TheSamba.com :: View topic - My New Bus - 77 Tintop/Westy Conv

Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:07 am

I am starting a new thread for my newest bus. A bit of history of how it got to where it is now and how it got to be mine. I saw it posted in the classified here on The Samba on my Birthday. I was looking for a tintop cheap. So, I took it as a sign that this was the one for me. I traveled to Orlando, Florida via the Greyhound to buy it. It is a 77 model with a 78 westy interior and engine(installed by the previous PO; according to the PO). The PO bought it in Georgia. He drove it three times; home from GA., on a trip somewhere, and once around Orlando. The PO garage kept it since 2004 when he bought it. He put all new brakes, tires, Oil filter, air filter, battery cables, cap, rotor, points, plugs, and wires on the bus.

It is gray/white on the exterior and light blue on the interior. It was painted by the the previous PO. There was a set of blue and tan seat covers that came with it so, apparently this was the previous PO's idea for an interior motif. It is carpeted in blue as well. Its OG color is brown/white(*I think). The clue to that is in the engine compartment. It appears to be Panama Brown(I'm Guessing). This doesn't make sense as the paint/upholstery section states that color was used in 78-79. But as you can see below it is the closest match to color and approximate timeline.

The Title says its a 77 model but the Vin # seems screwy as it is one # off. 1977 models begin with 217 but, the title Vin # starts with 227: Somewhere in the past it must have been misread or the Vin # section is wrong:

Type 2 Vin #s

1977
Jun 217 2 300 000 GE 0 007 082 End of 1977 model year
Aug 218 2 000 001 GE 0 007 083 Start of 1978 model year Hydraulic lifters started 1978

The bus needs some work. It needs a new headliner(of some kind) and some interior wall panels. Bad oil leak needs addressed too. The headknocker is hanging from the drivers side and not attached to the passenger side. There is some rust on the doglegs, the rear corner, and the PO cut out a strip of rust on the front clip. The bus came with lots of extras: like sheet metal for the passenger dogleg, complete passenger rear corner(including the air vent), and battery tray. A good used flywheel(as the one in it is missing a tooth or two). Extra plugs, wires, cap, rotor, points, and a resistor(all Bosch). New door panels; front and sliding. Enough fuses to dress out five buses(some gold plated). One of those passenger seat swivels. He had a 3/4 breaker bar and deep well socket in it to change the lug nuts. Old jack still there. There is an oil cooler underneath but, not hooked up yet. Also, there was a Haynes resto book.

I have not decided whether to repaint the OG color after the sheet metal goes on or keep the gray and white. I absolutely will be getting rid of the sky blue paint on the interior, as I hate that color. I won't be using the blue and tan seat covers and plan on getting a different color carpeting(unless I go with the blue plaid from Wolfsburg West). I don't know if I will keep all the interior either. I don't like the foam on the Z-bed. Its too thin! I would like a full Z-bed also so, I will probably remove the cabinets in the back and the head knocker too. I would like to re-upholster the seats and new Z-bed foam in plaid. I may just rip it all out and go for a full restoration. Who knows yet.

When I went to buy it(Thursday, October 22nd) I put in a new battery. It had been sitting for a little over a year and the PO had drained and saved the gas in a five gallon bucket. The gas was still bright Orange and smelled fine. I wasn't worried about the varnishing of the tank. We put four gallons of fresh gas and injector cleaner in it. We put in new oil as the old had leaked out. I tried to start it but it would only turn over and over. I had to bump the starter because of the missing flywheel teeth. I checked the out > side of the fuel filter and got gas. I checked the out > side of the fuel pump and got gas again. Tried it several times more and it still wouldn't start. It was getting dark so the PO ran us back to the motel. I tried to get a uhaul the next day(Friday) and had no luck. Saturday I call a 24 hour service that called a rollback to have it towed to their shop. But they didn't work on Sat. or Sun., some 24 hr. service.

They blew another day screwing with the starter on Monday and half of Tuesday getting it rebuilt. Then when I arrived I informed the mechanic about the flywheel and how I had told the girl running things about it bright and early Monday morning. I had also offered up my Bentley manual for reference and she said they had computer manuals. He went off. No one there knew what they were doing, but he got it running and all they charged me was for the tow. That was $171.00 though. It ran for an hour and a half and started sputtering and bucking like a mule. I went back to the hotel.

I lost a lot on hotel rooms. The U-haul, tow dolly, and rental car to get home too. But I was able to tow it the two hundred plus miles North to my property and I left it there until I can go back and get it. The VW mechanic I finally found was covered up in work. He said it was the injector on the fourth cylinder. He would have to order the injector and it would take days. So I got the U-haul and headed to my place. I hid it up in the woods but, where my neighbor could see it and keep an eye on it for me. I hope I can go back soon and get it so, I can get to work on it. It was an adventure but, the adventure is only beginning. I can't wait to go traveling in it. Wish me luck!

Below are the pics the PO sent me before I bought it. There are few on the color. And then a few from me.

Pic of the bus as it was advertised in the classified.

PO cut out a strip of the front clip because, it was rusted through. It is sealed with a piece of aluminum duct tape.

Engine compartment pics.

Sample of color from engine hatch lid.

Swatch of Panama brown 78-79 L12A from paint/upholstery.

The two together; sample and swatch.

A trio of pics of the bus on the rollback on its way to the mechanic.

One of it after unloading it at my place.

Well thats everything so far. At least all I can think of. I can't really do anymore until I go after it and drag it home. I wish I was ready and able to go tomorrow. Until then the Adventure will have to wait. But, its not over yet.

L8tr G8trs, TH

Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:17 am

TreeHugger63 wrote: I am starting a new thread for my newest bus.

You mean a new thread for the new Bus you already have a thread going on? You even used some of the same pics in your original thread.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4190908&highlight=#4190908

TreeHugger63 wrote: The Title says its a 77 model but the Vin # seems screwy as it is one # off. 1977 models begin with 217 but, the title Vin # starts with 227: Somewhere in the past it must have been misread or the Vin # section is wrong:

Type 2 Vin #s

1977
Jun 217 2 300 000 GE 0 007 082 End of 1977 model year
Aug 218 2 000 001 GE 0 007 083 Start of 1978 model year Hydraulic lifters started 1978

Nothing wrong with your VIN #, and the Bus is a '77. The "22" designation at the beginning of your VIN simply specifies a Microbus. A "21" would be a panelvan, a "23" would be a Kombi, a "24" would be a Microbus L, a "26" would be a pickup and a "27" would be an ambulance.

Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:17 pm

VDubTech wrote: You mean a new thread for the new Bus you already have a thread going on? You even used some of the same pics in your original thread. .

Well, that thread says: Urgent: need answers today for 77 Bus purchase.
It is no longer urgent, I need no answers today, and I already purchased the bus. So, this will be the history of the bus thread that I will keep alive. I have abandoned the aforementioned thread as it no longer fits the criteria of the heading.

VDubTech wrote: Nothing wrong with your VIN #, and the Bus is a '77. The "22" designation at the beginning of your VIN simply specifies a Microbus. A "21" would be a panelvan, a "23" would be a Kombi, a "24" would be a Microbus L, a "26" would be a pickup and a "27" would be an ambulance.

Thats kewl, I was worried what I would have to go through to get it fixed. I was having palpitations after all the media and posts on that stolen bus. Thanks for the clarification info. That is comforting to know. So where is that info on the Vins listed?

O.K. so what about what the paint section says? Are those incomplete or off on the colors and years? Am I right about the OG color? Is it Panama Brown?

Thanks Again, TH