TheSamba.com :: View topic - Surfer459's 78 "Hippie Killer" build thread

Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:21 pm

So I have finally decided to start a build thread after working on my fat chic for quite a while. It's a 1978 Bay with a lot of rust and other issues!

A few pics after I picked her up.

Installed Wagenswest front beam, drop spindles, and horseshoe plates

After adjusting the drop.

Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:32 pm

After the drop I sent the "Hippie Killer" to Smith Foreign Automotive for a complete brake job. The bus recieved new front rotors, calipers and brake pads. The rear recieved new pads, drums and emergency brake lines. So all the stopping is taken care of :)

Whent he bus returned I pulled the engine to start bagging the rear. Then I ordered 2500# bags for the rear and used the mounting plates used for a bug. Like this...

Pic of bags installed. Just cut out part of the rear floor to access area to weld in mounting brackets.

Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:49 pm

Cool, but I think this might belong in "How to lower your Bay" thread

Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:53 pm

As of right now I ordered a new engine, should be here in a few weeks! Recieved my air ride compressor and control system. Waiting on the air tank and fittings now. I went ahead and C notched the frame, poorly I might add :(

Then I welded in the brackets to the front bumper. Removed the mounting bolts, then welded and shaved the bumper for a cleaner look. The PO had mounted the front bumper with screws! I had to drill out mounting holes and weld in nuts to mount the bumper correctly, what a pain!

Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:57 pm

Next on the list is to weld in new rear fenders (the PO cut them for some reason). Put in a different sun roof and complete the rest of the body work. Then finally install my new engine and air ride system to get this thing back on the road. As I continue I will update with more pics :D

Thu Mar 17, 2011 6:36 pm

I love it, I lowered my '77 sunroof bus with an adjustable beam and just adjusted the rear....I even had the clear taillights for a while, but switched to the dark ones (looked better on a white bus)......looking good, keep up the good work!!

Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:00 pm

Collie wrote: I love it, I lowered my '77 sunroof bus with an adjustable beam and just adjusted the rear....I even had the clear taillights for a while, but switched to the dark ones (looked better on a white bus)......looking good, keep up the good work!!

Yeah I have replaced the clears also, not a fan of clear tail lenses.

Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:13 pm

Go! TEXAS GO!

Keep up the mods. Cool build 8)

Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:43 pm

babysnakes wrote: Cool, but I think this might belong in "How to lower your Bay" thread

Respectfully...Nuh uh...leave it here. If he's going to document an entire restoration, it should be here. Otherwise, everytime someone does a build thread and then gets to the part where they lower the bus, the thread will move to that "soup". It this is a democracy (and I know it's not), I'd vote to leave it out in the sunshine...I want to see what happens next. Maybe it'll get painted or something.

Steve

Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:15 pm

Westy Steve wrote: babysnakes wrote: Cool, but I think this might belong in "How to lower your Bay" thread

Respectfully...Nuh uh...leave it here. If he's going to document an entire restoration, it should be here. Otherwise, everytime someone does a build thread and then gets to the part where they lower the bus, the thread will move to that "soup". It this is a democracy (and I know it's not), I'd vote to leave it out in the sunshine...I want to see what happens next. Maybe it'll get painted or something.

Steve

Once all the body work is done and its completely mechanically sound its going to get painted! I already have all new window and door seals for the entire rig waiting for after it gets painted 8)

Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:14 am

Westy Steve wrote: babysnakes wrote: Cool, but I think this might belong in "How to lower your Bay" thread

Everytime someone does a build thread and then gets to the part where they lower the bus, the thread will move to that "soup".

Fixed it for you :D

Fri Mar 18, 2011 9:02 am

makes late bays look cool. good job, and yes this deserves its own thread.

Fri Mar 18, 2011 1:08 pm

Agreed!

Fri Mar 18, 2011 3:55 pm

Since I bought the bus I wanted to run without a rear bumper. The only downfall to this is the little metal tabs just under the rear engine door, they're ugly in my opinion. So I decided to cut them off and weld and shave them.

A quick pick after cutting the tab and grinding it smooth. The metal here is in poor shape and was tough to weld. Seems the more I dig into the bus the more I find poor body work and rust.

After welding and grinding with the first layer of filler sanded.

The final product

Fri Mar 18, 2011 4:48 pm

Hey, can you give some details (pix) on the roof? I know that Bay sunroofs are problematic and the ragtop roof seems like a good idea and looks awesome. Is that a Britax? (sp)?

Steve

Fri Mar 18, 2011 5:25 pm

Westy Steve wrote: Hey, can you give some details (pix) on the roof? I know that Bay sunroofs are problematic and the ragtop roof seems like a good idea and looks awesome. Is that a Britax? (sp)?

Steve

The roof blows! I have no clue what it is, the PO installed it. I actually planned on removing it and welding in a thick piano wire around the sunroof opening. Then taking a page from the old school hot rod guys and have a cloth roof that snaps on over the sunroof opening. You just unsnap it and boom; sunroof!

As far as pics, I will try and get some tomorrow if I get the time.

Fri Mar 18, 2011 7:56 pm

That bus is/was a Camper, not a OG sunroof Bus...

Looks like it was a Riviera based on the windows.

Fri Mar 18, 2011 8:27 pm

RidinRetro1973 wrote: That bus is/was a Camper, not a OG sunroof Bus...

Looks like it was a Riviera based on the windows.

Yep, like I said the PO did a lot of stuff to it. It still has a water hook up and electrical, I will be deleting this though.

Sat Mar 19, 2011 4:45 pm

Pics of the sun roof as requested. It was hard to get a good wide shot in my garage so I took a couple. As you can see from the pics it looks like a normal sliding roof that has been cut and bent to fit the shape of the roof.

Sat Mar 19, 2011 9:04 pm

I think its cool. I'd try to make it nicer and keep it. When a ragtop is open and it makes that accordian shape in the back, it has a pretty nifty look to it. A bonus is that you can open them at a traffic light and close them in 2 seconds if it starts to rain. On my ragtop beetle, I didn't even have to stop. I'd wait until it started to sprinkle, reach back, and slam it home. Can't reach back on a bus, but I think you'd find you'd use it more if you could keep it working. Just my two cents, FWIW.

Steve