My '58 DD Panel "The Smuggler"

[Joshua B]

I will try and get some pics up. Finally got some time last month to start working on it. Delivering packages during Christmas is a pain, and all this snow doesn't help either. Had to get some motivation so I looked at Tony's 61 Impala build . Damn lookn good Tony! Lets see it D-U-N and the BD get some of that attention.


\Later

[Tone Dog]

Yeah Im sure the cops burned it . I would have done the same thing.... Peace Tone DOg..

[Skim]

[Joshua B]

Have been getting some work done on the bus. I got most of all the small parts painted. The wheels, pedals and other parts were power coated. Bumper was straightened and powder coated, but the straighted it too much and powder coated it the wrong color. So I bent it the right angle, rewelded it and now I have to send it back to get reworked and re coated.

Did alot of welding. Got the left floor in, nose in, both outer doglegs finished, cargo floor done, and cargo hinge, and a bunch of hole plugged. I only have a small hole in the battery tray, the drug storage holes, some inner dog leg/ bulk head patches, and some random holes left to weld. Been working on door alignment, what a pain in the ass trying to get all of those doors with good gaps . Oh and I am teaching myself how to weld, so don't make too many shitty comments about the welding to me, but constructive comments are well appreciated.

Safaris are installed and the frames are straightened tapped and channels are patch welded. I had glass cut as well. The seals fit very poorly so I have to figure something out there (WW seals). I am also having a problem with hinge restoration. No one repos "correct style" hinges.

Next I need to fix the front seat frame. I stripped it and straightened it, but I have some rusty springs and need to figure out how to fix them, or find a good seat bottom. Also started messing with the gas tank. It has so much thick goo in it the radiator shop said they couldn't get it out.

Anyway here are some pics
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Joshua+B

[BarryL]

Radical repairs Joshua B. Did you do the butt weld at the lower nose across the "V" part pillar to pillar? How hard was that? Great accomplishments.

[Joshua B]

Thanks Barry. Yeah I butt welded across the nose. The "v" area on my replacement panel was wider than the original. Talked to another person that had this same problem. They ended up cutting some out of the middle and shrinking the v down to make it line up. I ended up cutting out that portion and straightening up my og section and welding it onto my donor panel. Then I welded the panel to the bus. It was definately time consuming and challenging with my amature skills

[j.pickens]

Uh, is that a Westy Table mount on that floor there?

_________________
Founder and Chairman Emeritus, ECMSAS
BBX BBXII and BBXXI Long Distance Award Winner

[Joshua B]

No, that isn't a Westy Table mount. It is just a piece of tube steel cut and welded to the floor. It was done in four spots, I think to mount a seat in the rear.

[j.pickens]

[EL DUB]

hey Joshua where in colorado are you?
_________________
Castle Rock, Co

Eric and Laura's DUB "EL DUB"

1964 Deluxe Bus
1959 Single cab
1963 Double Cab{coming soon}

SBS #77 Cuarenta Seis Para Vida

*****WTB Circle Motors Long Beach,Ca Plate frame.******

[49barndoor]

Very cool story Good luck with the DD

VW is now doing there own cannabis resin, I gather it was big in Scotland a few months back

[Joshua B]

Update. Hopefully I will have it out to paint next month. Installed 4 inch beam, rebuilt all brakes, stock bus upfront with type three in the rear. Installed bay master cylinder. Pine built trans, bug tunnel with 4:12. Installed type three long axles with wagens west offset adjustable spring plates. Installed the bus boys trans adapter, got repo later bus nosecone with hockey stick shaved the reverse light switch and installed. Stock wheels with 185/60's in the rear and 175/55's up front on crows feet. Rear wheels have .75 inch spacers and will use mercedes Binz 300sl Lug bolts. Sanded and Por 15ed the under carriage.

Built a stroker motor. 78.4x90.5 with 7.9:1 compression ratio. 042 heads with solid shaft rockers and swivle feet adjusters. Engle 100 cam with stock flywheel, deep sump and 40 Kadrons.


Rebuilt my crappy seat frame, replaced about 100 springs and had to reweld a bunch of the frame. Installed a WWC seat cover and used the horse hair padding.

I finished all of the metal work and am now starting on the body work. Have all of my parts purchased and all I need left is finish bodywork, paint and chrome work done.

[Joshua B]

[/img]

[space junkie]

very nice!

[Major Woody]

Lot of work there. Very nice.

[Joshua B]

It is getting there. Just have to start assembly now.

[vintagevolks]

[vintagevolks]

[Rich's 50]

[tstracy39]

Crazy amount of speculation on how much the pot would be worth. If you tried to sell it, whoever buys it would probably ask for their money back, and if that fails, turn you over to the police.
_________________
Check my classifieds for kewl gauges:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/search.php?username=tstracy39