| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
zuggbug  Samba Member

Joined: June 17, 2008 Posts: 1904 Location: Anderson SC
|
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Don,
Paul here - nice thread - good looking bus, with a lot of history.
keep the pics comming-
I just put type III on the rear of my 67 - still have not tested it out.
ready to get the front brakes - thanks for the hook-up on the front brakes. _________________ SOUTHERN INTEGRITY AIRCOOLERS
56 Kombi
72 Dormobile
58 15 window |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
don.ville Samba YardMan

Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 2289 Location: West Palm Beach, FL
|
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 10:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
9pm, put on some gloves and got to it....
First thing, with the pin out, the big nut was loose
Put the large o-ring around the bearing
Got it back together with high tack sealant everywhere.
Looks like this
Took a 30 mile test drive and still looks the same...
As good as it gets I guess.... _________________ 67 Standard 11 window How I Keep My Bus Alive
01 Mexican Beetle Hello Kitty Rescue (SOLD) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
don.ville Samba YardMan

Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 2289 Location: West Palm Beach, FL
|
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 5:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
Drove to Daytona (~200 miles). Drove all around the city and back. Bus ran very well.
Just measured and I have short axles...(did not know)
Need to check my front trans mount though. I have a gut feeling about it's condition... _________________ 67 Standard 11 window How I Keep My Bus Alive
01 Mexican Beetle Hello Kitty Rescue (SOLD) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
avj7209 Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2011 Posts: 15 Location: SUNSHINE STATE
|
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Wow don.ville, I just spent the last 1 & 1/2 hrs reading this thread. You've really put in a lot of work after the neglect from the prior owner and the butcher/builders prior to that. Keep up the hard work. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
tnelsonfla Samba Member

Joined: February 14, 2011 Posts: 26 Location: Royal Palm Beach
|
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 11:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
| avj7209 wrote: | | Wow don.ville, I just spent the last 1 & 1/2 hrs reading this thread. |
I agree, some of these threads have an addiction quality to them. I've sent PM's to Don.ville and he has been kind enough to answer. I go to some of the VW shows and one day I'll put the screen names with the faces. _________________ it takes patience and fair amount of Vaseline to change a rear tire.....VWTony2
so far this thread is making me change my mind..draginwagen
Looking for and Late spitty or a early Bay bus, Needs to be a runner...I can do the body work. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
don.ville Samba YardMan

Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 2289 Location: West Palm Beach, FL
|
Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 2:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Slow day...
Upgrading from my aluminum tape, printer paper and clear tape wheel center caps...
Cutting the torker caps (too tall for my taste)
Center cap lowering...
Smoothed off the cut
Used hot glue to hold the center piece in place and as a filler
Top view... going to fill in gaps with JB-Weld...
JB-Welding...
Low profile cap... when JB-Weld hardens tomorrow, I will smooth and paint (not a fan of the chrome caps).
For reference, some center cap sizes....
Looking for 2.5" to 2.75" wolfsburg crest sticker
 _________________ 67 Standard 11 window How I Keep My Bus Alive
01 Mexican Beetle Hello Kitty Rescue (SOLD) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
don.ville Samba YardMan

Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 2289 Location: West Palm Beach, FL
|
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 7:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
The finished product....
Haven't looked for the sticker yet..... _________________ 67 Standard 11 window How I Keep My Bus Alive
01 Mexican Beetle Hello Kitty Rescue (SOLD) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
don.ville Samba YardMan

Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 2289 Location: West Palm Beach, FL
|
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 7:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
Last few months I have been driving the bus only once a week or less.
While the bus would start, run, and idle perfectly, sometimes after it is warmed up, it would stall when I come to a light, or after getting off the exit ramp of the highway. Start it back up and it idles perfectly at 980 or so RPM.
I turned the idle up a little, but it would still stall sometimes....
I have thick intake gaskets,
new intake boots, and good vacuum line.
Well I recall adjusting the choke slightly after the weather warmed up in South Florida earlier this year.
So I checked and when the engine was warm, the throttle was still not on the bottom cam section.
So I readjusted the choke when warm to have the throttle adjusting screw just below the last step and left it there.
That definitely solved the problem. I returned the idle to 980, and it now starts, idles, runs beautifully, and does not stall when the bus is slowing down to a stop like it used to
 _________________ 67 Standard 11 window How I Keep My Bus Alive
01 Mexican Beetle Hello Kitty Rescue (SOLD) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
don.ville Samba YardMan

Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 2289 Location: West Palm Beach, FL
|
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 7:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
The last few months I have been driving the bus, I noticed (when it is quiet inside) that when I swerve to the LEFT, there is a noise that 'goes away'.
Anyone in the bus that is not used to it would not notice or hear it, but since I know how my bus sounds, and I was able to make it come and go, I knew it was not normal.
Sounded like a bad bearing on the LEFT rear wheel. If you swerve RIGHT the sound does not change.
My theory is when turning LEFT, weight is lifted off the LEFT tires, and any bearing noises would lessen or go away. In my case, the noise (not terribly loud, but noticeable) would go away.
I decided to take a look:
I was expecting to find the bearing damaged, but it seems the axle nut was loose and only being held in place by the cotter pin.
I got a new torque multiplier tool, and was all set to use it, and noticed the cotter pin was jammed against the axle nut, I had to break a piece of it off to get it out.
Once I took out the pin, the axle nut was able to come off by hand
I did not have an axle seal kit, and since everything else seemed OK, I am guessing one of the parts (like a certain spacer I was advised to not install) softened and allowed some more play to allow the nut to become loose.
I left the spacer and just put everything back together.
Got a new cotter pin from Lowe's and buttoned it back together.
Will report back on the status.  _________________ 67 Standard 11 window How I Keep My Bus Alive
01 Mexican Beetle Hello Kitty Rescue (SOLD) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
don.ville Samba YardMan

Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 2289 Location: West Palm Beach, FL
|
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 8:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
I bought my Autozone Duralast 42-DL in December 2008.
It is July 2011, and I drive my bus maybe once a week.
But each time if I go over 5 days without starting it, I have to give it a jumpstart.
I measured the battery voltage after I removed it, and it was 3 volts.
I decided to try my luck at getting a replacement from Autozone.
Cost me about $100 bucks, and since full replacement warranty was 2 years, my prorated credit was $35.
I realized the game, sell a battery and design the warranty around the life expectancy of the battery, this will keep you coming back...
$65 every 3 years (assuming $35 credit each time) to keep you in the store.
I have heard long life stories about the Optima red top line, so I applied my $35 credit and $12 core credit to a new Optima 72-25 red top battery.
Model 7586DT
Looks like this one was made in December of 2010
 _________________ 67 Standard 11 window How I Keep My Bus Alive
01 Mexican Beetle Hello Kitty Rescue (SOLD) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
don.ville Samba YardMan

Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 2289 Location: West Palm Beach, FL
|
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
NICE!!!!
Bus starts MUCH easier, in the first second of cranking.....
Weak battery was causing issues I would not have suspected....
Don't hear any noises from rear end. _________________ 67 Standard 11 window How I Keep My Bus Alive
01 Mexican Beetle Hello Kitty Rescue (SOLD) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
71sbeetle  Samba Member

Joined: August 15, 2002 Posts: 1246 Location: Wellington, FL
|
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 10:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
did you already get a new nut torque tool thingy or you want to borrow mine again ? _________________ Alte Schule Vintage and Performance VW club
www.gareymartin.com
flickr |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
don.ville Samba YardMan

Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 2289 Location: West Palm Beach, FL
|
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| 71sbeetle wrote: | | did you already get a new nut torque tool thingy or you want to borrow mine again ? |
I got one at the lakeland swap this year.
I sometimes get the urge top do shit at wierd hours and need to have one on the ready. Don't wanna hang on to yours for so long.
Thanks.
I'll lend you mine anytime you wanna do both sides at the same time  _________________ 67 Standard 11 window How I Keep My Bus Alive
01 Mexican Beetle Hello Kitty Rescue (SOLD) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
71sbeetle  Samba Member

Joined: August 15, 2002 Posts: 1246 Location: Wellington, FL
|
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
[quote="don.ville"] | 71sbeetle wrote: |
I'll lend you mine anytime you wanna do both sides at the same time  |
 _________________ Alte Schule Vintage and Performance VW club
www.gareymartin.com
flickr |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
don.ville Samba YardMan

Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 2289 Location: West Palm Beach, FL
|
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 3:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The red poly bushings in my narrowed beam groan and squeak quite a bit. The suspension actually moves in a sticky jerking motion instead of smooth like if I had used needle bearings instead.
I tried to drill a hole at the existing grease nipple hole thru the bushing, but the torsion arm is immediately behind the bushing right were the hole is
So I had to remove the spindle to take the torsion arms off.
I did it the lazy way, so I don't have to mess with brakes or the tie rod.
Here is where I was drilling into on the torsion arm
Pumped in some grease
Upper torsion arm super dry....
 _________________ 67 Standard 11 window How I Keep My Bus Alive
01 Mexican Beetle Hello Kitty Rescue (SOLD) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
don.ville Samba YardMan

Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 2289 Location: West Palm Beach, FL
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Snoop Bob Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2003 Posts: 2679 Location: Florida
|
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Looks lubed. _________________
| BarryL wrote: | | Put your lips onto the little tit with the hole in it inside and make a good seal. You can suck and blow but with a little resistance. It gets better after it's wet. |
| EverettB wrote: | | I would be interested in knowing the sizes of the various shafts. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
don.ville Samba YardMan

Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 2289 Location: West Palm Beach, FL
|
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 9:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Update on exhaust paint.
The spray on high temp black flaked off quickly, and the gray finish that it came with wiped off on everything.
So I hit the visible areas with a scrubbing pad and quickly painted it with this (without taking the muffler or bumper off):
using something like this:
After many miles, I am very pleased that it is not flaking off, and still looks good. I could have removed the muffler and done a better job, maybe later.
 _________________ 67 Standard 11 window How I Keep My Bus Alive
01 Mexican Beetle Hello Kitty Rescue (SOLD) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
bus guy Samba Member

Joined: November 13, 2002 Posts: 597 Location: Southsea, UK South Coast
|
Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 4:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Just read this from start to finish, great thread and yeah, like others have said, you have a TON of patience  |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
don.ville Samba YardMan

Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 2289 Location: West Palm Beach, FL
|
Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 5:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| bus guy wrote: | Just read this from start to finish, great thread and yeah, like others have said, you have a TON of patience  |
Thanks man, sorry to bore you
Looking for some models to pose while I am working on the bus  _________________ 67 Standard 11 window How I Keep My Bus Alive
01 Mexican Beetle Hello Kitty Rescue (SOLD) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
|