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thebusandus
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2014
Posts: 412
Location: Alaska
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 Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 10:49 am Post subject: 75 Bay Westy Project - Stuck in Alaska building a Busaru. |
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Picked up a dream of mine for some time recently. I wanted a westy but was split between getting a vanagon and TII, always wanted to do the subaru swap to get more reliability and power. The Vanagon woulda been the easy route, but there is something timeless about the TII style which the vanagon can't touch.
Anyway
Picked up a Westy - $500, recently doesn't run fuel issue most likely. I'm thinking about getting it running and then pulling the engine to do the subaru swap. I'm having a hell of a time trying to find a 2.2 with under 150k currently. Here's a few pics.
As you can see it needs some body work (every old car in Alaska does). I don't have any pics of the interior, but it is in okay shape. Although it is missing all of the piping and pump components, all it has left is the sink. Anyone have a lead on these parts or can make any recommendations on an upgraded water system? I have seen some threads on upgraded vanagon systems which were complex, yet you get hot and cold water.. I was thinking of going that route.
I'll try to make updates and take pics whenever I work on it, pulling it into my garage tonight to begin the process.
Last edited by thebusandus on Sun Apr 27, 2014 1:21 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Paintedbus
Samba Member
Joined: September 14, 2003
Posts: 679
Location: salem, ma
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| Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 11:20 am Post subject: |
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Welcome DiVo,
Where in the great state of Alaska are you? that like saying i am from the eastern half of the US, haha!
looks to be a good bus by my new england eyes, I like that bike rack solution and make sure you dont drive over that splitty press bumper under the rear wheels. That's worth some $.
Sink parts can be found in the classifies here or on various other websites, but check here first.
There a a few nice subaru conversion projects here in the bay forum, but be sure to check out the others too, the subaru is gaining popularity across all the aircooled groups. I have been carefully watching them work out the kinks, lol.
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Champagne Edition Roadtrip monster "Juakali"
~"Paintedbus" Ken~
The Mobile Muralist
WWW.PAINTEDBUSART.COM |
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thebusandus
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2014
Posts: 412
Location: Alaska
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| Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 11:30 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the welcome, I am in Anchorage. I'll try to avoid running over the bumper  , It's not in the best shape so I may be replacing it. There is some good info and support with the swap, I am in contact with Mick@ Boxerswaps on an engine support and TB reverser, but I would really like to actually know what year engine I am going to buy first. Until I get the engine I think I am going to focus on getting the interior in line, the big plan is to drive the America's in this thing.. so I want to get it pretty clean and fully functioning first. |
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shiningstar76
Samba Brewer
Joined: July 12, 2003
Posts: 2689
Location: Savannah
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| Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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EJ's are good for 250k or better. I just pulled mine out of my wagon at 293,000. Had oil in the coolant and still ran from GA to NH and back. 2500 miles. Have no fear.
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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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thebusandus
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2014
Posts: 412
Location: Alaska
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 11:02 am Post subject: |
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Went through the interior some to get some planning done.
Rough shape, but not to bad. Not to much interior rust.
Current interior plans - Rip out carpet, fully install soundproofing along floor, wood floors above that.
Buy cabinets from newer Westy and integrate them in to create more storage - Relaminate all cabinets.
Either use that same laminate or buy other material for door cards.
Replace driver / passenger seat. Integrate some sort of bench seat set up OR removable middle seat and weld in brackets for spinable passenger seat. - Yet to be decided.
Pull front window, replace seal and fix rust on bottom.
Replace seal along roof, replace pop top canvas, possibly replace all the plad with new material. |
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thebusandus
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2014
Posts: 412
Location: Alaska
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 11:03 am Post subject: |
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Found the donor Subaru - Went to town on it yesterday, spent about 8 hours on it and I'm still pulling the ECU, that is a long process.
Engine has only 60k
The dash before
Dash in progress
Had to remove seats to trace all the wires - rusted bolts = glad I had a Sawzall.
Almost done with the dash - had to bend the support to get all of the heater / AC accessories out.
Had to trace and remove wiring all the way to the rear, where the fuel pump is, and crash relay sensor.
On the chopping block. |
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notchboy
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Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 22445
Location: Escondido CA
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Bala
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2003
Posts: 2613
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:33 am Post subject: |
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Cool project!
Are you sure that's not a '74 or '75?
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1976 Westy
1966 Beetle |
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thebusandus
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2014
Posts: 412
Location: Alaska
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| Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:55 am Post subject: |
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| It was built late in 75 but has the fuel injection that the 76 has, why? |
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Bala
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Joined: December 04, 2003
Posts: 2613
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:09 pm Post subject: |
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| DiVo wrote: |
| It was built late in 75 but has the fuel injection that the 76 has, why? |
I didn't think that color combo, and the full width bed was available on the '76 models. Just curious.
M-Code?
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1976 Westy
1966 Beetle |
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collinVW32
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Joined: May 23, 2012
Posts: 186
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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Conquest
Samba Member
Joined: June 29, 2008
Posts: 257
Location: Southern Cal
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| Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| DiVo wrote: |
Went through the interior some to get some planning done.
Rough shape, but not to bad. Not to much interior rust.
Current interior plans - Rip out carpet, fully install soundproofing along floor, wood floors above that.
Buy cabinets from newer Westy and integrate them in to create more storage - Relaminate all cabinets.
Either use that same laminate or buy other material for door cards.
Replace driver / passenger seat. Integrate some sort of bench seat set up OR removable middle seat and weld in brackets for spinable passenger seat. - Yet to be decided.
Pull front window, replace seal and fix rust on bottom.
Replace seal along roof, replace pop top canvas, possibly replace all the plad with new material. |
Love the bottle opener tethered to the bulkhead.
You're looking for late westy bed and cabinetry? I've got the late 3/4 bed, fridge cabinet and closet that I'll trade you for your full width westy bed & closet. You deliver. 
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'78 Westy |
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FNGRUVN
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Joined: October 27, 2007
Posts: 2237
Location: Fort Collins, CO
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| Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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A $500 Westy and a 60K mile 2.2. You scored twice.
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thebusandus
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2014
Posts: 412
Location: Alaska
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| Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 12:03 am Post subject: |
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| Conquest can you post a pic of yours ? May be interested in that trade, would be down there in the van if everything is going as planned |
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Conquest
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Joined: June 29, 2008
Posts: 257
Location: Southern Cal
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| Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 12:40 pm Post subject: |
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| DiVo wrote: |
| Conquest can you post a pic of yours ? May be interested in that trade, would be down there in the van if everything is going as planned |
Sure. I need to dig the stuff out of my garage... but I halfway planned on moving all my bus stuff out of my garage, along with a bunch of other stuff this weekend. You may have just inspired me to get off my ass and actually get it done. Time will tell.
It's the green late westy plaid. I also have the upper bed cushions that match as well. Not sure if I have the rear cushion that goes over the engine compartment though. As far as I remember all of the material is in really good shape. I think the veneer is in pretty good shape too.
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'78 Westy |
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shiningstar76
Samba Brewer
Joined: July 12, 2003
Posts: 2689
Location: Savannah
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| Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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I like this thread. Following
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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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Conquest
Samba Member
Joined: June 29, 2008
Posts: 257
Location: Southern Cal
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| Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 10:46 am Post subject: |
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| DiVo wrote: |
| Conquest can you post a pic of yours ? May be interested in that trade, would be down there in the van if everything is going as planned |
Here you go:
I bought all of this stuff from a kid in Northern Cal that had bought a bus and as he started going through it he realized he got ripped off... it was loaded with bondo and painted over rust. The interior was in decent shape though.
I have the upper bed and rear cushions, all in really good shape.
Closet - This is actually out of my bus. The PO had a ridiculous theme going on... astro turf, clouds, glow in the dark stars. The paint actually came off pretty well (where you still see paint was covered up by the headbanger and fridge cabinets). I have the door for the closet (somewhere).
Fridge Cabinet:
I have no idea if this fridge actually works. Other than the top of the fridge the veneer is in good shape.
3/4 Westy Bed:
The pic shows some bird crap that has since been removed with a little water and a microfiber towel and it needs to be vacuumed. REALLY good shape otherwise.
I've even got the arm rest for you:
The only thing I don't have is the fasteners. I'm not sure how hard it would be to find the correct nuts and bolts.
The fabric on this stuff is in such good shape, it would be great for you if you didn't plan on recovering... if you did want to recover perhaps I could just buy your full bed and save this stuff for somebody doing an original resto.
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'78 Westy |
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thebusandus
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2014
Posts: 412
Location: Alaska
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| Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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Sweet. That looks good, I just wish it was up here earlier so I could recover everything. I am thinking I may just do that down there so it all matches. I will talk it over with the GF.
I turned the bus around and got the engine on an engine stand in my small garage (more of a hassle than it seems). Need to tear out ECU this week and order parts before I leave for ten days to Tailgate Alaska. |
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sneakyjack
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Joined: January 14, 2010
Posts: 560
Location: SOuthern VT
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| Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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Say hey to Mark Sullivan at Tail gate alaska!
I'll be following this thread -I hope it all comes together.
keep it sidewayz
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Conquest
Samba Member
Joined: June 29, 2008
Posts: 257
Location: Southern Cal
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| Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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| DiVo wrote: |
| Sweet. That looks good, I just wish it was up here earlier so I could recover everything. I am thinking I may just do that down there so it all matches. I will talk it over with the GF. |
What kind of shape is your full westy bed and the closet? Pics? I'd recover in brown plaid, more concerned with the cushion and the veneer on both.
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'78 Westy |
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