TheSamba.com :: View topic - Brought home this '69

Mon May 07, 2012 12:11 pm

After two years of lurking here and only starting to ask questions, I finally pulled the trigger! I started bus shopping in June 2009, and three years later found exactly what I have been looking for.

For me, my bus shopping went like this:
1989: Born
1993: Start poorly drawing cars. Every drawing looks like a bus
2000: "Camper cars are sooo cooool!!!"
2004: definitely getting an older VW camper
2009: begin shopping (cluelessly) for a bus
2010: decide on camper interior and bay window model. must be minimal interior, and close to perfect body. I can fabricate my perfect interior, but I do NOT know my way around a welder. continue looking.
2011: decide on early (upright engine) bay after I helped my uncle work on his 1600 engine. still looking.
4/30/12: finish my last final of college. take This for a test drive
5/2/12: take This home :D

IMG_0287 by asiab3, on Flickr

As of right now, she has a small oil leak, a few broken trim pieces, but drives really strong. The interior is perfect for my needs right now, and I'll be building a icebox/storage/sink unit to mount behind the drivers seat. I have a 400 mile (roundtrip) adventure planned for late June, so I'll be doing all that I can to acquaint myself and get her completely ready.

Thanks to everyone on here for their help in pointing me in the right direction, both intentionally in my threads, and unintentionally with the years of searchable wisdom here. :wink:

Now to the nitty gritty: I've ordered my fuel line replacement kit from German Supply, and I would love any ideas on what else to inspect for. As of right now, the hole left by the lack of oil-bath air cooler is not plugged on the bottom right here:

IMG_0264 by asiab3, on Flickr

And I think the air filter element could use a good cleaning.

All in all I'm really happy with my new baby.

[Edited immediately for spelling mistakes]

Mon May 07, 2012 12:22 pm

That paint is badass.

Mon May 07, 2012 1:08 pm

Thanks for the motivation. Looks damn awesome! Looked through all your pics of it.

Also the first time I think I've seen a body color bumper on a bay. Looks nice.

Mon May 07, 2012 1:22 pm

Looks like you did your homework and got a really nice solid bus, congratulations! You should check to make sure those tires are rated for this type of vehicle. I like the interior scheme, looks classy. Now you just need a vintage cooler, a jump seat, curtains of some kind and a cabinet (or arm rest/storage box/speaker box) to go next to the bed. I bet hardwood floors would look great with that interior too.

Mon May 07, 2012 1:34 pm

What an excellent way to finish college!

I drove away from college in a 1969 bus, too, but it was a rustbucket. I remember way back then (1984) when I could cram all my stuff into that bus. 8) Last time I moved (about 14 yr ago, with a family of 5) it took an entire 18-wheeler moving van. :roll:

Looks like it's time for you to start L-I-V-I-N. 8)

Mon May 07, 2012 1:37 pm

asiab3 wrote: As of right now, the hole left by the lack of oil-bath air cooler is not plugged

And I think the air filter element could use a good cleaning.

Sweet Bus, sweet color -

Instead of plugging the hole and cleaning your filter element why not get the real oil-bath air cleaner? They work better and your hoses will all have places to go then. Great deal right here - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1244590 and here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1252199

Mon May 07, 2012 2:42 pm

Nice looking bus Robbie. 8)

I'm on my little old 'puter today so could only check out a few of your pictures right now. But more carefully later.
Looks like it was well worth waiting and doing more shopping. Evidently you got it at a beach city in Cali, did you drive it back here from there?

If you have it out and around bring it up to the Scottsdale Pavilions car show Sat. afternoon and we can check it over.

Bays are finally catching on around here. There have been quite a few real nice ones showing up in the last year or so.

Have you gotten your service manual yet?

Mon May 07, 2012 2:57 pm

Thanks for the comments everyone!

It looks like this has been in my family since 1974…

bentley by asiab3, on Flickr

It's been mine for two years… And it's the nice one with the colored wiring diagrams!

wiring by asiab3, on Flickr

Unfortunately, I'm with it in California for the summer, until October or November when I'll be working back here in the desert.

I've ordered my OBAC, I'll be checking the tires, and I'm already planning out my icebox and storage solutions :)

Mon May 07, 2012 3:01 pm

ccpalmer wrote: asiab3 wrote: As of right now, the hole left by the lack of oil-bath air cooler is not plugged

And I think the air filter element could use a good cleaning.

Sweet Bus, sweet color -

Instead of plugging the hole and cleaning your filter element why not get the real oil-bath air cleaner? They work better and your hoses will all have places to go then. Great deal right here - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1244590 and here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1252199

Yes. Get an oil bath instead of that filter. As was said before, thats only filtering rocks. Those tires arent load rated unless there is some magical white striped load rated tire I know nothing about.

Mon May 07, 2012 3:50 pm

Kirk wrote:

Yes. Get an oil bath instead of that filter. As was said before, thats only filtering rocks. Those tires arent load rated unless there is some magical white striped load rated tire I know nothing about.

I'm trying to purchase a used oil bath filter, but I'm a little hung up on the main operation of the different models/years. I'm going to assume, since I have a DP 1600 that I should use the '71 air cleaner. The '71 cleaner has a thermostat-controlled flap, and I'm not sure what the other early-bay cleaners use. (I move between Phoenix and Los Angeles, so I'm primarily based in warm climates, if that helps.) Will hooking up the correct flap mechanism to the air-cleaner be a hot mess?

I'm checking on the tires now……

Mon May 07, 2012 5:06 pm

asiab3 wrote: Kirk wrote:

Yes. Get an oil bath instead of that filter. As was said before, thats only filtering rocks. Those tires arent load rated unless there is some magical white striped load rated tire I know nothing about.

I'm trying to purchase a used oil bath filter, but I'm a little hung up on the main operation of the different models/years. I'm going to assume, since I have a DP 1600 that I should use the '71 air cleaner. The '71 cleaner has a thermostat-controlled flap, and I'm not sure what the other early-bay cleaners use. (I move between Phoenix and Los Angeles, so I'm primarily based in warm climates, if that helps.) Will hooking up the correct flap mechanism to the air-cleaner be a hot mess?

I'm checking on the tires now……

The early ones used a cable from the thermostat/shroud flaps to control the warm (pre-heated) air flap at warm-up. The '71 version used a wax mechanical thermostat in the air cleaner to control warm air at warm-up. Current theory says that most of these wax thermos don't work now so I just prop my warm intake air closed all the time; I don't drive in very cold temps...

Mon May 07, 2012 5:21 pm

That bus is sweet! I love the interior, just plain cool. Congratulations on the bus and on graduating!

Mon May 07, 2012 8:43 pm

nice bus !! I saw two safety items i would point out;the obvious is the fuel filter on the wrong side of the fuel pump,but the not obvious is removing the side lights.The front doesn't really matter since the original sidelight for that year was way back behind the front tire and you were already 2 1/2 feet into traffic / and the front parking lights could be seen from the side....what concerns me is the rear sidelights being removed;a 69 bus has flat taillights that can,t be seen from the side and backing out of anywhere in the dark is dangerous...I would like to offer a suggestion:putting small LED'S under the rear bumper on each side...good luck with your "new toy" be safe 8)

Tue May 08, 2012 1:50 am

grandpa pete wrote: nice bus !! I saw two safety items i would point out;the obvious is the fuel filter on the wrong side of the fuel pump,but the not obvious is removing the side lights.The front doesn't really matter since the original sidelight for that year was way back behind the front tire and you were already 2 1/2 feet into traffic / and the front parking lights could be seen from the side....what concerns me is the rear sidelights being removed;a 69 bus has flat taillights that can,t be seen from the side and backing out of anywhere in the dark is dangerous...I would like to offer a suggestion:putting small LED'S under the rear bumper on each side...good luck with your "new toy" be safe 8)

Thanks for the post and the PM. For the sake of clarification for now and future searches, the '69 bus was indeed manufactured in two slightly different styles. The '68-'69 models do not have any side lights. There are no lights in the Bently wiring diagram, and no mention of them in the owners manual dated to August '69, (page 35, 1969 manual: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/aug68bus/page35.jpg)

In August '69, the bus adapted to the '70 wiring scheme, which includes the 'side marker lights' as shown in the '70 manual, (page 39 1970 manual: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/jan70bus/70ownmanpage39.jpg)

My M-Code dated 2/69, so I have the early wiring scheme with no lights. For now, the jury is out on what I'm going to do for these. I don't plan on driving at night until my trip in June, but I would like to pick the brains of those who know more on the subject.

Thanks again to Grandpa Pete for pointing this out to me.

Tue May 08, 2012 2:09 am

Also, for anyone that's interested, I did learn a little about the story behind the bus. It was owned by an elderly couple in central California who stored it in the mid eighties when they found themselves not using it as much or it was unusable (I heard two stories…picture below.) In about 2006, and father and son team found it in a barn and restored it to its current state. I have every receipt and invoice for the entire job. Here it is being hauled away from it's 20+ year barn home.

loaded and ready by asiab3, on Flickr

I have about 40 pics from the restoration process, but I didn't want to post their mugs all over the internet… The shot above is the only one where there are no people or landmarks for identification :wink:

I bought the bus from a wonderful fellow in Southern California who just needed space and a more reliable vehicle for work. I think it's in the kind of shape that I'll have it the rest of my life :)

Tue May 08, 2012 4:39 am

asiab3 wrote: grandpa pete wrote: nice bus !! I saw two safety items i would point out;the obvious is the fuel filter on the wrong side of the fuel pump,but the not obvious is removing the side lights.The front doesn't really matter since the original sidelight for that year was way back behind the front tire and you were already 2 1/2 feet into traffic / and the front parking lights could be seen from the side....what concerns me is the rear sidelights being removed;a 69 bus has flat taillights that can,t be seen from the side and backing out of anywhere in the dark is dangerous...I would like to offer a suggestion:putting small LED'S under the rear bumper on each side...good luck with your "new toy" be safe 8)

Thanks for the post and the PM. For the sake of clarification for now and future searches, the '69 bus was indeed manufactured in two slightly different styles. The '68-'69 models do not have any side lights. There are no lights in the Bently wiring diagram, and no mention of them in the owners manual dated to August '69, (page 35, 1969 manual: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/aug68bus/page35.jpg)

In August '69, the bus adapted to the '70 wiring scheme, which includes the 'side marker lights' as shown in the '70 manual, (page 39 1970 manual: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/jan70bus/70ownmanpage39.jpg)

My M-Code dated 2/69, so I have the early wiring scheme with no lights. For now, the jury is out on what I'm going to do for these. I don't plan on driving at night until my trip in June, but I would like to pick the brains of those who know more on the subject.

Thanks again to Grandpa Pete for pointing this out to me.

True, no side lights but there were side reflectors both front + rear...

Tue May 08, 2012 11:51 am

Do you have any pictures of those reflectors? I can't find any in the manual, Bently or Owners.

Tue May 08, 2012 11:55 am

Interesting color I kind of like it.

Tue May 08, 2012 12:52 pm

ccpalmer wrote: True, no side lights but there were side reflectors both front + rear...
It's funny how many variations there were. My Irish DC from 1978 has no side lights, no side reflectors, and no front "parking lights" even. They made these really cheap for the Irish commercial market, and I guess the Irish standards were pretty low, too.

In a way I hate to change the pickup from its original configuration, but for safety's sake, there are good reasons to install these lights. I like the discreet LED possibility, too.

Tue May 08, 2012 1:08 pm

asiab3 wrote: Do you have any pictures of those reflectors? I can't find any in the manual, Bently or Owners.

Samba Gallery! http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=884024

I should have stated reflectors were on north american models...