What year is this bus?

[notchboy]

Sweat equity is the cheapest thing you can throw at it. Do you want it? How much sweat equity do you have?
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[boulderz]

I wanted to update this thread as it's been awhile. I wanted to document a few things like how I got it out and what I had to do. Maybe it'll help someone do the same some day.

As I said before, all 4 wheels were locked up solid. I didn't want to drag this bus because it is tender and I couldn't get a trailer close to it and it had to move laterally to get by a few other cars. And trees. And dune buggies. And river.

So I spent a few afternoons just digging it out. It was buried basically up to the floor in spots. I had some helpers.

Once I could get a jack under it, I slowly jacked it up. Under the beam in the front first and later under the transmission carriage in the back which is solid.

In the air, I went to work on the hubs. My dad is an old VW mechanic, used to have a VW shop here in Vermont and I used to work there as a kid sweeping floors and getting tools, pumping brakes, so he has the tools. I "borrowed" his 3 arm puller. He probably won't get it back. So it goes with sons and tools. This puller works awesome. It went smoothly for the most part, one of the axle threads was destroyed which made it hard to get the nut off.

The rear hubs are held on by a 27MM nut which is torqued on at 200 ft-lb. To get it off I used a 3/4" 27mm socket, 3/4" breaker bar with a 4' black iron cheater bar which I jumped up and down on. Creeeaaakk!

Once the brake assemblies were removed and hubs back on, all 4 tires were spinners. I had to winch a dune buggy out of the way and then it was time to move the ass end of the bus over so I could get it out. I jacked up the rear and put down some pressure treated boards down so the tires could slide laterally. I greased them up and then winched the rear over. I didn't like doing that but that was the only way.

I used a come-along for all of this, what a pain in the ass! I hooked it to trees, trucks, trailers, and fences slowly moving the bus towards my trailer. I was in a panic to get it done as my truck and trailer were, at this point, on the neighbors lawn. The owner told me he informed them of this. They weren't home and I didn't want to be there when they got back. Not ideal.

It was great to get it on there. I snapped a few photos on the way home.

A few days later I cleaned it out. I filled my shop vac at least 5 times with shit. Mostly shit. And dirt I'm guessing. I did find a couple of cool things: an old VW folder with recent registration.. from 1975 (wow, the year I was born..). I actually know the guy, a local realtor. I told him about it and he said he used to drive clients around looking at houses but sold it because everyone froze their ass off. I also found this old jack, not sure if it is original.

So now it is kind of hurry up and wait. I have a garage addition which needs to happen before I can get the bus in which hopefully happens in the spring. I plan on slowly bringing this one back which will obviously include frame repair and tons of metal work. I don't really have any expectations for it because it needs so much. It'll be a slow burn. Which is now the new name for the bus. Slow Burn, stay tuned!

[ZENVWDRIVER]

... I have a few cars, just sitting in my barn, that I just like to look at... have no plans to use, just look... I can really relate. I have had some of those for over 20 years... just love to look at them. Hope you get it, just to look at... nice... it'll never be worth less. A lifetime keeper.
... great for you... having no expectations, will only bring happiness.

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5/50, pastel green 11G - SOLD
8/50, gray 11A Beetle
6/52, pastel green 11C - SOLD
11/4/52, black Zwitter - SOLD to my little bro.
1954 Porsche, pre A, with VW 36 horse- SOLD
1/54, black 11C Beetle - TRADED
2/55 Iceland green Beetle, on a 1965 pan
3/55 113 Beetle, stratos silver
1955 Messerschmitt KR175 - SOLD, sadly
1960 single cab
1962 SO33, with SO 42 interior
9/63 Pacific blue, Ghia
'87 Toyota MR2
'02 WestFORDia E-150, GAVE TO OUR SON

All super-heroes, wear a MASK

[maddog125]

Hell yeah, congrats on getting it home! Now it's time for the fun part

[d-rick]

Hell yeah man..good work..& alot of it at that!

Great to see it out of there ,on your trailer ,& home
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1959 mango-trailerbus
1962 single cab *1/2
1966 13 window
1967 panel/camper
1968 cig-panel *1/2
1968 passenger bus *1/2
1969 beetle
1969 dormobile
1978 sage green Westy
1990 DoKa
2002 Golf TDI

[boulderz]

Thanks fellas, makes me happy that I got it out of there. I'll see how far I take it, but in the end I'm guessing it gets back on the road someday.

[mandraks]

those little lancias are such great looking cars, loved them from new
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regards

Uli

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'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue, looking for a narrow hatch panel

[Burlyhammer]

Hey I just read this thread. This project looks like the one I’m working on. Although yours is a lot less rusty. I hope you still plan to get it back together. It will be lots of work, but well worth the effort!

[boulderz]