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Wed Feb 17, 2010 2:44 pm

1978 CEII Westfalia; my wife and I bought it new years ago.

We're about to dump a huge amount of money this afternoon into a near total refurbishment.

In the early days, we explored the southwest and northern CA in it, visiting multiple campgrounds.

I lived in it for 6 months years ago when I was homeless and my wife had to live with a friend.

It's noisy, inefficient, uncomfortable, and possibly dangerous. But we love it, and my wife and I feed on each other where this is concerned, so we're refurbishing it. Follie a deux?

Can't say I've ever done anything so crazy, other than buying it in the first place when we couldn't afford it. But that's worked out OK over the years.

Keith

Wed Feb 17, 2010 2:53 pm

Well it is a ton of money to put in all at once but if you keep it for the rest of your life it looks pretty good averaged out. Plus, it won't go down in value!

Wed Feb 17, 2010 3:05 pm

So who did you ever select to do the work? You had been asking us before and it would be nice to hear the results of your inquiries. What did you find out in your trip to NM? And like was suggested as a place to consider, what did you find at CE?
Also with a task like you want to do you might review SGKents resto project. At least seek his advice on what to do or not do.

Wed Feb 17, 2010 4:12 pm

Define "huge amount of money"?

Wed Feb 17, 2010 5:41 pm

Cars are rarely logical decisions.

Wed Feb 17, 2010 5:42 pm

If you were sane you wouldn't be here! :wink: On the Bay forum, that is.....

Wed Feb 17, 2010 5:52 pm

You've had this bus for 32 years, so I'd say you might be a little attached to it. Your bus deserves the resto and you and your wife both deserve it as well, so I say theres nothing crazy about it at all.

Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:01 pm

I say you would be crazy to sell it.

Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:38 pm

So your somewhere around my age (50) and you were forced to live in your bus? Enron CEO? :)

Since you have had it for 32 years I would think its already in the blood... Cant sell your kids..

Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:48 pm

Keith, I thought your subject line could apply to just about any topic on The Samba. Then you topped that with this bit o' language:

kmmcdonald wrote: It's noisy, inefficient, uncomfortable, and possibly dangerous. But we love it

and well, that pretty much said it all and applies to all of us. Until the topic comes to it's full and perfect circle:

Mountain Minstrel wrote: I say you would be crazy to sell it.

The Mountain Minstrel is completely right, man. Enjoy the refreshed bus and future exploration.

Wed Feb 17, 2010 10:00 pm

kmmcdonald wrote: It's noisy, inefficient, uncomfortable, and possibly dangerous. Keith

The noisy you can take care of maybe as part of the restoration. Do a little searching on noise reduction. As for the inefficient I find that for me they are just as fuel efficient as any newer vehicle that has the same utility. Personally I find them way more comfortable than sitting wedged like a sardine between a molded door and a console. Sitting in newer cars for an eight hour drive is just plain torture in comparison. They are possibly dangerous in that they have a bad history of burning to the ground, as for holding up in a wreck they do very well when compared to most cars on the road today.

Wed Feb 17, 2010 10:17 pm

Quote: if I was sane

yeah but like the rest of us that was ruled out when you bought it, and verified again when you kept it after the first time it broke down. :)

Wed Feb 17, 2010 10:37 pm

The Bus is actually one of the most efficient automotive designs out there. It has a great driving position (steering wheel doubles as useful armrest).

Wed Feb 17, 2010 10:55 pm

i hope we can see some good "before" pictures, before the whole process starts

Thu Feb 18, 2010 2:57 am

it is said, the things in life that you don't do are the things you regret

if you don't keep it ...

Aloha
tp

Thu Feb 18, 2010 11:47 am

We are having the work done at Competition Engineering. I was never able to make it to New Mexico to check out the other place. Anyhow, CE is just down the street from where I work, and we will therefore be able to work very closely together so that we can get just what we want. I very uneasy about shipping the bus to another state and merely awaiting the final result.

I'll post some photos later when I have access to them.

Thanks for all the validation and enabling you all are providing me. :D

Keith

Thu Feb 18, 2010 11:52 am

sweet, think of this as a life reward from coming so far from living in it, to having the ability to fully restore it! alot of us young guys hope to be there one day (not that i live in my bus) hoping to have the $$$$$$.$$ to completely restore it from top to bottom!!! either that or fly into mexico and buy a new one lol... :roll:

Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:38 am

As of this week:

The body has been stripped of all hardware (except dash) and has been sent to the paint shop, where it will be for about a month. The shop owner has just verified that all dents have been repaired in preparation for painting.

The transmission has been rebuilt.

The engine (143000 miles) is broken down in preparation for rebuild.

The woodworker has taken the furniture to his shop and is measuring it for refurbishment.

Issues to be resolved:

1) AC repair

2) upholstery selection

3) flooring

I would post photos, but I can't figure out how to do it.

So far, I hold the shop in high regard. It is reassuring that the owner drives a Vanagon and owns a few Beetles.

Keith

Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:42 am

Look forward to seeing some pics of the progress. Are you going to replace the upholstery with non-stock material?

Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:04 am

The paint and upholstery will differ considerably from stock. I would have preferred to restore it to stock, but it is technically my wife's car, and that is her call.

Mechanically and electrically, however, it will be stock with the possible exception of a larger capacity oil cooler.

Keith