TheSamba.com :: View topic - The Donna to my Eric... a not-quite-resto thread

Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:57 pm

I bought my 1977 Westfalia (2000cc, Fuel Injected) back in 2006 with some saved up money, and some borrowed money. I have to say, it's the best purchase I ever made. I knew nothing about mechanical work but I was/am always eager to learn, so my journey began there. Since then, I have made quite a few big and not-so-big improvements. I've also learned more than I ever thought I would, and I still consider myself an absolute beginner compared to many of you.

I've been mostly a lurker on these forums for about two years now, but recently I've begun to chime in. I've learned SO much by simply cruising through threads, I decided maybe it was time to start a thread about my bus, who I fondly call Donna. I regret now not taking pictures from the beginning... :oops: I was way too excited. But I've been taking many more recently. So here she is...

After a good cleaning last year (I need to clean the pop-top again, and paint it. She's not too fond of Oregon weather.)

Living on Mt. Hood, my priority was to make improvements for camping. So one of my first projects was pergo floors. I got lucky, my dad had just redone his entire kitchen and had plenty left over. I decided after pulling the interior that the sink cabinet took up too much space, and I never used the sink anyway, so my plan is to build another bench seat there. (http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4446840&highlight=#4446840) I put in it's place temporarily an old cabinet I had laying around for a bit of storage and full use of the table:

New H4 headlights and "retro" aux lights:

Most recently I have been making minor improvements to the interior that make a major difference for me. Like the steering wheel wrap:

I also installed a new lit 12v socket/cigarette lighter along with a new plastic glove box and locking glove box latch.

The simplest things make such a huge difference, new floor mat and kick panels from busdepot.
Before:

After:

New seat pads from WW. Basically I was on springs, 99% on the driver's seat, 80% on the pass.
Before:

After:

Rear hatch inside release knob:

My lame temporary cabinet:

This is my favorite addition, I found it while digging through Trafton's yard here in Portland, he gave it to me for a handshake: :D

My stickers:

All set up:

Cat Friend is a fan:

I have plenty more work I'd like to do, my next big project will be the rear seat in place of the cabinet. I also recently installed Pertronix and a Bosch Blue coil (a good one), and I bought a front sway bar and starter relay from cip1, which I will install very soon. I've been limited on engine work because of A. lack of experience and B. living in an apartment. I may actually be moving out of this apartment in the next month or so, and into a place with a garage, a toolbench, and a yard! I couldn't be more excited.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:59 pm

I don't think I would paint that. Buff out and wax. Touch up the chips. Get a paintless dent repair to get the dents out.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 5:03 pm

I meant paint the pop top, it's very worn down. I would just do a nice looking roll on job, but my dad has been painting cars for almost 30 years, it's just a matter of convincing him to take a weekend and help me... I'm planning on repainting the pop-top and bumpers (and possibly the wheels).

Fri Mar 19, 2010 7:41 pm

I kinda like your little temp cabinet, its neat. I really like that color yellow too.
I also like your orange kitty, orange kitties rule!

Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:20 pm

LOL, My cat is the same color, has the same tag, and his name is Kitty Man. Pretty funny...

Oh, Like the bus too. I really dig the wood floor. Should be easier to keep clean than the velcro acting crap I have in mine...

Fri Mar 19, 2010 9:25 pm

jimthegman wrote: I have to say, it's the best purchase I ever made. I knew nothing about mechanical work but I was/am always eager to learn, so my journey began there. Since then, I have made quite a few big and not-so-big improvements. I've also learned more than I ever thought I would, and I still consider myself an absolute beginner compared to many of you.

Looks like everything you've done so far has been a definate improvement. I like your attitude, it will take you a long way. Wish I could impart some of that spirit in my own spawn, right now it's all about high school drama and movies, no interest in the challenges and joy of keeping an ACVW alive and well. Keep up the good work.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 9:29 pm

Nice bus, that sticker cracked me up...

"NICE TRUCK...sorry about your small penis."

Where'd you get that?

Fri Mar 19, 2010 9:39 pm

x2 on the sticker! :lol:

Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:34 pm

maximan1 wrote: Nice bus, that sticker cracked me up...

"NICE TRUCK...sorry about your small penis."

Where'd you get that?

Spencer's, man... It was like, 3 bucks. Oregon is a delicate balance of hipster/liberal and hick/conservatives. I loved parking my beautiful bus next to the giant jacked up Fords and Chevys at my high school... Especially with my American flag next to their Confederate flag. :roll:

Next on the list is "The closer you get, the slower I go..."

I was pulling out of Shari's a few hours ago, and got cut off by two people who flew through a stop sign in the parking lot. Not only did I have the right-of-way, I DIDN'T have a stop sign. Soon to be installed: the LOUD air horn I got from Harbor Freight. If anything, I at least want to deafen those a-holes. :twisted:

choadtx wrote: I really dig the wood floor. Should be easier to keep clean than the velcro acting crap I have in mine...

Yeah, the OG carpet I had was in decent shape, but it would just get mangled when we went camping, especially if it was even a little bit wet, which it usually is around here. The floors are a *definite* improvement, I just carry a small hand broom around with me, and I can just wipe down the floor. Good as new! (I was installing those floors when I found out George Carlin died. It's all I can think about every time I see those pictures. :cry: )

Fri Mar 19, 2010 11:34 pm

That awning is pretty sweet, too. How's that hooked up to the top of the bus?

Sat Mar 20, 2010 1:46 am

choadtx wrote: That awning is pretty sweet, too. How's that hooked up to the top of the bus?

It's original to my bus (as far as I know), it clips to the rain gutter. There are three poles, but I don't always use the middle one unless I need to.

I had cot poles the whole time, too, I just didn't know what they were for until I got my new child's cot in the mail. The ones I had were the original extendable ones, the new ones are not. Now to find where I put the other ones.... :roll:

Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:17 am

Great w-i-d-e 70s-look awning and cute color-matched kitten.

Floor is nice; how does the Pergo stuff hold up long-term in your damp climate? Sure need to do a floor covering replacement here; we always mess up our Westy's carpet when camping/skiing/winter traveling.

Sat Mar 20, 2010 7:39 am

Nice. I love the color. And the kitty. I like kittys. :D Did someone say paint it? Oh no.

Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:02 am

WestyPop wrote: Great w-i-d-e 70s-look awning and cute color-matched kitten.

Floor is nice; how does the Pergo stuff hold up long-term in your damp climate? Sure need to do a floor covering replacement here; we always mess up our Westy's carpet when camping/skiing/winter traveling.

So far it's been almost two years and it holds up great. I wouldn't go back for anything.

Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:16 am

TomWesty wrote: x2 on the sticker! :lol:

X3

Thats funny..

Super cool bus... I love the orange and the floor. Oh ya, and the clock..

Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:18 am

WestyPop wrote: Floor is nice; how does the Pergo stuff hold up long-term in your damp climate? Sure need to do a floor covering replacement here; we always mess up our Westy's carpet when camping/skiing/winter traveling.

This is the flooring we are using for our Westy. We chose it for our living room and love it. Multiple wood tones available and the one we chose has a wood grain texture where the grain is not just a machine pattern, but actually follows the grain image. It's fools most casual lookers as being real wood. It's easy to install, it cuts with heavy scissors, edges have self stick overlap. What really sold me on it, because it's basically high tech vinyl, is it does not delaminate or bubble at the joints when immersed in water like laminate flooring, I don't care what they advertise(this happened to us when our laminate finished basement was flooded by a broken water line) . It can be installed floating, no glue or fasteners, but when the field is done you might want glue down the perimeter edges because on hot days the sticky between tiles could get soft and allow shifting (gaps). We found scratches can easily be touched up with Old English, even though it's not really wood. The only downside vs. laminate, because it's very flexible, you have to install subflooring to span the corregated floor pan of the bus, like 1/4" subfloor rated plywood.

Sat Mar 20, 2010 5:46 pm

Kirk wrote: Nice. I love the color. And the kitty. I like kittys. :D Did someone say paint it? Oh no.

I hate your new avatar..... well, no I don't, just jealous...

Sun Mar 21, 2010 2:09 am

Okay, a few of you have mentioned paint. I love the color, the problem is, the doors are obviously from a different bus, they are the same vw color, just slightly off. I will also be repairing the rusted through driver's side kick panel , and eventually repairing all the dents and dings. My plan was to get a shiny new paint job, same color, once it's all done. My dad has been painting roadsters and the like for 25+ years, he's very good at matching color, I was going to have him at least mix the paint for me, if I can't convince him to do the whole job.

So that's the plan, Stan. Good? Bad? Everyone seems to have a different opinion on paint...

Sun Mar 21, 2010 11:07 am

I think that's a great idea, especially since you know someone that can help you out.

Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:56 pm

The bus is packed, the champagne's on ice, and we are ready to go.

We will be making or first trip of the year this week, we're leaving tonight around 2am. This will be our route:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&...09&z=7

Anybody recommend good camping between Ellensburg and Wenatchee? We don't need electricity, but the lady would like a shower nearby.