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The rebirthing of my 1970 Bulli
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Heathintexas
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Joined: September 24, 2011
Posts: 135
Location: Berlin Germany
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 3:02 pm    Post subject: The rebirthing of my 1970 Bulli Reply with quote

Here is the short story of my 1970 Volkswagen Bus rebirthing. Were coming on 3 years together and I'm trying to pull up all the pictures I can find.


This was how our connection began. One day after years of lurking through the classifieds here on the samba, a bus popped up withing driving distance and within my (college student) price range.

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So I made the trip up to Tulsa, OK from northeast Texas and drove him all the way home.

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Well, I had him for about a week before i learned the hard way, that you have to be gentle with them. I was cruising on the interstate i 105 deigree weather, going a little to fast for the heat. And what do you know, he started shooting smoke out of the back. It turns out I had melted a hole right through the notoriosly hot #3 cylinder.

So I grabbed a copy of John Muirs book and got to rebuilding. And hey! $100 for a set of cylinders and pistons! you can't beat the price of maintenance on these things.

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After a couple of weeks, he was soon road ready again. So I and my good friend who was in for a few weeks from germany gave his a road trip over to dallas. (because dallas has chipotle)

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Which is when the clutch started to slip Confused But no big deal, the problem was a little obvious.

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Then I decided that I could do some cosmetic justice. Here is where the huge restoration begins.

of course start with the eye sore that exists constantly when i'm driving.

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After a few days on the sewing machine

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Then for a couple of years, the bus had to come to a stand still as school and work stole all of my time.

However, this previous winter gave me a small time window to do all of the extensive bodywork and get him painted.

So I started with stripping him down all the way. and of course found all kinds of quick bondo work (holes filled with bondo) which of course will never last. I even found a 9mm wide bullet hole in the drivers side door. Who on this planet would shoot a bus??

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oh and soda blasters arent just for body work Cool

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here was my greatest dread. I've been seeing this all over the forums and was really hoping it wouldnt happen to me. But i took the time and fixed it the right way.

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this is how you unwrap a bus
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always working late into the night

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After I got the body all streightened out, I took it too the shop of one of my dads good friends. Since my little shop would have been all but impossible to paint in.
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and finally, after about 500 hours work

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I will continue to update when I come across more photos.


A lot of credit has to go to this community. The Samba has an answer for everything.

Thanks everyone and gute Fahrt!
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tootype2crazy
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Joined: October 08, 2007
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Location: St. Louis Missouri
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 5:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's beautiful. Well, it's as beautiful as a bus can be Wink. I'm proud of you.
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air-cooled or nothing for me
1978 Sunroof Deluxe Bus (daily driver)
1978 Transporter (mom's, making into a camper)
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2001 GTI VR6 (wife's)
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Danwvw
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 5:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That is so amazing, don't know how you do it. Beautiful!
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FlatfourFrenchy
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Joined: March 13, 2013
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Location: Boonville, MO
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 5:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the show. Looking very good. I can't wait to find out what is under my windshield seal. David
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FlatfourFrenchy
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 5:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

d'oh!

Last edited by FlatfourFrenchy on Thu Jan 16, 2014 4:38 am; edited 1 time in total
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1967250s
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Joined: May 02, 2007
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 12:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice work, gotta love a Tulsa Bus, went to school there many moons ago with my Bus. I remember a junk yard there with lots of old Busses and Splitties out on the west end of the city, maybe across the river?
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eche_bus
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Joined: October 07, 2007
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 10:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very nice work and a great set of photos showing the progress!
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Jim Bear
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Joined: March 25, 2006
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Location: Watkinsville, GA
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 11:26 am    Post subject: noice Reply with quote

Nice work bro.
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'85 Vanagon Westy - George In the Stable 2020-?/'74 Weekender - Ophelia In the Stable 2007- ?/'69 Beetle Convertible - SOLD 2017-2020/'67 Beetle - September SOLD 2013-2016 Sad /'67 SO42 Westy - Sage SOLD 1996-2001 Sad Sad/'69 Transporter - Baby Blue SOLD 1995-1995/'72 Westy - Nelly - SOLD 1990-1995--STOP FRACKING
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shiningstar76
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 7:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

When I saw that in the bus photography thread it looked like my first bus that I haven't seen in years. Same colors and tint. Very nice.
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My bus caught on fire and is now on the other coast with someone who gave me money for it.
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force3g
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 8:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great bus! I also had to replace the windshield sill. So far, the biggest pain in rear jobs were reinstalling the glass with new seals and rebuilding the jalousie windows. Thanks for sharing your photos. I really like your colors.
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ballbag
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Location: Cheshire, UK
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 8:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice bus dude, great work and the colours look great too Smile
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