TheSamba.com :: View topic - The "Blue Bunny Express"1978 bay window bus

Sat Jun 04, 2011 12:25 pm

yesterday i bought a 1978 bay window bus for my wife. :D

what do you think?

Sat Jun 04, 2011 12:37 pm

more pics

Sun Jun 05, 2011 5:55 pm

here is the low down on the bus

paid 900 bucks for it.

engine and trans are in unknown shape but both free spin.

the body has minimal rust except floor pans and battery tray need replacing.

dog legs and structural metal are in good shape.

all rubber seals still seal but will have to be replaced.

big dent in nose and passenger door.

have tons of misc parts in bus including a/c unit and 2 FI systems.

today i bought my wife a copy of the Idiot book to start helping her understand how the engine and trans works.

this is her project but my Club and I will help her do the work.

Mon Jun 06, 2011 4:52 pm

decoded the Mcodes today thank you Samba Bus freaks for all the help and posts on m-codes. used my driod 2 and Samba to find my m-code plate and decode it.

Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:24 pm

i went on Wednesday to my friend and Club prez Rufus to help with the bus engine tear down. here are the pics of it

the start

after the FI system is removed

FI system in a milk crate

where we stopped at long block with oil drained out.

the oil didn't have any debris in it, the engine has good compression, and the only thing we found was that there was fuel in the oil. about a quart of it. so far everything it looking good. we will see once we take off the heads and finish the tear down. Wish us luck.

Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:48 pm

here are more BBE pictures

drivers floor board

steering wheel and dash :)

passenger seat and my gut :lol:

head liner and back view :)

the BBE 8)

passenger side

passenger side rot and shit patches :shock:

the cargo :)

rear seat and spare parts (including full FI system and old engine) :)

the cargo patches

more pics as we get further into her :wink:

Mon Jun 20, 2011 6:40 pm

more engine tear down pictures

everything had really good compression everything looks good so far.

i got the heads off and cleaned up, will have pics later and currently my wife is cleaning up and repainting the tin. :D

Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:25 pm

finished tearing down the engine. everything looked good! :D i ordered engine seal kit, and cleaning all the parts tomorrow using the parts washer on base!

Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:50 pm

Cool bus man. Looks like your on the right track.

Sat Jun 25, 2011 4:48 am

Juice C
Quote: Cool bus man. Looks like your on the right track.

I hope so. I'm wanting to do more but money and time are big constraints. this bus is for my wife. she has been stripping and painting the engine tin. while i'm at work. the BBE is two towns over at a friends place so its a commute to do almost anything.

but given some time and elbow grease My wife and I should have it road ready plus help from my Club is really pushing this along.

Tue Jul 19, 2011 4:02 am

Well so far the prez of my vw club has been helping me out a ton. With my underway schedule and my preps for moving to CT I haven't been getting as much done as I would like. My wife has refinished most of the engine tin, tons of parts are on the way and its happening slowly

Fri Aug 05, 2011 7:40 pm

here is what has been happening.

i have ordered a dual carb setup. (i know FI is better / correct :roll: )

got in tail lights, front signal lenses, battery tray, cv boots, brake hoses, bentley manual, shifter coupling, and a tons of parts.

engine has new bearings, rings and mostly reassembled.

engine tin is painted and test fitted

CV axles are reworked (boots / grease)

still need a fuel pump and regulator any ideas? need 3.5 psi.

heads need broken studs removed/replaced, cleaned, and reassembled.

fan housing my wife painted up

should have heads on and fuel tank out by sunday.

Sat Aug 06, 2011 2:01 am

Hah! Is that the Cheshire cat? Love it.

Sat Aug 06, 2011 8:12 am

freednighthawk
Quote: Hah! Is that the Cheshire cat? Love it.

:D it sure is she liked the colors of the original Disney movie and the style of the new Alice movie. i was skepitcal at first but after she finished painting it i find i was mistaken. she does really good work. i'm trying to butter her up to do some work on my engine tin for the 65 sunroof.

Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:34 pm

the lastest update.

been having issues with the heads exhaust valve guides are shot. so after going to a few places and ordering them (none ever came in after a month) i went to a place in VA beach that could get them so i got them on Wednesday.

today i took the dual kadron kit , trans mounts, clutch spring, and valve guides to my friends house.

after test fitting the empi manifolds found that they where not machined well. i called the guy i bought the kit from and he let me know its a common problem for the type 4 manifolds. So the left manifold is machined (ports and bolt holes) evenly but 1/8" to high the right side is machined crooked.

So we took measurements, check info, took more measurements, then took out a sharpie and laid out the cuts that will be needed to correct the problem.

i could send the manifolds back but by then it will be too late. i need the BBE on the road by 24 sept. So we will correct the issue. the heads / manifolds are with a machinist for work and we should be in business and the engine together soon.

i will post pics of the intake mods when i can.

Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:36 pm

here is the colors for the bus mango green bottom , ivory top with mineral wood flooring and panels. looking at a caramel colored suede leather seats

Thu Sep 15, 2011 9:09 am

ha that fan housing is sweet!

Sun Sep 18, 2011 9:02 pm

we have an assembled rebuilt engine that is not pumping oil, is back firing and my trans is the wrong one. Got to love half finished projects you can buy cheap from other ppl.

trans issue
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=481468&highlight=

Mon Jan 23, 2012 7:11 pm

new year update on the BBE!

the wrong trans we got will work since the PO put a 1.7l flywheel on the 2.0l engine. :) i found the correct starter and have two now. :) we are up in CT the BBE is in VA with PVWC club prez. :cry: from what i've been hearing from my friend back in VA a lot of ppl are waiting to see it on the road. :wink: My friend and some other cool type ppl from VCOT are helping to figure out what i did wrong on the engine. we are at a dead stop until spring. :cry: the bus has TN registration and tags, still needs fuel tank pulled and cleaned out, fuel lines replaced, brakes ran through, new cables run, wiring checked, needs tires, and i need to get up some cash to go back to VA to work on it. :shock:

on a side note. my wife and i want to put in a full bed and some other camper equipment to make it a weekender for us. we do have two jump seats from an early bay to start. i'll welcome any ideas to maximize our camping set up without going full camper. :?:

Mon Jan 23, 2012 7:21 pm

vid of the engine running since rebuild