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BobB10
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2010
Posts: 97
Location: Sussex, New Brunswick CAN
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 Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:40 pm Post subject: My '71 East Coast Camper, a restoration by GermanSupply |
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Hi I'm Bob, and this is the story of our 1971 Westfalia. She's a real beauty, and she's going to be even nicer soon...
It's thanks to Scott at German Supply and the many others that you will soon learn about. Our camper is currently in mid-restoration, and I wanted to share all the details with everybody in this forum.
The following posts will outline all the steps: the before, the strip-down, the paint, engine build... So I hope you will enjoy the transformation as much as we have been. (Oh and Scott says he will be monitoring this forum, so if you have any technical or specific questions, please fire away)
THE ARRIVAL
Well it arrived 2 days before Christmas many years ago... We bought it in running condition, from NovaScotia. It was found by a 'bug-guy' and it didn't really suit him. The story goes that he found it, at an estate auction, as it had been garaged since the 80's. It was still the original family who bought it in '71. He put it up for sale a year later and I found his ad on a local buy and sell. (and the rest, as they say, is history)
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1971 Westfalia Campmobile
Currently being restored by German Supply.
Last edited by BobB10 on Sun Dec 23, 2012 6:51 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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BobB10
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2010
Posts: 97
Location: Sussex, New Brunswick CAN
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| Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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Well, it turned out to be a pretty solid bus for being a 'canadian camper'. Only a few visible rust spots.
Being what appears to be a low miles bus (32k) she looks better in the pictures than in person, but by no means is she a junker... haha It had led an easy life as a camper for a prominent business man and politician in NovaScotia.
The heater was disconnected and for some reason it had single port heads on a #s matching case. Also at some point there was evidence that the battery had exploded, making a mess of the battery side.
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1971 Westfalia Campmobile
Currently being restored by German Supply.
Last edited by BobB10 on Mon Dec 17, 2012 5:52 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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BobB10
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2010
Posts: 97
Location: Sussex, New Brunswick CAN
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| Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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Used it as we should
Being in NewBrunswick, we only have to drive a few miles to find empty roads and beautiful campsites.
Oh and we still have a drive-in in our town. The boy lays down in the cot in roof to watch the movie!
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1971 Westfalia Campmobile
Currently being restored by German Supply. |
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BobB10
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2010
Posts: 97
Location: Sussex, New Brunswick CAN
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| Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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I started to notice things deteriorating... the engine started to give us trouble, lacked power, brakes started to pull to one side... All the seals in the bus were turning to dust.
We live in an area of the country where air-cooled people are pretty thin on the ground. And I'm not that technical (I know a lot of you are, and I'm learning, but this was beyond my capabilities) We found one older german fellow to look at our engine but couldn't do much since he had broken his hip.
So we decided to get her done right, so I could simply maintain her at home. We then contacted the 'bus expert' and shipped our precious camper to Toronto to be 're-born' in the qualified hands of Scott at German Supply.
I told Scott this will probably be the only time my bus will keep pace with a Dodge Challenger... Hahaha
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1971 Westfalia Campmobile
Currently being restored by German Supply. |
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dmuis
Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2004
Posts: 381
Location: Sunny Alberta, Wild Rose Country.
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| Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Already looks like a great start! |
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BobB10
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2010
Posts: 97
Location: Sussex, New Brunswick CAN
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| Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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At German Supply
It arrived at Scott's shop a few days later...
He had a good look at it and determined that it was a good solid bus but it had a poor quality respray in an incorrect colour. And suggested to soda blast the exterior, underbody and repaint. Build a mild performance engine to update the tired engine and overall make it look brand new but keeping it looking dead stock. He says that it'll be fun...
His pictorial assessment is next!
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1971 Westfalia Campmobile
Currently being restored by German Supply. |
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71surfbumsbus
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Joined: August 29, 2008
Posts: 83
Location: Long Beach
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BobB10
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2010
Posts: 97
Location: Sussex, New Brunswick CAN
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| Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:04 am Post subject: |
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| 71surfbumsbus wrote: |
Congrats! looks like an amazing find!
excited to see the progress |
Thanks!!! we're excited about it too...
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1971 Westfalia Campmobile
Currently being restored by German Supply. |
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BobB10
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2010
Posts: 97
Location: Sussex, New Brunswick CAN
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| Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:07 am Post subject: |
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My Main Goals for the Project
I want this to be a safe, fun, dependable machine first. There aren't many vw people out here and I don't want to have to fuss with it too much. We want to take her on longer trips, and not have to worry. I like a nice looking machine but my first choice would be to make it mechanically perfect, watertight and then pretty to look at on the campsites and in the driveway.
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1971 Westfalia Campmobile
Currently being restored by German Supply. |
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Sloride
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2002
Posts: 926
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BobB10
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2010
Posts: 97
Location: Sussex, New Brunswick CAN
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| Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:18 am Post subject: |
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Pictorial Assessment by GermanSupply
Before the strip down begins...
Markers are broken inside where they mount to body
Rust and overspray near sliding door track cover
All seals are bad
Poptop seals are bad and roof is a poor respray
Sliding door rubbers need to be replaced
Wiper arms have been resprayed poorly, we will replace with NOS or refinish these
We will replace this antenna with something that looks better
Tail light housings will be reconditioned / re-plated /replaced
This gives you an idea of how far off the colour is from the original
Interesting European power receptacle.
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1971 Westfalia Campmobile
Currently being restored by German Supply. |
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BobB10
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2010
Posts: 97
Location: Sussex, New Brunswick CAN
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| Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:22 am Post subject: |
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| Sloride wrote: |
| Your bus looks very solid. It is in great hands with Scott. Keep the pictures coming. What was the stock colour? |
Hi & thanks, yes he sure knows his stuff!! The stock color was L90D Pastel White... the repaint was 'too white' apparently...
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1971 Westfalia Campmobile
Currently being restored by German Supply. |
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BobB10
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2010
Posts: 97
Location: Sussex, New Brunswick CAN
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| Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:33 am Post subject: |
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Pictorial Assessment by GermanSupply Part 2
Wiper nozzles will be replaced
Door scraper rubbers are bad
Small rust spots typical of this bus - Scott said "if only my bus was this rusty”! 
Windshield channel has rust hiding for sure
Original gas heater will be retained, but replaced with a later model with metering pump
Bus has a gauge package installed which will be retained... (It has the coolest flat VDO tachometer that sits on top of the dash, I have never seen one like that, I'll see if I have a photo of it... and 3 extra gauges under the radio)
Interesting period sticker
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1971 Westfalia Campmobile
Currently being restored by German Supply. |
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BobB10
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2010
Posts: 97
Location: Sussex, New Brunswick CAN
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| Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:43 am Post subject: |
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Out comes the engine and transaxle
They use a Motor Porter to pull the engine, makes the job painless apparently (ok Scott, whatever you say....)
Original 1600 engine will be replaced with something special... I won't spoil the surprise just yet... and no, it's not a subaru boxer or something weird like a diesel or corvair engine.
Original transaxle will be rebuilt at Rancho Performance with slightly taller gearing
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1971 Westfalia Campmobile
Currently being restored by German Supply. |
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Thrasher22
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Joined: October 05, 2010
Posts: 858
Location: Calgary, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:09 am Post subject: |
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How do you restore something that mint?!  For a Canadian bus that's in great shape! Sounds like it'll be mint when it comes back, looking forward to following the progress. |
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crushie
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Joined: September 23, 2011
Posts: 878
Location: alberta
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| Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:18 am Post subject: |
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| Thrasher22 wrote: |
| How do you restore something that mint?! For a Canadian bus that's in great shape! Sounds like it'll be mint when it comes back, looking forward to following the progress. |
I beg to differ, canadian buses are not all rusty, I happen to think plenty of them are in great original condition for their age. They rarely are used other than in the summer as rv's. Who wants to drive a slow brick without heat in minus 30?
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1974 VW Combi 1800 Auto. Weber 32/36 |
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kamara
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Joined: January 27, 2008
Posts: 142
Location: Tallahasee, Fl.
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| Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:24 am Post subject: |
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What he said! I wish my wife's bus - 74 (pastel white) - that I am going thru right now was in that kind of shape - I don't know if I could go that long without being tempted to just drive it as is!
It will be a showcar when it's done - good work!
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"Spirit is the journey - body is the bus
I am the driver - from dust to dust." J. Clegg
- President of CCvdub (Tallahassee's VW Club)
([email protected])
73 Type2 Riviera, 74 Type2 Westy, 69 Type1 Standard, 72 Type4 412 Variant |
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BobB10
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2010
Posts: 97
Location: Sussex, New Brunswick CAN
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| Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 5:29 am Post subject: |
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| Thrasher22 wrote: |
| How do you restore something that mint?! For a Canadian bus that's in great shape! Sounds like it'll be mint when it comes back, looking forward to following the progress. |
Well, I know what you mean, but even though it was pretty to look at from about 10 feet, everything needed work mechanically. And I plan on keeping this bus a long long time, so it seemed like a good way to go, rather than starting with a super rusty one. (I got lucky I guess)
_________________
1971 Westfalia Campmobile
Currently being restored by German Supply.
Last edited by BobB10 on Mon Dec 17, 2012 6:45 am; edited 1 time in total |
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BobB10
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2010
Posts: 97
Location: Sussex, New Brunswick CAN
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| Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 6:07 am Post subject: |
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| crushie wrote: |
| Who wants to drive a slow brick without heat in minus 30? |
Tell me about no heat... this is my second bus, My first one I bought while in art school in Vancouver in the early eighties. ($1500) I drove that thing everywhere, and when I was finished school, I drove that bus back to Ottawa in January in 4 days. (4500km / 3000miles) All I got was an oil change and 2 rear tires before leaving.
I kept putting on more clothes as I went, and once I got to northern Ontario (-40c) I had bought huge winter boots, had put a naphtha heater between my legs (realized after about 3 hours that you have to crack a window), and was wearing pretty much every piece of clothing that I owned, and had wrapped a comforter/quilt around me and my head. It looked like a giant brown caterpillar was driving a vw camper, I got more than a few looks.
I taught my wife to be how to drive stick in that bus, (1st is kinda over here, 2nd is down over here kinda, 3rd is way over there'ish...) and it'll be our 25th wedding anniversary next year. Funny how things work out...
Long story short, that's why we're keeping the gas heater in our new bus. For cool fall days and not for winter driving, so don't worry. Oh here's some pictures of my first bus on the highway through the rockies back in the day... I finally had to sell that bus (dumb move I know), when the thing couldn't fit in the underground parking in our new apartment in Toronto. Sigh... The things we do when we're young.
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1971 Westfalia Campmobile
Currently being restored by German Supply. |
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BobB10
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2010
Posts: 97
Location: Sussex, New Brunswick CAN
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| Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 6:11 am Post subject: |
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| kamara wrote: |
What he said! I wish my wife's bus - 74 (pastel white) - that I am going thru right now was in that kind of shape - I don't know if I could go that long without being tempted to just drive it as is!
It will be a showcar when it's done - good work! |
Thanks, it's going to be worth the wait I hope... 
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1971 Westfalia Campmobile
Currently being restored by German Supply. |
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