the compression test comes out OK. Also have not been able to test the fuel pump, and i'll need to hook up the complete wiring harness to the engine, which will probably be a pain. But, it will make pulling the engine easier since the harness is already out!

I am glad that I'm replacing pretty much all of the fuel / vapor lines, because you never REALLY know, right?

I'll post back when I have made some progress.

Mitch

Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:25 am

Well, engine is out. Actually felt easier than pulling an upright out of a Bug, which was kind of weird. Pretty much came out without a hitch, except for fumbling for that bolt on top, which i figured out you don't even have to take out unless you want to remove the starter. Also found it a lot easier to just unbolt the filler pipe at the bottom and let it hang.

Anyways, here are some crappy cell phone pics. Forgot my digital.

Now, a few questions.

What is this sensor, and is it correct? It's just weird cause it's just kind of sitting there. Bear in mind this is after the intake was removed.

One of my air "outlets" is missing a flap. The little ear for the flap axel to sit in is busted off. Do I have options besides buying a used piece? Or can I leave it, or possibly remove the other flap on the other side to compensate? Pics below.

Pic of broken one: (If it matters, the missing flap is on the left side of the engine when looking at the crank pulley)

Pic of not broken one:

Lastly, I found this little bugger while taking off the tin. It was just sitting on top of the engine. One side is flat, and has a small hole in it. The side opposite of the side with the hole in it is dished out. It has a recess with a small c-clip in it inbetween the dished side and the flat side. Any ideas?

It is a bit smaller than a dime in diameter.

More parts are on the way, am hoping that in the meantime I can sandblast & paint the exhaust, as well as the engine tins. The covering on the heater boxes has some rust so I will try and repair it once I find out how much is there by sandblasting.

Mitch

Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:34 am

thewalrus wrote: 73superb wrote: I really want to go to transporterfest.
It's not to be missed!!

What about Terryville and Litchfield too? That's a haul from Maine but if you camp there you should be fine.

holy moly! thats my baby. third from the left.... damn. thats cool. i didn't get any photos from the event. One too many beers in those red lawnchairs....