TheSamba.com :: View topic - Finally got my Westy. (Will be continually updated.)

Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:34 pm

It's amazing what you remember sometimes. When Walrus said it was a kid and his Dad it sparked my memory - I found those doing a search for oven cleaner. 8)

Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:59 pm

EZ Gruv wrote: It's amazing what you remember sometimes. When Walrus said it was a kid and his Dad it sparked my memory - I found those doing a search for oven cleaner. 8)

I just spent the last hour reading his 85 posts, and am a bit more knowledgeable now. Man I appreciate that.

Wed Nov 11, 2009 7:36 am

EZ Gruv wrote: It's amazing what you remember sometimes. When Walrus said it was a kid and his Dad it sparked my memory - I found those doing a search for oven cleaner. 8)
THANK YOU Ez! I couldn't remember for the life of me the topic name and was going CRAZY searching because it was driving me nuts! :lol:

Wed Nov 18, 2009 2:25 pm

Not much in the way of updates just yet. Did manage to get legal like.

Bought a new headlight switch since mine is made of Crumbletainium, Vanco2s are on order at Discount Tire, should be here this weekend. Sold the aftermarket wheels off the bus, sitting on crappy spares right now. Hope to spend some wrench time this weekend, will update with new pics.

Wed Nov 18, 2009 5:06 pm

I love your story...and I really like the bus too... I may have to go from bug to bus...lol

Shawn

Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:00 am

Got my Vancos mounted up and the wheels painted this weekend, but little else. Yes, I have a little overspray to clean up. I'll do that tonight.

Pics you say? But of course! Hosting courtesy of Samba.

Here is my stockers. Not great at all, only two the right build date.

Since the Westy (now named "Sweet Pea" by my daughter) doesn't run right, I took the wheels off and up to the shop instead of towbarring it up there, and these were waiting on me...

One wheel had a ton of rusty crap on it on the inside, so he busted out the grinder and fixed that for me.

So then I took them home, and got ready to clean them up a bit. I may powdercoat them later, but this method has worked well for me in the past, and its the same paint I used for my roof rack and my roo bar on my 69.

Do it right, or go home...

I'll have to clean that overspray up. That bugs me.

I have to mount the fronts tonight, and finish polishing the stock hubcaps, then I will get a full bus pic. I like them better already, although, with the way she is running, it may be like buying a prom dress for a pig. Hope to have a mini shop day tomorrow and see what's going on. More pics to come. :)

Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:36 am

Great find! Need to do my wheels also, and was considering exactly the same process. Glad to see in advance that it works.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:59 pm

I really like your bus. Good score!

Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:48 pm

Kirk wrote: Got my Vancos mounted up and the wheels painted this weekend, but little else. Yes, I have a little overspray to clean up.

Awww come on dude, seriously? You spent all of that money on tires to get overspray on them?? Why didn't you paint them with the old tires on the wheels before you took them to have the new tires mounted? Take the tires and have them dismounted, bring them home, prime and paint them. The best idea of all would be to take and have the tires taken off, then have the wheels powdercoated before the new tires are put on. It's the details that make the job look so good when you're done. Love the new tires, but a little effort in the prep work and a little forethought and planning would end up with a much nicer finished product. Just my opnion man, don't get all fired up again.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:12 pm

VDubTech wrote: Kirk wrote: Got my Vancos mounted up and the wheels painted this weekend, but little else. Yes, I have a little overspray to clean up.

Awww come on dude, seriously? You spent all of that money on tires to get overspray on them?? Why didn't you paint them with the old tires on the wheels before you took them to have the new tires mounted? Take the tires and have them dismounted, bring them home, prime and paint them. The best idea of all would be to take and have the tires taken off, then have the wheels powdercoated before the new tires are put on. It's the details that make the job look so good when you're done. Love the new tires, but a little effort in the prep work and a little forethought and planning would end up with a much nicer finished product. Just my opnion man, don't get all fired up again.

For the record, I wasn't the only one. Secondly, I actually agree. When I get four with 6/78 date stamped on them, I will powdercoat all four. Mostly, this was to clean up the general look overall. I've got pretty serious rust to work on and other misc things that take priority, but since i had to buy new tires, I might as well get the right ones. I cleaned the overspray off tonight.

Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:52 am

You needed this to do the paint job on those wheels.
http://www.eastwood.com/wheel-shield-and-tire-protector-spray-mask-kit.html

Love the stripes. 8)

Tue Nov 24, 2009 5:30 am

I know it's too late but you could've masked the wheels easy with a tub of vaseline. Smear it into the crevasse where the tires meets the wheel then do a light coat on the sidewall. When you're done hose it down with some brake cleaner. Paint doesn't adhere to petroleum products.

Tue Nov 24, 2009 5:50 am

Have you used the new non chlorinated epa safe crap that they sell today? The stuff used years ago could remove paint, the suff used today is slightly less toxic than water, and barely nasty enough to clean off oil.

Add "Let the paint cure fully before wiping off the vaseline" and you'll be safe.

Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:16 am

chazz79 wrote: I know it's too late but you could've masked the wheels easy with a tub of vaseline. Smear it into the crevasse where the tires meets the wheel then do a light coat on the sidewall. When you're done hose it down with some brake cleaner. Paint doesn't adhere to petroleum products.

I didn't know that. Thanks for the tip!

Sun Dec 06, 2009 6:43 pm

Nothing this week, its been 25 degrees and I had to finish up the kitchen, but my neighboor sent me an interesting pic, the view from his back porch. :)

Sun Dec 06, 2009 8:48 pm

[quote="gmag69"]You needed this to do the paint job on those wheels.
http://www.eastwood.com/wheel-shield-and-tire-protector-spray-mask-kit.html

You can also make your own version with some aluminum flashing and a few clamps for under $5.

Mon Dec 07, 2009 11:42 am

Looks like your cat has adopted your bus so don't leave home with out him. Love the art work on the back. So you should name your bus the same name of your cat. I had one that loved to ride with me either on my shoulder or on the dash.

Mon Jan 18, 2010 2:05 pm

Hello Constant Reader. Although, its not so constant these days, what with the cold weather and all. Regardless, I've got an update. I drug up a parts westy of similar vintage, but of questionable title history so I could cut some tasty German metal for patches. I should say up front that this bus had been sitting in mud as a dog house for pit bulls. They peed everywhere, and the frame is rusted badly in several places. It was bought as parts, titleless and its going to be parts. I apologize in advance.

Here is the skinny. I found it on Craigslist (Thanks Mike for the tip) and drove out to Fort Worth to take a look at it. When I got there, a pretty nice kid explained that it belonged to his drunken buddy who had been deported, and not returned for it. It had subsequently been sitting open with no windows in it for the last year, with his Pit Bulls living in it. Since he didn't know if the guy was coming back for it, he wanted to sell it, and I was more than willing to part with the triplets Franklin, Franklin and Franklin, to become its new owner. No keys, no title, frame rust and extra pit bull aroma.

In all its dog smelling glory. I'm pretty sure those bed stains are not a Mocha Latte. Interestingly enough, the bus contained eight cans of color matched spray paint, from the factory. The label has some other name on it, but it still appears to be a spot on match for the magic that is Sage Green.

So, armed with my buddy (see above) some beers (see below) and Cleo the Wonder Cat (see below) and a new pack of metal sawzall blades, we get to work. First, we pulled the motor, which was purported to be rebuilt with new heads less than 15 years ago. The receipts in the bus show that its had less than 10k miles put on it since then, but who really knows.

Motor came out pretty easily, although heavily, and went right onto the motor stand. So far the biggest problem is that the engine stand is made with a 6v bellhousing, and the larger flywheel hits it. Nevertheless, motor out, and on the ground. I have high hopes for this one. More on that later.

Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:06 pm

Nice Job on finding the parts bus, your bus is going to benefit from its dry Texas metal. :)

Oh...and too bad that neither one of your buses had the OG Fuel Injection System. It seemed to be a popular idea to replace and not fix a broken system with a lower performing one such as single Weber carburetor.

Mon Jan 18, 2010 10:58 pm

Good luck Kirk. I can't wait to see you start welding that German steel on your Westy.