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

Sat Mar 19, 2011 9:22 pm

Westy Steve wrote: 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

It just seems to be of poor quality. Now if I could find one that would fit the roof corectly I would jump all over it.

Mon Mar 21, 2011 3:47 pm

Removed the front seats before work to prepare for tubing the front. The driver side seat was a pain!!!

Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:55 am

Well I have some pics of the front tub work. Just welded in some 14 gauge steel, and yes I know my welds suck! Soon I will have a plasma cutter to clean up some of the excess metal on the back of the tub, I chose to leave it until then.
On a side note I recieved my air tank so I'm setting up the air lines etc. for the rear bags. She will be alive soon!

Top section cut out for the tub work

Two inch plates welded to the front and rear

The almost finished product, I still need to grind some more and clean up some stuff.

Pic of the seat bracket, shows where you need to drill to remove the spot welds

Box I made for the other seat bracket, ugly welds you can see here :cry:

A pic of the door cut out I had to make to fit over the tub. It has on piece welded to rebuild the door metal. Soon enough I will finish welding the rest but need a plasma cutter first the get the cuts nice.

Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:28 am

Well all the rear air ride is done. Compressor tank and lines are ran and working well. It raises the rear from low to stock height in about a second, sweet! A lot of work but well worth it for someone who wants to ride low but not tear up there bus. Once all the lines are set where I want them exactly and its cleaned up i'll snap some pics.

Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:46 pm

Looking forward to it!!!!

Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:20 pm

You gona make a vid of this beasts suspension in action? That would be very interesting to see. 8)

Mon Mar 28, 2011 5:46 pm

surfer459 wrote: Westy Steve wrote: 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

It just seems to be of poor quality. Now if I could find one that would fit the roof corectly I would jump all over it.

http://www.parisbeetles.co.uk/bus%20sunroofs.htm

Have a good rep, as far as I'm aware...

Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:44 pm

Those look really good. I'd have a hard time hacking a bus, but if I had a bus that was already hacked or a factory sunroof that I couldn't find parts for, I'd be sorely tempted...

Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:54 pm

Dude this build is sick! Get some video on here of the new setup!

Tue Mar 29, 2011 7:24 am

I was going to try and wait till the engine is back in and all the stuff is cleaned up for a vid but I might have to do one premature. I did take a couple of pics with the rear aired down and then aired up! It is of course going to be much lower when the weight of the engine is back, wish the new one would hurry up and show up!

No air running just on the rear torsion bars and shocks without the engine weight at 14"

Bags aired up with 100 PSI at 18". I need a better camera and a budy to come by and take some wider shots while I air it up and down to get a better ided. 4" of difference is plenty to save my engine from speed bumps and my driveway! Tired of sparks and scraping!

Sun Apr 03, 2011 10:32 pm

Still no video of the bags, should get one soon. Did finish the tubs on the driver and pasenger side though. I have them cleaned up and finished, now for the pics.

Pasenger side cut out

The rear plate I made with my new plasma cutter! Love new tools :shock:

Pic with everything done and the seat bracket welded back in.

Mon Apr 04, 2011 5:11 am

How tall are you? If I did that to a bus Id have to cut a hole in the roof for my head :wink:

Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:56 pm

notchboy wrote: How tall are you? If I did that to a bus Id have to cut a hole in the roof for my head :wink:

I'm five foot ten inches tall. I mocked up everything before and I have a few inches of clearance. I have put both seats back in to test and the few inches of clearance is still there. Plus, I want to be nice and low. I'm willing to sacrafice a little head room.

Tue Apr 05, 2011 4:41 pm

Finished boxing in the driver side door cut out. Its fits nicely around the tub and after a little cleaning up will be ready for paint.

Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:43 pm

I'm Impressed. If you are into it, nothing looks as nice as a slammed Bay. Not even a Split.

Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:22 pm

Brionp wrote: I'm Impressed. If you are into it, nothing looks as nice as a slammed Bay. Not even a Split.

I agree, I'm partial to slammed Bays. The cool thing about the build is it has improved my welding ten fold and I'm not afraid to chop into anything anymore. I'm much more confident in my skills :D

Tue Apr 05, 2011 10:04 pm

surfer459 wrote: The cool thing about the build is it has improved my welding ten fold and I'm not afraid to chop into anything anymore. I'm much more confident in my skills :D

Good for you. Keep up the good work. Look forward to see the vid of the air ride in action.

Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:49 pm

Stupid engine did not show up today :x . Ruined weekend off now!

Thu Apr 14, 2011 5:17 am

Made an electrolisis set up to clean up rusted engine tins etc.

Finally got my new engine!!!

I will start the engine build today. Btw, my cooler fan has one missing blade, do I need to replace it?

Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:50 am

surfer459 wrote:

Looks like your cooking shrimp! :shock: :P

-dasdachshund