TheSamba.com :: View topic - New Addition to the Family!

Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:54 am

Hubby got infected by the VW disease again. After working on mine and now driving it, he had flashbacks of his Super he had when we met millions of years ago.

SO...he brought home this 1968 Bay Window Walkthrough Transporter. YAY! Love it \:D/

He plans on cleaning it up and doing some minor patchwork, dropping in a 1600 and tranny, lowering it and driving it. It will get a partial paint job since the PO before the PO he got it from painted it blue from the beltline down. He's gonna leave the top white with it's "patina" but sand it from the beltline down and paint it a satin black and possibly paint the beltline itself a deep red that matches the interior that he also plans on painting the rims with.

It will be a daily driver to save miles and gas on the Tahoe and for the cruises and shows I go to in the bug. Nothing fancy. Hmmmm, that might be a good "name"...Nothing Fancy...

Anyway - This is not so much of a build thread as it is a Help Us Learn About Our VW Bus thread. 8-[

I'll post a few pics of it now and some more later since hubby is taking the seats, mats, etc. out to clean it up and find what needs to be fixed.

Also, anybody got a line on a 1600 and tranny??

EDIT: My son made a point to tell me to add this: The bus will be his so by the time he's old enough to drive, we can make it a long term restoration and he can fit lots of girls in it. :lol:

Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:06 am

Here's some pics...

(I like this one - you can just see the German instructions!)

Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:13 am

Now for help on identifying stuff...

What is this lever beside the post under the dash? it moves up and down.

What is this knob in front of the seats? It's missing on the passenger side and we can see a cable, but it won't move.

What is the big dial for? Nothing moves, but I didn't turn it much since I don't know what it does. I know the lever moves the seat back and forth.

Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:21 am

I posted a pic and question about the electrical outlet installed in the bus. There's more. There are TWO outlets and one reverse outlet under the driver's side tailight. :-k

What can you use them for? Lights? Hair dryer? TV?

One of the PO's also installed an aftermarket dome light and did a hack job installing a rv skylight, which we will replace with a good new one just because the damage is done.

Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:23 am

Also, how do I check the M-Codes? It confuses me. :oops:

Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:30 am

the small knobs are part of the heating and the big one is to adjust the back rest of the seat.

EDIT: m code is behind that back rest

Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:33 am

http://www.alltheprettybuses.com/_d_decoder.asp

Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:34 am

Cool! Thanks VWDruid! I took pics of the M-Code plate and the VIN Plate. I'll try to decipher it! :D

Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:39 am

The male plug on the rear is for shore power,do not plug power into it until you inspect all the 120v wiring.Take an ohm meter and verify there is no continuity between hot (small spade) neutral (large spade) nor to the body of the bus

Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:40 am

AWESOME link!!!!

August 31, 1967

Exported to New Orleans

7 Seater Micro Bus

Extras Code 147 (Don't have a clue what that means)

Paint - Lotus White L282

Interior - Indian Red

Additional options - Vent windows and sliding windows

Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:41 am

bsairhead wrote: The male plug on the rear is for shore power,do not plug power into it until you inspect all the 120v wiring.Take an ohm meter and verify there is no continuity between hot (small spade) neutral (large spade) nor to the body of the bus

That's what I was hoping it was for. You never know with PO's. And thanks for the advice on checking the wiring.

Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:09 am

Nice purchase. Best of luck with it...

Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:14 am

Chazbot wrote: Nice purchase. Best of luck with it...

Thank you. We'll need it. But you just can't beat a bus. Especially for a long road trip. I'm already seeing a 3/4 roof rack and a trip or two to the beach or up into the mountains. 8)

By the way, nice Westy. We love to go camping and fishing. Wish the Bay could tow our pop up! That'd be so cool!

Sat Mar 20, 2010 12:13 pm

The lever under the dash is for directing heat from the floor vents to the defrost vents on the dash. The little knob that pulls out opens and closes the foot vent for the rear passengers (it is located near the floor, facing the rear at the back of the walkthrough. The big knob is for adjusting the backrest on the drivers seat and the m-plate is located behind that backrest.

Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:58 pm

He is in the process of removing the interior and cleaning it. The red is coming out gorgeous. Amazing what a little soap and water can do!

There is some very minor rust on the floors so he's sanding that and will be spraying on a rust inhibitor. The plan is to then coat the entire floor with roll on truck bedliner and then just cover that with the rubber floor mats.

Found a 1600dp long block and tranny here on the Samba, we're going to get them this Saturday morning.

He's compiled a list of some parts he needs and he'll be posting want ads and searching for those.

Progress! :)

Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:01 pm

Quick question:

How does a Bay look without a headliner? The PO before the one he got it from cut a 17 x 17 hole in the roof and inserted an rv vent. But it was a freakin' hack job. :evil:

Wish we could get a rag top clip...

Anyway, guess we'll just get a new vent and at least install it in a cleaner fashion, but the headliner has been trashed.

Thinking about running it without a 'liner...

Thoughts on this, anyone?

Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:26 pm

I LIKE them with wood headliners. vents since already there is good for the summer when it gets really hot. now slam that shit and roll it. rags on bays is weak in my opinion. :evil:

Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:53 pm

420GOAT wrote: I LIKE them with wood headliners. vents since already there is good for the summer when it gets really hot. now slam that shit and roll it. rags on bays is weak in my opinion. :evil:

:lol: :lol:

"slam that shit and roll it" HELL YEAH! :twisted:

I just searched pics and we think we agree, something about the rag doesn't suit a bay.

Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:57 pm

Yay you got it! Still love that color of interior...mmm Indian Red

Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:22 pm

skid wrote: Yay you got it! Still love that color of interior...mmm Indian Red

yeah...the interior was the hook. :D

I'll take new pics tomorrow after he does some more cleaning.