1965 Kombi Rebuild Thread - PIC Heavy

[KombiMarc]

I sent out a bunch of parts to get blasted...WOW did they come out nice. I decided that the next project I do I will bite the bullet and get the whole rig blasted. Its not cheap but would have saved me hours and hours of manual sanding etc....lesson learned.

Picked up some dog leg skins to repair mine. Not sure who made them, there was some old faded stickers on the back, they were covered in surface rust, but all managable.

Here is the drivers side welded up. I had to detach, heat, and straighten out the bumper bracket, but it came out nice as well. Getting so close to welding in the cab floor!!! Major milestone there.

I had to cut out, straighten my drivers side bumper brackets. Works out nice, straightened out bumper real nice. Still a few dings, but ended up looking pretty good, need gaurds and overrider and bumper is sorted.

Figured I would get the steering box all cleaned and painted so I can put it back in with the floor.

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Thanks Marc
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'65 Type I
'65 Type II Kombi Rebuild Thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=459009

[KombiMarc]

Here is a shot of the drivers side, almost there, still need to do the final bodywork, block sanding etc, but getting there!!!

Somewhere along the line my gas gauge needle broke, after searching the forums on how to fix I quickly realized that the bezel cannot be removed without damaging it. It looks like they pressed the bezel on with a plastic bushing under it. So I cut the body open to see if I can replace the needle and weld it bac together...anyone know how to remove needle...just pull harder? Neat to see all the parts there....clean design.

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Thanks Marc
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'65 Type I
'65 Type II Kombi Rebuild Thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=459009

[KombiMarc]

I went looking for a local source for the front bumper guards and overrider. Found this in CL. Got the whole thing for a decent price, '74 texas plates and all. It had a good "twist" to it. The overrider had a couple dings at the guard, but looked manageable. I got it home and started in with the torch and WD40 to get the hardware loose, looks like it had never been dissassembled. Everything came off nice, good brackets, great guards. The end bolts on the overrider both broke, but welded a screw driver to the leftover bits and they came out fine. As soon as I got the last bolts off, the bumper flexed back to almost perfect shape. It was weird. The bend in the overrider was flexing the bumper when the pressue let go, the bumper snapped back into place perfectly. Alas the overrider I wanted might be beyond my skill to fix, but I got good guards and a PERFECT Patina bumper for someone, so I got some trade bait. If your looking for one PM me and I will email some better pics.

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Thanks Marc
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'65 Type I
'65 Type II Kombi Rebuild Thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=459009

[KombiMarc]

So in getting all my bits and pieces ready for final body work and paint I started looking at my apron. I thought I was going to fix it, but am thinking about a new once since this one is not original anyway. Then I started searching forums and think this is a 67 apron? and lid? See below, any thoughts? Are these true to 65 or 67? Is the hardware correct for 65? Any help would be appreciated.

I need to get overrider squared away, apron and parcey tray, then I can get everything ready for paint!! of course thats after a few weeks of block sanding...LOL

Any insight on the apron and lid is appreciated.

Thanks!!

End of update for now!!!
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Thanks Marc
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'65 Type I
'65 Type II Kombi Rebuild Thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=459009

[EverettB]

65 still had a church key engine lid and associated apron so those are 66-67.
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[KombiMarc]

Thanks Ev, that's what I was thinkking....got the knob btw, thx! Well, I want to be able to lock the engine compartment, so I will probably keep em.
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Thanks Marc
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'65 Type I
'65 Type II Kombi Rebuild Thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=459009

[busdaddy]

[BarryL]

[KombiMarc]

The pull is a two piece that accepts a t code key, although I need to get it Rekeyed. So it must be a 66.

Anyone know where to get gas gauge needles? Prolly just get a new gauge, but would be cool to fix.
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Thanks Marc
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'65 Type I
'65 Type II Kombi Rebuild Thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=459009

[KombiMarc]

Anyone buy install one of these?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=824725

It's a brazil made apron, price is right, looks good, thoughts?

Thanks
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Thanks Marc
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'65 Type I
'65 Type II Kombi Rebuild Thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=459009

[KombiMarc]

Summer was hot o my garage was pretty much unbearable. I managed to get a lot of grunt work done though, sanding, sanding etc. I have the undercarriage pretty much ready to go, couple clean ups and ready for some sort of paint underneath. Then I can get my running gear back on and get back to roller status in preperation for Paint? OMG?

I picked up some parts in the meantime, got a nice package tray, a good set of OG mirrors/arms, a nice bubblehead license plate frame holder and a few other odds/ends.

Spent a lot of time trying to get the long panel nice and flat, about 98%there. Shot primer last night and she is looking good. I got the bumpmers all cleaned up and just need to do a little work on the over-rider, but pretty much done.

Here are some pics......looking like a bus again with a fresh coat of primer. Wet sanding here I come.

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Thanks Marc
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'65 Type I
'65 Type II Kombi Rebuild Thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=459009

[zuggbug]

Marc, you are doing a fabulous job....one question.how in the world do you keep your shop so clean?
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SOUTHERN INTEGRITY AIRCOOLERS
58 15 window
56 westy

[KombiMarc]

[KombiMarc]

So I got to upload some new pics, but wanted to reach out and see if there are any phoenix-Metro-valley-area Samba members that have painted their own bus or do the odd spray here and there?

I am getting to the point where I can start thinking about paint...wow, 2 years + later and I am actually getting there. Anyway, I have done everything myself to date, but cannot bear to screw even think of spraying paint myself. I am ok with primer. I am not planning on going crazy with it, in fact just doing a little digging around on single stage paint.

My plan was to buy the materials, find a local Samba or otherwise VW guy that has some decent experience and pay them to paint it as a side project. The hope being that this person could come and critique the bodywork so that I can literally have everything done and ready to go, move the rig to spray location, prep-sol it and go!

Anyone have any thoughts or recommendations!!! Thanks!!
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Thanks Marc
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'65 Type I
'65 Type II Kombi Rebuild Thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=459009

[beelzibus]

Fantastic work. An inspiration.
Regarding the paint, personally I think you should shoot some paint around the interior, then the dash, and have a go at that. If you screw up, try again. If it's decent, select one reasonable sized panel, the decklid say, then move onto another removable panel, or the bumpers perhaps. Once you've done a bunch of the removable bits I'm sure you'll be good to go on the shell.
Everything you've done so far is great, why ship the painting out?

[KombiMarc]

Beelzi: Not a bad idea....that would allow me some "trials". I did good enough bodywork to leave the interior of the back exposed as a Kombi would be, so I could get my practice in there and if I dont like, redo or put panels on it.

I am for sure going to paint the undercarriage myself. I need to price the paint and amke sure I am not practicing with liquid gold, lol.

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement!!! If I did the "hard part" (paint) mt self the satisfaction factor upo completion would be at least doubled..
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Thanks Marc
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'65 Type I
'65 Type II Kombi Rebuild Thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=459009

[DukeBradbury]

Man, great work!

Spray it yourself. After reading through your posts and checking out the pictures, you do great work.

You would hate to have to say that someone else painted the bus when someone asks!

X2 on the sandblasting! I did the bottom of my bus. I will send the next project out for sure. What a PITA !!!

Keep the pics coming!

[KombiMarc]

So just when the weather started getting nice here in the desert, and I think I am gonna make some real strides on finishing body work for paint, I break my knee playing basketball. So I am now laid up and surgeon says 3 months after surgery I can put weight on that leg....FUN. It will be beginning of February before I can get back at it.....not too mention the diversion of funds to the health care system. Oh we'll, such is life. I will be living vicariously through everyone else's threads. So thanks in advance.
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Thanks Marc
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'65 Type I
'65 Type II Kombi Rebuild Thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=459009

[beelzibus]

Noooooooooo
That's a real bummer.
So, wheelchair time then, at least you can wet sand the bottom half from a seated position.

[DukeBradbury]

That sucks! Man, you were kicking butt too!

What kind of "booth" did you put up when you sprayed your primer?
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My 65 Deluxe build
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=475798&highlight=