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Fri Jan 28, 2011 3:57 am

We do know getting there is 1/2 the trip, just do it safely :wink: Remember you're not the only one on the road.

I was always taught when getting ether a vintage car/cycle or one that sat for years, replace all rubber, and start with the brakes then work your way up.

Emeritusx wrote: So today while driving, the brakes finally starting to feel good. Bang to the floor... I think damn a union blew, so I limp home and under the left wheel there is black goo everywhere... Brake fluid and brake shoe dust. I think that wheel hasn't had pressure for ages... Damn.. Got new shoes and a new drum (bought awhile back). So tomorrow I get to pull that drum and see if I can rebuild that wheel cylinder.

I promise after I get the 61 rolling I will replace my brake lines. Maria is my only hauling vehicle as of now, so I got to keep her running... Plus for those of you who remember "Then came Bronson" you'll know that getting there is only 1/2 the trip...

Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:37 pm

Before:

After:

All the rubber lines are new... The steel lines are still really strong, not having a splash plate and minnesota salt killed the lines at the Master. I will replace the steel lines soon and I made sure the emergency grabs, plus I rarely go fast, 45 is about right in the country and 60 to 63 is my highway speed and I stay far away from crowds.. Now I have a splash pan too... So I am excited about that, seems darker and quieter on the floor..

Fri Feb 11, 2011 2:28 pm

Got my roof rack today $400 bucks, fifty mile drive round trip, nice day (above 30 for the first time in 3 weeks) Still hate driving in the salty wet slush

Needless to say I am really happy about having a bunch more room!

Sun Mar 27, 2011 6:02 pm

Third brake light in and working. I just went off the brake switch

Just bought a 2161 turnkey for her... Now I can finally carry some lumber..

Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:26 pm

2161 now installed... Test drive tomorrow...

Thank you GEMVW... :) (actually I am grinning like a dang 10 year old in a toy factory...)

Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:17 pm

Didn't you just buy a stock engine from them? What happened to that one?

Fri Apr 22, 2011 3:57 am

dreadnotmusic wrote: Didn't you just buy a stock engine from them? What happened to that one?

gonna lend it to a friend til his engine gets fixed, then it goes in my 61 splitty. It still runs great, but I wanted a little more power :)

Fri Apr 22, 2011 12:07 pm

Can I say one thing... Holy Crap... Running a stroker or a big engine in a bus is pure freaking joy.....

It all started when I saw the ad here on the samba for that 2161 from Jeff (Gemvw) and a friend I just met through our club (mo-kan) had blown up for the third time... The guy who is building his engines just seems to be cursed on this bus... Well, the owner of the bus (a 71 bay) was ready to punt, sell it all and give up the VW community as this mechanic has really been draggin' his ass too...

Well I got a roof rack and the 1600 just seemed at the end of its power range when I was fully loaded and with head winds for the first time ever I slowed to 50 on the highway. (50 mile an hour head winds). The motor is great 8000 miles on it so far...

After drooling on that ad, and reading about all the big motors here on TS I said what the hell.. My 61 needs a motor anyway. So I got this big block sent to me (Jeff went all out, cable for throttle, extra gaskets etc). Got it Wednesday, driving it today... Hot DANG!

Now my friend can use my known good motor for the season while his mechanic drags ass all summer.. I am not ready for work on the 61 yet anyway.. Still have a GD bay to get right :)...

Needed something to do anyway, it was fun except for the rain, hail and thunder...

Fri Apr 22, 2011 12:11 pm

You're a heck of a friend!

Fri Apr 22, 2011 12:17 pm

I like the guy, he publishes our news letter and we would lose a lot if he left. He has 9000 miles on his bus (66K on odo) and has owned it 10 years... Everytime he went to go camping last year (BNNTA and Bustoberfest) He blew up... So this spring he wants to go camping and a bunch of us go nearby.. He blew up again.. seized up tight.. The machanic wont let us look at it (void warranty) so he said he would fix it.. But at the rate he has been going it will be next year.. eff that... Hell sitting motors just rust anyway... :)

Fri Apr 22, 2011 12:26 pm

Emeritusx wrote: I like the guy, he publishes our news letter and we would lose a lot if he left. He has 9000 miles on his bus (66K on odo) and has owned it 10 years... Everytime he went to go camping last year (BNNTA and Bustoberfest) He blew up... So this spring he wants to go camping and a bunch of us go nearby.. He blew up again.. seized up tight.. The machanic wont let us look at it (void warranty) so he said he would fix it.. But at the rate he has been going it will be next year.. eff that... Hell sitting motors just rust anyway... :)

Funny that you still refer to this guy as a "mechanic". Call Jason at Archway and get that fella a well built engine!

Nice job helping a guy out like that.

Fri May 13, 2011 8:40 pm

Maiden Voyage on the 2161. Gas Mileage ranged from 14 to 18. Absolutely love the power.

500 mile round trip, and one spectacular weekend. About 20 buses showed up at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park. We got enough meat to go into a meat coma. The meat market says: Buses Welcome so why not? :)

Wed Aug 03, 2011 12:36 pm

Among the many trips I have taken this summer, this one was notable. Father/Son road trip from KC to Morrison CO for the NU-Vintage Bug in.. Should have been called the NU-Vintage bug and bake.. Tarmac was 150 degrees in the middle of the show... The show is kinda lame, but the drags are cool and the vendors show in hordes. However their stuff was melting in to the pavement...

A friend sent me this photo on my cell... His bus died and they went in air condition comfort... But still went.. That's a die hard VW fan there...

getting there

at the show:

after the show went to Georgetown - 65 mph all the way up I 70.. Ran like a top

Perfect weather about 70 degrees...

Back through Kansas yesterday - about 100 degrees - did cool off to 94 by the time I got home (11pm last night 08/02/11) - 1500 miles about... Man my butt is sore.... :)

Wed Aug 17, 2011 9:17 pm

Back in KC, 85000 Miles on the ODO, Was 71K when I bought it... Got a dual master cylinder and found a volvo reservoir. So that's my next project. ..

Waiting for my daughters car to get aligned...

Sat Aug 27, 2011 8:34 pm

well finally read up and decided to put a dual master in Maria... The 2161 needs a little more stopping power and for under a hundred bucks why not...

Bought a 72ish Bay Master, the adapter and a reservoir here on the samba.

for future reference and a friend... This was the temp in the bus.. and outside in the sun, it's accurate...

It's not too hot under the bus :)

The old new master... Going in the 61 as it's master is toast...

So this week started with an over heating 1776, downtown KC on asphalt 103 heat index.
Finished the 67 westy and it's rolling again (friend had his engine seize so now running my 1600 that he is buying from me).
Snagged 58 out of cave....
New 2 circuit master on my baby... Tomorrow it's off to fire up the 58!

Mon Sep 05, 2011 8:48 am

400+ mile trip to BNNTA

So on the way home it pops out of 4th gear.. then again... then again... so I bunji cord it in place, but damn.... So I guess it's transmission rebuild time...

lots more photo's of the event in my gallery and here:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.101503162...amp;type=1

Mon Oct 10, 2011 6:11 pm

Well, its been many miles since I last posted...

*** Drove to Brighton MI and my dog Rex took off after some deer - that was 09/13 - still have not seen or heard anything :( REWARD is Metro Detroit CL for lost ad *** Pics above of Rexie...

But as far as the bus goes, I drove 1800 miles with a bungee holding it in fourth.. sometimes I would forget, but it quickly reminded me. So in an effort to make it more highway compatible I have undergone the following transformation:

Pull Engine,,,,

Pull wheels....

Pull Transmission **

New Transmission ->

Empty Shell:

Old Trans...

Bus Depot......

So its gotta 4.12 final, no redux and 3.5" lower... I am gonna put flipped spindle disc brakes o the front maybe in the spring, maybe before depends on how the bus looks...

Mon Oct 10, 2011 6:51 pm

did Russell give you his leftover gold paint??

Mon Oct 10, 2011 7:32 pm

bill may wrote: did Russell give you his leftover gold paint??

hehe thats funny no it isnt gold that is the light here is one I took w/ a flash - I just liked the way it looked...

Tue Oct 11, 2011 6:15 am

Emeritusx wrote: bill may wrote: did Russell give you his leftover gold paint??

hehe thats funny no it isnt gold that is the light here is one I took w/ a flash - I just liked the way it looked...

you must also remember Russell. :D