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Thu Mar 18, 2010 1:33 pm

very impressive.

Mon Apr 05, 2010 7:28 pm

I thought I should update this for those following. No new photos, though I can take some if someone is interested.

Following my most recent post last November I made a checklist of items still to be done. At the time I had 37 items. I've gotten through quite a few. For example, wheels painted (look great), radio now works (bad antenna), odometer works (gear was missing), kick pads came in for the front, etc.

Not yet done is a sanding and polishing. Quite frankly, I'm a bit afraid to do this myself. But I probably will eventually. There are some runs and some orange peel in the paint, and it's a little irritating everytime I wash the Bus. I have much respect now for skilled automotive painters.

Windshield washer does not work. Not a priority, but when ready I'll use a pump and switch instead of the original system.

Gas gauge reads at one-half of it's true level. Weird.

Water tank leaked, replaced with one off Samba.

Butt sag. Took me two weekends, but I figured it out and it now rides to factory spec.

I've a few rattles I still need to address. Also, I have new seals for the jalousie windows and need to pull those and replace. Screens fall out, they are taped for the moment.

It really needs new shocks, but it is so much fun to drive with bad shocks I haven't ordered them yet. Kind of bounces and floats along. Does not like wind, though.

Ice box amazes me. Fill up the top shelf with some frozen bottles of water or a few of those blue things and it keeps food/drinks cold for two or three days!

And it still leaks oil. I replaced (again) the push rod seals, and that cut it down by roughly half. Leak now is above the thermostat (which is disconnected. Yes, I know, I need to fix it. It works, I just need new cable). The leak is not the front or rear seal. But I'm still losing about a quart every 100 - 150 miles. For me to pull the engine and repair, the Bus would be out of service maybe three weeks. But darn-it, it is just too much fun to drive to lose use of it right now!

I need to do it anyway. Seriously, I want to be able to jump in it and drive 8 hours with no worries. Is that too much to ask?

The wife and I took our first camping trip last weekend. The two of us and the dog. We had a great time! Very relaxing. As you'd expect, constant visits from other campers asking about the bus. Stop at the gas station, people want to see inside. Little kids wave. Teenagers flash a peace sign (I really get a kick out of that one. Do a double peace sign in return. Feel a little bit like Nixon).

Also, I attended the Transporter Treffen in Daytona Beach in February. All I really wanted to do was figure out a couple of items that I couldn't quite place during reassembly. Great show, right on the beach. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Just for kicks I wandered over and listened to the awards ceremony. Shocked, shocked, shocked when they called my name. Best in class for campers . . . !!! Wow!

The bus does look good, but it is not intended to be a show queen. It is a weekender, and possibly something I will use some when traveling at work, just for fun. So the big old trophy (looks like the immunity idol from Survivor) is tucked away. Much appreciated of course, but not one of my goals.

My overall goal is to, at some point, have everything on the checklist crossed out. The problem is that this is a two steps forward, one step back process. For example, the horn. It was working great, then without any hint of an issue forthcoming it was working really great, which means all the time. Key on, horn on. It took a lot of work troubleshooting, but I figured it out. CV boots. All were new, but one split. Why? Heck, I don't know. Just because it could. Easy fix but cost me a week of down time waiting for parts. I taped it off with duct tape just so I could drive it. Hah! I won that one!!! (That is some nasty grease)

Status today . . . brake lights quit. I'm complaining, but to be perfectly honest, resolving these issues as they come up is a satisfying challenge, particularly with the help of the Samba community. What a great resource. All the help has been very much appreciated.

Tue Apr 06, 2010 4:51 am

I just put new rubber bushings in 3 73 a couple weeks ago. Took the rear sag out. Plan on about 2 hours per side.

Tue Apr 06, 2010 9:12 pm

Very Nice! Great Job!

Tue Apr 06, 2010 10:01 pm

Great Story!!!!

I spent about three years re-building a 78 and still love getting
out every day playing with my bus. There is always something to do
and then when you think you are finished, there is always something
to re-do. Been a great trip for me, I get peace signs all the time
Now the nice weather is here, it's amazing all the cars coming out of
the garage.

Kinsey :wink:

Fri Jul 15, 2011 7:10 pm

How is the bus going these days?

Tue Jul 26, 2011 6:20 pm

It's going really well, thanks for asking. The oil leak ended up being fixed by a top end rebuild. Leaking at the seam of the jugs. No leak at all right now.

I ended up hiring a guy I met at random to polish out the paint. He did a really good job. I'm glad I let him do it. I would have burned through it.

I still have a page long checklist, but it's all trivial. The Bus starts fine (a little cold natured), runs great (except an occasional burp) and is completely dependable. Any issues are all normal maintenance. I'd not hesitate at this point to take it on an extended trip. Except it's summertime in Florida and there's no A/C! My wife loves the bus, but she's not too crazy about the heat. Got a nice fan for it though. Pointed right at the driver!

I've a few more projects in mind like a second battery. I already have the relay kit, just need to wire it. It would be nice to have a couple of extra 12 volt sockets in the back for accessories. Maybe some stronger lighting.

My grandson (mentioned earlier) is now quickly approaching 16, and is lobbying for summertime beach usage and a post-graduation trip across country with three of his buddies. I'm cautiously responding to both of those requests. It was many moons ago that I was that age, but I still remember it. I'm not sure I would loan it to me if I were 16.

Wed Jul 27, 2011 9:06 am

Sweet bus Bampa,

Yours and mine are twins except for the bumpers, front spare and the interior was replaced with a cloth material.

I'm not doing any resto stuff since we are using it this summer but once winter comes I'll be doing some bodywork, paint etc. Not to the extent you've done since everything is solid other than a few places, battery tray, rockers.

Great work, it's nice to see how beautiful it turned out.

Jeff

Wed Jul 27, 2011 2:04 pm

Awesome work

My wife and I have a 73' white westy

Very very nice to see it all come together for you!

An inspiration :)

Wed Jul 27, 2011 4:44 pm

You've done a fantastic job restoring this bus & I'm glad you'r having fun using it, can you post some pics of it in use I love pictures. Great story by the way. :D

Wed Jul 27, 2011 6:06 pm

Sure. Here are two for you from our camping trip last fall. Not far from home. Just a getaway weekend for the two of us.

A nearby RV'r was really taken with the bus. He took these photos while we were off on a bike ride, then e-mailed them to us.

Normal use is ball games, grandkids sporting events, out to dinner, run errands, car washes for fundraisers (kid love to wash the bus), go get a paper, pretty much any excuse to drive it. It's not a daily driver, but still manages maybe 400 plus miles a month. Work for me is nearly 3000 per month, and my employer supplies that vehicle. If I could drive it some for work I would, and I do on occasion. But it's not really appropriate. Though my customers do get a kick out of it.

PS: We were in Wales two weeks ago vacationing. What a great place! Beautiful, tons of history. Loved it.

Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:46 am

BampaBus wrote: Sure. Here are two for you from our camping trip last fall. Not far from home. Just a getaway weekend for the two of us.

A nearby RV'r was really taken with the bus. He took these photos while we were off on a bike ride, then e-mailed them to us.

Normal use is ball games, grandkids sporting events, out to dinner, run errands, car washes for fundraisers (kid love to wash the bus), go get a paper, pretty much any excuse to drive it. It's not a daily driver, but still manages maybe 400 plus miles a month. Work for me is nearly 3000 per month, and my employer supplies that vehicle. If I could drive it some for work I would, and I do on occasion. But it's not really appropriate. Though my customers do get a kick out of it.

PS: We were in Wales two weeks ago vacationing. What a great place! Beautiful, tons of history. Loved it.

Glad to hear that you use it regular.
You were in Wales? That's unbelievable, I'm glad you enjoyed it here, its a nice place but it rains all the time. :D

Wed Nov 09, 2011 5:01 am

BampaBus wrote:

Nice pic, man! I'm planning on moving to Gainesville for school at the end of next year and was debating on whether or not to take my '73 (which is brilliant orange).... I think your picture made the decision for me :D
GO GATORS!!!

PS: Nice job on the restoration!