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Colonel_Mustard Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2010 Posts: 400 Location: Newfoundland
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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Got a little more work done on the Colonel lately.
Got in a new fuel pump and filter, caps, sway bar mounting kit, H4 headlights and pertronix electronic ignition.
Had two of these caps on one side of the bus since I had to take two for the trailer:
New and old:
Thats better:
Thats not going to work:
Much better:
The brackets have been broken like that since I got the bus, about time I finally fixed it. A noticeable improvement in handling as well.
Had some difficulty getting the pump out but managed to fab up something to get it back in after some cutting. Old:
And new:
Also replaced this cracked up old fitting:
Better:
Got the electronic ignition in, no more points. Also got the pertronix coil to match. Im sure my other one would have been fine, but this one is shiny haha:
And a trick I learned from The Samba to fix the gap in my engine seal:
Clasps from a bandage:
Next I got some new front brakes:
Old and busted:
New hotness:
Old and even more busted:
Bam:
And finally, out with the old lines:
In with the new,
Just need to get my parking brake working correctly, think I need some new cables.
Whats a guy to do after all this work?
_________________ 1984 VW Rabbit GTI
1977 VW Type 2 Westfalia
1972 VW Super Beetle |
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Colonel_Mustard Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2010 Posts: 400 Location: Newfoundland
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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Well, rust sucks. But it wont be until the winter before I can get real metal work. So, my brother and I did a quick job over two days to make the bus look a little better for the summer. Over the winter the rust will be cut out and new metal welded in. So dont worry about the quality for now haha.
We had a few issues with runs, painted in the evening when it wasnt very warm due to time constraints. May try to fix it up but its only for another month and a half so I dont really mind, looks better than before.
The first spot, the one that ruins all my pics, drivers dogleg:
So very nasty:
Bit of fiberglass mat:
Shortstrand:
Sanding:
Whole dogleg:
Some bondo:
Next, started down the drivers side rocker area:
And the rear quarter, lots of bondo already on there:
Fiberglass repairs:
And the rear of the fender, more bondo found:
Rear section:
Sliding door:
Yep, more thick bondo:
Drivers side ready for paint:
Yay, no more hole:
Its a different color, but like I said, this was a super quick job just to make it look better for the rest of the summer. Its a huge improvement.
Close enough....
Rear section:
Sliding door:
Also did a quick and dirty respray of the bumpers, and rust under the headlight.
Before:
After:
Before, rust holes:
After, smooth:
_________________ 1984 VW Rabbit GTI
1977 VW Type 2 Westfalia
1972 VW Super Beetle |
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mj2638 Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2009 Posts: 126 Location: Surf City North Carolina
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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 9:57 am Post subject: |
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Holy crap that turned out good... I hope that's not what's under my paint! _________________ 70 Transporter, 9ft Stewart |
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Sloride Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2002 Posts: 925
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Colonel_Mustard Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2010 Posts: 400 Location: Newfoundland
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 1:32 pm Post subject: |
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mj2638 wrote: |
Holy crap that turned out good... I hope that's not what's under my paint! |
Thanks, Ive gotten a lot of comments from people lately on what great shape the bus is in haha. Cant wait to get it all cut out and new metal.
Sloride wrote: |
Looking good Colonel. All ready for your show this weekend.
Craig |
Thanks, the show was a success despite the rain. I hear you will be down for a while soon? _________________ 1984 VW Rabbit GTI
1977 VW Type 2 Westfalia
1972 VW Super Beetle |
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Sloride Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2002 Posts: 925
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Colonel_Mustard Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2010 Posts: 400 Location: Newfoundland
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Colonel_Mustard Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2010 Posts: 400 Location: Newfoundland
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Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:46 am Post subject: |
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Finished up the brake work on the bus the summer. As posted, got new calipers, pads, rotors and flex lines up front. The rears were pretty good but needed two new e-brake cables.
old:
new in:
Also put new star adjusters in as the old ones were corroded and hard to turn:
Got some new cheap front signal light covers as mine were cracked up.
Old:
New:
Switched up the decals on the rear, 'eat' went on a little crooked so Ill have to fix that:
And what is my fave update to the bus so far, retractable seatbelts:
Old:
New, retractable goodness:
Got a new deep cycle battery for the auxiliary set up in the camper:
During a camping trip I got an oil leak. Was dripping down onto the muffler and out the back, all over the bumper. Was leaving a nice trail of white smoke behind the bus on the highway as it was being burned off the muffler
Leak was coming from the oil cooler:
Pulled one from the stash:
Oil leak fixed :thumbup:
Cleaned out some of the beetle parts to make room for the winter storage of the bus.
Before:
After:
Using Peachy for storage. covered with a tarp after:
And time to do what I do best, tear stuff apart. Getting the bus gutted for some winter work.
Before:
After:
Didnt get it as stripped down as I wanted before I left for Ontario, but enough that my brother can get started on some metal work. Will finish stripping it down over Christmas when Im home and hopefully have the metal work done sometime next summer.
_________________ 1984 VW Rabbit GTI
1977 VW Type 2 Westfalia
1972 VW Super Beetle |
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Colonel_Mustard Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2010 Posts: 400 Location: Newfoundland
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Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 11:20 am Post subject: |
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The shelter made it through another hurricane Was a little worried about my shelves, tons of weight on them and it was starting to sink through the floor, but me and my bro braced it up as best we could before I left and it seems to be doing its job.
Got to enjoy the bus a little over the summer, never have time to use it as much as I want.
My cousin wanted to get some grad photos with the Colonel:
Checked out the local classic car meet at A&W a few times:
Got to put the new trailer and canoe to good use:
Made it to the Dub Show, a VW car show I organize, unlike last year:
And entered it in a car show in my home community:
Got a few camping trips in, first to Malady Head in Terra Nova Park:
And next to Kilmory Resort in Swift Current:
_________________ 1984 VW Rabbit GTI
1977 VW Type 2 Westfalia
1972 VW Super Beetle |
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Colonel_Mustard Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2010 Posts: 400 Location: Newfoundland
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Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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All that fiberglass work was just a weekend project to get me through the summer. This winter the real work starts. Got first shipment of metal for that.
Front doglegs
Inner splash panels
Rear wheel arches
Rear corners
Rear apron
Sliding door lower skin
Inner right rocker
Outer left rocker
Still have to get the Inner left and outer right rocker sections, and the section under the front windshield. Tons of metal work to be done. _________________ 1984 VW Rabbit GTI
1977 VW Type 2 Westfalia
1972 VW Super Beetle |
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dugfresh Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2012 Posts: 651 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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I just got my first bus, and it is going to need a lot of that new skin/metal put on. Really cool to see your transformation and how you use the bus while you're working on it.. |
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Colonel_Mustard Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2010 Posts: 400 Location: Newfoundland
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Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 6:40 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, there will be lots of updates when the new metal starts going in. The Colonel was in pretty great shape when I got it, and I hate not being able to use it. Trying to upgrade it a few pieces at a time so I can keep on driving it. _________________ 1984 VW Rabbit GTI
1977 VW Type 2 Westfalia
1972 VW Super Beetle |
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airschooled Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012 Posts: 12688 Location: on a bike ride somewhere
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Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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Colonel_Mustard wrote: |
Thanks, there will be lots of updates when the new metal starts going in. The Colonel was in pretty great shape when I got it, and I hate not being able to use it. Trying to upgrade it a few pieces at a time so I can keep on driving it. |
Looks great!
I know what you mean! Mine was in fair shape when I got it, and I have only had one or two days when I was not able to drive it due to some repairs taking longer than I thought. I hate not being able to take off when I want, but that's why they call it 'maintenance'- so it doesn't become 'repair' later! _________________ Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com |
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Colonel_Mustard Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2010 Posts: 400 Location: Newfoundland
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shiningstar76 Samba Brewer
Joined: July 12, 2003 Posts: 2689 Location: Savannah
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Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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VW really had it down by the time the late westies rolled out. Gorgeous, livable mini apartments. Fantastic bus. _________________ KK4NTP
96 Tacoma
86 4Runner
My bus caught on fire and is now on the other coast with someone who gave me money for it. |
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Colonel_Mustard Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2010 Posts: 400 Location: Newfoundland
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Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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Well the hopes of getting some metal work done over the winter fell through. This summer I did a few little projects on the bus but spent most of my time just driving it. Not enough camping, but lots of kms logged.
Pulling it out of storage, looking sad:
Had the interior stripped hoping for some metal work:
Bought another MK1 Rabbit for parts, and tidied up the front end of the Colonel:
Got my interior back in and started using it:
Here are some random pics from the summer:
Running great:
The Colonel and the 81 Vanagon I purchased for parts:
The Colonel and the other parts buses: Peachy, The Green Monster, and Old Bluey:
Hanging with some other generations:
Enjoying the weather with a cruise in the bus out to Topsail Beach:
The Colonel and some of the other family rides:
Couple of other VWs on the Dub Run:
My little brother got married this summer, wanted some pics with the Colonel. Of course nothing is ever that easy, fixing things in a tux:
Gotta share the joy that is driving the bus. Teaching my little bus-obsessed cousin how to drive a standard:
My older brother and his wife came home for the wedding, so they took turns driving:
My buddy driving us home from camping:
First camping trip with the family:
My buddy and I took the bus 430km to Salmon Festival for some camping and music.
Sorting the camping gear before hitting the road:
All packed and ready to roll:
Our spot for the first night, just outside of the town where the festival was:
At the campsite the next day, set up for a weekend of partying:
Did some decorating:
Bacon...:
Drinks:
The aftermath of a good weekend, about to head home:
Hit up a few car shows over the summer and got lots of interest in the bus, always had a blast showing it off and meeting new people.
Nick Coates Memorial Show:
Small car show at my home community:
Another local show:
Moved next to another VW before the show ended:
At my big VW show, The Dub Show:
Loaded with food donations collected at the show:
My favorite VW moment of the summer was visiting the kids and families at Ronald McDonald House. We raise money for them at the Dub Show and wanted to drop by with some aircooled VWs for the kids.
The VWs meeting to cruise to the house:
Meeting the familes at the house:
Did up some prize packs to hand out to the kids:
Giving a tour of the bus to one of the kids:
The summer was a blast but gotta take the parts bunny out and put the Colonel back inside for the winter. Hopefully some little projects will get done over Christmas:
_________________ 1984 VW Rabbit GTI
1977 VW Type 2 Westfalia
1972 VW Super Beetle |
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Colonel_Mustard Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2010 Posts: 400 Location: Newfoundland
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Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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Not a lot of work done on the bus this summer. I did completely reinstall the interior in it as seen in the previous pics.
I upgraded the battery isolator:
This happened to my exhaust:
Got a new muffler installed. Hoping to eventually go back to stock, but working with the POs stuff for now:
The day before a car show I got a flat tire on one of my Federal Ecovan tires. Had to take the spare off the front, it gets kinda gross under there:
Had to quickly slap some paint on it so it didnt stick out at the show:
Was having charging issues that I couldnt quite figure out. Brought my alternator to get checked out. They popped off the back cover and found a loose connection where the main wire attaches to the post. Replaced the whole wire and its good to go:
As part of finishing the camping section of the bus, and finishing the interior, I will be going through the electrical, plumbing, and propane systems for the kitchen. My bus has an extra tank installed. Ive never had these filled before. Figured I would downsize to one tank which is plenty for what I need.
Out:
Turns out there was no regulator on the tank, so I added a new one:
Test mounting tank for new line placement:
Have bought all new propane lines, including a hard line to run under the bus and fittings. Will continue that project over Christmas.
Small little upgrade, replaced the city water hook up as mine had a broken cover:
Id been looking for a vanagon to get a kitchen out of, picked up this 81:
For this:
Brought it home:
Started the tear down:
The plan is to put this kitchen unit in to replace mine. Get the stove, fridge, sink, water tank, pump, etc all working as it should be.
Test fitting:
Cutting time, the unit is a bit longer than my unit:
Yes thats better:
More cutting:
Getting there:
Starting to look like something:
The PO has custom built the kitchen unit in my bus, adding a different fridge, sink and stove, and some custom cabinets. The rest of the interior is stock thankfully. I could go back to stock, as I have the parts, but my idea with this bus is to keep it looking fairly stock but make upgrades to make it more usable. Like I have done with cupholders, seatbelts, radio, speakers, etc. I dont mind some modification if it makes using the bus better, cause I drive the hell out of it.
Stock interior:
Mine:
New:
My wood paneling is mismatched now from the original, to the POs work, to the Vanagon unit. Planning to redo all the panels to achieve this look:
Still a lot of work to get to that point. Need to do the wiring, plumbing, and propane lines. Have to mount the unit in securely. The fridge needs some modification both to fit the current vent position and to make it function better. All the wood paneling needs to be re done and the edge trim needs to be switched to black. Table mounting needs to be modified as this unit isnt as wide as what I had. Few other small things but looking forward to getting it all done and finally using all the gear when camping. _________________ 1984 VW Rabbit GTI
1977 VW Type 2 Westfalia
1972 VW Super Beetle |
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discoloredcurrency Samba Member
Joined: December 10, 2003 Posts: 732 Location: West Monroe, Louisiana
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Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 7:56 am Post subject: |
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There is so much functional awesome in this thread! _________________ Andy |
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Colonel_Mustard Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2010 Posts: 400 Location: Newfoundland
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Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 3:00 pm Post subject: |
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discoloredcurrency wrote: |
There is so much functional awesome in this thread! |
I appreciate that. Its always really bothered me camping in the bus and not having everything working the way it should. Never really used the water in the bus, never used the fridge. Excited to go camping and be able to use everything. _________________ 1984 VW Rabbit GTI
1977 VW Type 2 Westfalia
1972 VW Super Beetle |
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Colonel_Mustard Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2010 Posts: 400 Location: Newfoundland
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Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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To celebrate 10,000 views on my thread on my local car forum, I did some comparison pics of the Colonel showing some of the changes from 2010 to now.
The exterior:
Engine:
Opened up:
Thanks for checking it out. _________________ 1984 VW Rabbit GTI
1977 VW Type 2 Westfalia
1972 VW Super Beetle |
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