TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:19 am

Hey Tech- do your neighbors think your driveway is an eyesore or a thing of beauty like most of us(and myself) think? 8)

Sat Jul 04, 2009 1:52 pm

Never really asked them to be honest with you, but I get along with my neighbors and nobody has complained about it. My big driveway has been both a blessing and a curse. :-)

Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:28 pm

Stainless steel staples! What a good idea!

Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:58 am

wow! I dont think I have ever seen a yellow covering oin the top. Looks good.
Well be saving your spot at Dixie!

Tue Sep 01, 2009 6:44 am

Actually made a little progress yesterday, though not directly on the '79. I pulled the drivetrain out of the '76 parts Bus I bought earlier in the year to prepare it for transplant into the '79. The engine was last run in 2007. It looks fairly clean, and I found one of those inserts rebuilders use to check for overheating on the case, so evidently it was rebuilt at some point. I tried to start it in the Bus as it sat, but between the fuel leaks, hacked wiring, and missing/unconnected vacuum hoses it didn't have a chance. I'm gonna pull all of the FI off of it and the tin, clean the longblock all up, paint the tin, replace all of the FI seals and put it back together. New TSII, fresh tuneup and valve adjustment and I'll put it in the Camper after the shift rod bushings are replace and the fuel tank and straps installed. Still have to paint the engine compartment and trim and install the donor metal from where the A/C compressor originally was so I can seal everything up properly.
I was pleasantly surprised to find the fuel tank I pulled out of the '76 is absolutely perfect. No rust whatsoever inside, and the outlets on the bottom are strong and rust free. I can't tell you how many tanks I have seen in the northeast that the outlets on the tank turn to dust in yoru hand as soon as you touch them. I've had my fingers crossed since I brought this thing home that it would have a tank that was at least useable, but this is way beyond my expectations. I'll give it a quick coat of paint and a new sender before it gets put back into the Bus.
I stripped everything I could use out of the rearend, right down to the wiring. I'll be finishing up scavenging parts off of this Bus and it will get cut up and scrapped, hopefully this week.

Wed Oct 07, 2009 5:57 pm

i was wondering how this was going! Any new updates?

Wed Oct 07, 2009 6:13 pm

181freak wrote: i was wondering how this was going! Any new updates?

Not really, except I did cut that green Bus up yesterday into little pieces and scrapped the body. I had to re-roof my garage and it took up a lot of my time this summer. I'll be regasketing and going through the engine this winter and will install it in the spring. I actually have a place lined up to store it for the winter out of the snow in a nice dry garage, so the body will be getting put away in the next couple of weeks.

Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:17 pm

Wondered how long that blue tarp roofing was going to be in the pics?! Thought you may have to start a thread on how long poly tarps last for roofing material!

Thu Oct 08, 2009 9:00 pm

I just read through this whole post; long read but very cool. I'm jealous of your driveway space, although that whole code enforcement sounds pretty lame. The bus looks like it's coming along nicely!

Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:05 am

So what happened to the "fuzz" on the inside of the pop-top after you cleaned it up? Did it disintegrate? I've been thinking about doing the same to mine but afraid that I'd wind up with pieces of fuzz all over the place!

Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:43 am

daves_ale wrote: So what happened to the "fuzz" on the inside of the pop-top after you cleaned it up? Did it disintegrate? I've been thinking about doing the same to mine but afraid that I'd wind up with pieces of fuzz all over the place!

Nope, I didn't lose any of it even though I scrubbed it pretty good with a hard bristled brush. If any of yours is peeling there may be some you're gonna lose but scrubbing it had no ill effects on mine.

Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:37 pm

Any updates Brian?

Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:19 am

norcalvw wrote: Any updates Brian?

Not really. I put the Bus into storage about a month ago so it doesn't have to become a snowbank in the driveway over the winter. I'll be prepping the engine and tranny and they'll be installed this Spring and hopefully I'll be driving her shortly thereafter!! For now, it's in a nice dry building next to the Squareback.

Mon Jan 25, 2010 2:48 pm

Quote: daves_ale wrote:
So what happened to the "fuzz" on the inside of the pop-top after you cleaned it up? Did it disintegrate? I've been thinking about doing the same to mine but afraid that I'd wind up with pieces of fuzz all over the place!

I had bad mildew in mine (Florida) so I sprayed it with a watered down solution of colorsafe bleach while it was off for sanding/refinishing. It killed the mildew and so far no ill effects to the 'fuzz'!

Mon Jan 25, 2010 7:53 pm

ive got a 79 westy myself and just got her runnin again like two hours ago... but when ya post more about those door panels and work under the dash i'll be leavin you some comments/questions. but my baby has some firing issues i need to tend to first andi dont know where to start... ive had my bus for two years and got some experience with their inner beauty but need advice if you would be so kind. thanx

Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:34 am

VDubTech wrote:

hi firstly great job on the westy ...
ive noticed youve replace the front fiberglass cargo top . to acess the bolts to remove it under the wood panelling there were three steel tubes about 2" long and 1/2" bore rolling around up there any ideas where they are supposed to be located ? they look factory as 100 percent equal in length and headliner not been removed in the past ... cheers for any help on this . great job once again cheers steve

Tue Apr 13, 2010 3:22 pm

the buffing and waxing stuff....do you just use some wax, or do you like put on rubbing compound and use a wheel to put it on and off and then wax with the wheel on and off? also, how many coats of wax?

Stuart

Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:03 pm

I looked at your westi befor and like what you ended up with. Thanks for the info on the dash. I do want to take the metal out as well, clean it up and install it in my 78 out in AZ.
On a different note.
I'm installing a 2tlr 82 in my 78. If I use the existing motor support barand the motor mounts, the engine is about 1 1/2 inch to low to bolt to the transmission.
Can I use the 78 motor support bar and what kind of motor mounts do I need to look for.
Do you know of any pictures that would show the set up. Bing worth a thousand words makes things a lot easier.
Thanks
Peter

Mon Jan 17, 2011 8:43 am

Just replaced brake lines on a 69;used wolfsburg west kit ;they were EXACT lengths ;no problem...I find ww parts a little more expensive but haven,t had any problems,

Fri Apr 15, 2011 7:36 am

I just noticed your sig line and remembered this bus. Did you ever get it on the road?