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Mon May 25, 2009 10:07 am

Wow Pickle :shock:

I just read through your whole build thread, and thats just amazing. You got that bus to SHINE!

I don't think I would have the patience to do something like that with my bus. I am using it next year as an auto body project at my high school, so I will be doing a complete restoration on my bus. I will be painting it completely over, but stripping off all the paint before. Not like everybody else in auto body (scuff up the paint and get crazy with the spray gun).

I hope she turns out lookin as good as your bus.

Max

Mon May 25, 2009 10:13 am

Oh and I forgot to ask, does anyone know how to get one of those locking gas caps open? I'm asking because the PO lost her key to the gas tank, but she locked it before parking to make sure nobody stole gas. So now I'm stuck with a locked gas cap, and the gas gauge doesn't work.

I don't want to hire a locksmith, and I don't really want to drill out the lock. Is there an easier way or will I have to use power tools?

Mon May 25, 2009 6:32 pm

I know one way (don't ask me why), but it's not fun and it can get ugly...AND it will reduce your trust in them.

1) Take a heavy-duty straight-edge screwdriver
2) place where key goes (needs to fit in at least a little)
3) give it a single sharp blow with a nylon mallet
4) watch cheap locking mechanism literally bust right through the bottom of the cap

You may end up with a few peices down in the tank, so I wouldn't suggest this to someone who just resto'd their tank, but you probably will need to remove and rework your tank anyway.

Like I said, it ain't pretty, but it's cheap and quick.

Mon May 25, 2009 7:24 pm

The screwdriver and mallet method get used often apparently... I found the locking gas cap in my tank.

Also, the slot for the gas cap is now a little bent out of shape and barely holds the replacement gas cap. Would it be possible to accomplish the same thing with something like the 'screw in dent puller'? (screw into key slot and slide tap the lock mechanism out). I don't need to worry about that now, my gas tank had to be replaced because of pin-hole leaks. The filter sock was also broken and I suspect the gas cap lock was responsible for both problems.

Mon May 25, 2009 9:01 pm

Nice find!!! Keep up the good work and welcome to the samba!

Mon May 25, 2009 11:33 pm

Thanks

Thu May 28, 2009 7:27 pm

Thanks guys! I just got 2 packages in the mail today, one was two matching tail lights from BUSBOSS, and one was the part I need for my door from mackmix. Thanks guys! I'll put it all together this weekend :)

Sat May 30, 2009 4:49 pm

She starts and runs, but she can't hold an idle. Can anyone help me out with getting her running right? I really want to get my bus registered and smogged.

I didn't actually do anything but borrow and put a new battery in there!
Also, we couldn't put the door on because we couldn't figure out how to take the panel off...could anyone in my area help me out?

Thanks, Max.

Sat May 30, 2009 5:01 pm

Oh and I've got tons of blue-ish white smoke from the exhaust. What does that mean? Am I burning oil?

It doesn't look like oil burning...because in like every other car I've ever driven (that's burned oil) the smoke was really blue. I'm not sure, because they were all water cooled.

Sat May 30, 2009 5:23 pm

maximan1 wrote: Also, we couldn't put the door on because we couldn't figure out how to take the panel off...could anyone in my area help me out?

Looking good man! Did you read the writeup on Ratwell's site about taking the door off yet? http://www.ratwell.com/technical/SlidingDoor.html

To get that cover off, all you have to do is unscrew it and then tap it up and off. I used a 2x4 as a buffer along the lip, but some people recommend inserting a thin piece of wood into the opening and hitting it so the force is directed to the inside top of the cover ... that's probably a good idea, it just occurred to me that maybe that's why mine is hitting the hinge now :shock:

Sat May 30, 2009 5:30 pm

I didn't use a piece of wood or any buffer...but I did try and tap it up and off with my hands, but no go. I will have to do that tomorrow.

Thanks!

Sat May 30, 2009 5:35 pm

Congratulations on getting it running! That is great.

Sat May 30, 2009 5:40 pm

Thanks Stuco...now I just need to get it to idle and stop making smoke :)

Sat May 30, 2009 6:16 pm

2 quick questions...would valve problems make the bus burn oil or make smoke, and could the no idle problem I have maybe be a plugged fuel filter? It runs if I keep my foot down, but as soon as I let off it just sputters and stalls.

And if it is the fuel filter, where is it?

Thanks!

Max

EDIT: Got the new piece of tin too.

Sat May 30, 2009 8:33 pm

What is it idling at when you don't have your foot on the gas? At least before it dies. Maybe try to raise the idle a little if too low.

Sat May 30, 2009 9:15 pm

As soon as it starts it just starts to die. There is no steady idle at all. Plus I don't have a tacho. It idled at a normal idle speed (about 800) for 10 seconds the first time I started her up, then she died.

I think what happened was a bunch of crud got sucked into the fuel filter, and I just need to drain clean and reseal the tank.

Also, would valve problems make the car smoke a lot?

Sun May 31, 2009 5:54 pm

I feel like a super n00b for asking this, but where are the mixture and idle screws on my engine?

Sun May 31, 2009 7:19 pm

What color smoke? Sounds like a float level issue but unless you put your bus and engine combo in your sig line I'm not going back 3 pages to discover it, possibly others are as lazy as me, food for thought :wink:

Sun May 31, 2009 8:10 pm

you dont know how to put the door on and yet there's a bentley manual sitting right in front of you?

Sun May 31, 2009 8:28 pm

The smoke is almost blueish. Really light blue. Mostly white.

I don't know what engine combo I have. Its the original 2.0 liter 1970cc engine as far as I know.