TheSamba.com :: View topic - 54 kombi "Dahlströms grävmaskiner" build thread...

Sun Jan 22, 2012 1:05 am

Ok I think it is time to start this tread again...
Its been a long time but alot have happened too! At the end of summer 2010 me and my familly moved to a new place.

It is not that easy to move when you have a bunch of cars that dont roll by them self :D

The rest of my 3 cars I could drive down to the new garage.

I had to work alot with teh garage to get it up and running. It was an old chicken house without any heat what so ever.

First step was to install a heat source

I divided a part of the garage to be heated and this is where all the work is going to be done on my cars.

I installed a door between the cold and heated part of the garage.

And then adding some new paint and electricity.

Finally somewhat done!

I could now finally start on my 54 again. The first step was to get the cargo door opening ready

After talking to a friend I decided to try to get the cargo doors line up nice in the cargo door opening. They were far from good before I started.

I actually did som math to calculate how to get the doors to line up nice

Then I started. The C-pillar needed to be moved 1.6 mm at the hinge towards the rear of the bus. It was not that easy to find a got spot to pull with.

Then the B-pillar needed to be moved 4 mm at the hinge.

And he result. So much better than before! However the back door need to be straightened out a bit since I think it has blown up during travel.

Sun Jan 22, 2012 2:26 am

looks nize! ;)

Sun Jan 22, 2012 8:02 am

Very nice garage, i can see why you moved.

Tue Jan 24, 2012 9:18 am

Got some more done last night... I could now finally take away all supports that was welden in the cargo area.

It was a very good feeling to get rid of all the supports that I used to hit my head in :D and alot more space now to do some more work inside the bus

But as I am about to replace the bulkhead I added a new support between the B-pillars to allow me to cut out the old bulkhead.

Now, I need to start thinking about how to add all the cable and wire pipes in the chassis. Does anyone have a good picture of how the cables are routed in the chassis or is there perhaps a drawing of this?

What dimension pipes is one suppose to use?

Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:11 am

I love your shop building! Really enjoying your build also. Keep up the good work

Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:59 pm

Test fitted a bunch of funky green the other day... It seems to fit really good! I need to adjust the rear weel wells a bit though.

The new bulkhead is just put in place over the old one.

Then some work on a rusty B-pillar. Had to cut away everything up to where the dogleg used to be and replace the fold over from the side panel.

Also cut out the old bulkhead. But I am actually gonna use some of it to repair the chest under the front seat.

The new B-pillar in place

Hessich feels definitely possible this time!

Sun Feb 12, 2012 1:36 pm

Great work on this old bus!!! Keep it up, people are watching :D

Nice shop by the way!

Sun Feb 12, 2012 2:39 pm

nice work..keep at it...i dig the logos and the colors..

Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:33 pm

this has to feel good having the supports gone and seeing it come so far

Mon Mar 05, 2012 1:30 pm

Some more have happended lately...

Repaired the front frame rail kickups

Fitting a new frame side...

Got use of my old Eastwood tool to remanufature the bottom of the "box" under the drivers seat.

Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:31 pm

I just read this whole thread and all I can say is wow! You sir have done an amazing job. I cannot wait to see the finished product. Keep up the good work. [/i]

Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:14 am

Thu Mar 22, 2012 8:41 pm

Sir,
I have read this thread a couple of times now. Your dedication and skills are top notch! The pictures you have posted of the surgery have been very helpful. Thankyou!! Please keep posting the photos of the battle as it goes. Proof positive that any old bus can be saved! :D

Fri Mar 23, 2012 5:49 am

mr white wrote: Sir,
I have read this thread a couple of times now. Your dedication and skills are top notch! The pictures you have posted of the surgery have been very helpful. Thankyou!! Please keep posting the photos of the battle as it goes. Proof positive that any old bus can be saved! :D

Thank you! Glad that I can inspire some of you... The secret with a project like this is to just focus on one small area at a time. Allmost all vistors that come to my garage always says "oh my good such a rusty bus! Will you ever get that on the road?". They just see all the problems at once. I just focus on getting rid of the rust bit by bit.

More pics tonight then :D

Fri Mar 23, 2012 11:07 am

Ok so monday this week was spent in the garage. First step was to repair the left kickup in the frame at the front. After that I welded the home made piece in place. Im quite satisfied with the results. To bad I was out of flap discs so I could not grind down the welds. But that is sorted now.

However I have now started the process of getting the bulkhead to fit. Here it is put in place after some minor adjustments. Got some minors left before I can weld it in place...

I cant wait until it is in place. Then I can start working on the front frame rails and the front beam!

Sun Apr 01, 2012 9:57 am

Wed Apr 11, 2012 1:03 pm

Awesome build! :D

Sat Apr 21, 2012 11:38 am

That is some fine metal work in this thread that I see!
It looks like I will be joining the party & have the same type of a project waiting for me :shock:

Where can I get a blue print for the measurements like the spacing & how long is the distance between the front & back frames.
Can someone help & post whatever is available to help me started on my project so I can build my jig

Sat Apr 21, 2012 2:51 pm

Tank you! I can help you with a picture from a Volkswagen 1959 workshop manual that shows how they used to build a simple jig in the old days. I used that particular picture to build my jig. Pm me your e-mail and I Will send it to you.

Sun Apr 22, 2012 1:58 am

Your going to need this to.