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socalbusguy Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2015 Posts: 65 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 11:38 pm Post subject: 1970 Bus Project - My very first bus and VW |
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Hey guys I am brand new to VW's and this is my first bus. Of course I wanted a 23 window bus but my bank account didn't have enough money in it to pay for one
I found this 1970 bus for sale and in decent shape. I am planning on stripping it, painting it and putting it all back together a lot better condition that what it is now.
This does have the sunroof on it and on the inside you can see the sunroof, but it looks like the sealed it with glue and bondo on the outside.
Last edited by socalbusguy on Mon Aug 31, 2015 11:28 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Wasted youth Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2012 Posts: 5134 Location: California's Hot and Smoggy Central Valley
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Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2015 12:07 am Post subject: |
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You seem to have an excellent prospect on your hands. Someone else here has a very nice bus with that same two-tone interior. Maybe they will chime in with their pictures.
Your middle seat came from a post 1974 or 1975 bus, but it's pretty cool that you even have a middle seat!
If and when you get that sliding/sun roof restored, you are gonna LOVE it!
Expect to pay about $300 for a decent rear bumper, about half that for the front bumper. Get your ass to the Pomona swap. And check out this thread!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=524552&highlight=miles+smiles
Welcome! |
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socalbusguy Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2015 Posts: 65 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2015 12:14 am Post subject: |
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thanks for the welcome wasted youth
do you know what seat was originally in those?
I am determined to get the top opened and working I a just hoping there is enough there to restore it |
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aeromech Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 16922 Location: San Diego, California
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Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2015 8:04 am Post subject: |
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The sliding top is a bitch. Better have lots of money and a long reach locating parts. I suggest you do lots a research before you open up that can of worms. _________________ Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound |
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Wasted youth Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2012 Posts: 5134 Location: California's Hot and Smoggy Central Valley
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Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2015 9:33 am Post subject: |
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socalbusguy wrote: |
thanks for the welcome wasted youth
do you know what seat was originally in those?
I am determined to get the top opened and working I a just hoping there is enough there to restore it |
The middle seat for that year will not have the holes on the top edge for the headrests. That came in 1973. The armrest on the sliding door side was slightly different also. There is also a small panel on the sliding door side that clips to the seat frame below the cushion, acts as a façade. This thread I started in jest actually has some more middle seat info in it. Just wade past my goofiness:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=574578&highlight=middle+seat+rant
I think Tcash has more definitive information, look him up.
Look up samba user SGKent on the sliding roof for a thread he started on that. I can't think of the name of that thread at the moment. |
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socalbusguy Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2015 Posts: 65 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 12:33 am Post subject: |
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I am hoping I can get the sunroof open. I don't know how these things are supposed to work but I am praying that this thing will open and even if I had to slide it by hand I wouldn't mind that.
Thanks for the advice guys.
Any other advice would be appreciated. |
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Wasted youth Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2012 Posts: 5134 Location: California's Hot and Smoggy Central Valley
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Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 1:59 am Post subject: |
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Do you have a Bentley service manual yet? You will need one very soon. The sliding roof is covered in there, but does not really address all the pitfalls that come with forty plus years of use and neglect.
There should be a window style hand crank centered in the headliner just beyond the rear edge of the front seats. It unwinds the roof using two spiral cables with a cog and worm gear type of arrangement that is encased in the roof recess between the headliner. It is somewhat fragile and seriously prone to breaking inside, especially after years of neglect. If you get the roof open, and this system breaks, I promise you will have a memorable time getting the roof to close back up properly to keep moisture out.
I highly suggest reading the threads about these ultra cool sliding roofs before you open it. These are easily damaged and only a few of the parts are available to replace what gets broken. These parts are all very expensive, you can easily spend more than $350 just scrounging enough new and used parts to get it working. I have been down that path with the 1977 I had, and I broke both cables just keeping it properly adjusted. |
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socalbusguy Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2015 Posts: 65 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 3:00 am Post subject: |
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wow thanks for the feedback wasted youth
I don't have any manuals yet, I am just getting started, but all of that is good to know.
I knew that this had the sunroof and I was really hopeful that it would work. I did look for the window crank as soon as I bought it, but its not there, I actually don't think any of the parts to open or close it are in there, maybe the guy who did that took them out?
I will be looking this week and investigating the bus more, I will also post pics.
On a side note I found some pictures online of some type of vw truck and I was asking for members to help me identify it. Would you mind taking a look?
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7804664&highlight=#7804664 |
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socalbusguy Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2015 Posts: 65 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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well I did it, I bought another bus and am selling the bus I just bought, this one I found in Arizona and is a lot further along in the restoration process so I figured I would get it and sell the one I just bought.
The guy who worked on it has all the parts for the working sunroof including all cables, tracks and crank. He has all the glass which some of it is removed, converted front brakes to disc, completely rebuilt the engine to 1700, has all the panels, redid the wiring, and a lot more. He included all kinds of extra parts including new brake lines, brake pads, extra glass and a lot more.
I couldn't pass it up.
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anthony831 Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2011 Posts: 11 Location: central coast california
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Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 12:50 am Post subject: Welcome |
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Hey, welcome to the vw community! I have 70 Savanah Beige (as yours was originally) walk through bus with the same two tone interior as yours. Currently not running. Saving money for my rebuild project. Prior owner took my seats out and built a fold out wooden bed. It was cool, but in an attempt to make it more original I took it out. Kinda regret it now, but I know the design for if I ever want to do it again. Anyway I now have a black rear seat in it. Mine was also missing the heater ducts/ arm rests. I got them at a nearby vw junk yard in Alviso ca. couple years ago. Also got the covers for the upper shoulder belts bolts where they meets the body and the covers to the seat belt receivers. Also got some seat belts. Interior parts are tough to find I hear theres one in oakland too. Nice middle seat I've been having trouble finding any brown seats. Most are really expensive. How's the rust? Under the front floor mat is the only place where I have some. They're fun cars. Advice: relocate the fuel filter or make sure it has the best clamps ever. Don't want in to disconnect and start a fire. Drive it slow dont run it too high rpm. Never coast in neutral too long even on down hills. Give it a good tune up and oil change and valve adjustment even if they said they just did it check their work. A compression test is a good idea too. Idle check too but that can be tricky for a beginner. Keep an eye on the brake fluid ender the driver side dash. Definitely get the Bently manual and Keep the engine original. Enjoy your project and let me know if u need any help or pictures of mine for reference. 831-320-7100. Don't ever sell it unless it's for another vw. |
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socalbusguy Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2015 Posts: 65 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 7:29 am Post subject: |
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wow! thanks for the advice anthony831
I am just trying to figure all of this out
I will be posting pics of the restoration on this forum and even some video |
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Tcash Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011 Posts: 12844 Location: San Jose, California, USA
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Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 7:45 am Post subject: |
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socalbusguy wrote: |
well I did it, I bought another bus |
What year is it?
Nice
Tcash |
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socalbusguy Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2015 Posts: 65 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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the first one is 1970 the black one is 1974 |
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Bala Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2003 Posts: 2613 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2015 7:42 am Post subject: |
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The second one looks nice. It would have had stock front disc brakes. Might help to know if you are looking for parts or something. _________________ 1976 Westy
1966 Beetle |
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secretsubmariner Champagne Wrangler
Joined: January 08, 2011 Posts: 3104 Location: Tulsa, OK
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Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2015 7:51 am Post subject: |
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Right on! swapping the early out for a late bay. And sunroofs everywhere for you. lol
Good luck, I really liked that 2 tone interior on your 70. Will be following along. Post lots of pictures and questions _________________ -Tony
ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ
1978 Champagne Edition Bus FI
1970 Auto Fastback FI |
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socalbusguy Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2015 Posts: 65 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2015 10:01 am Post subject: |
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I sure will, I am excited to work on this and get it on the road! _________________ 1970 Original Sunroof Bay Window Transporter
1971 Bay Window Transporter
1974 Original Sunroof Bay Window Transporter |
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socalbusguy Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2015 Posts: 65 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2015 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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Went to visit some family out of state for the holiday weekend and while I was there decided to see if I could find some parts.
I found a guy that had a handful of buses and wanted to sell parts so I decided to check it out.
Here is some of what I found:
Found a full middle and rear seat with all hardware and seat belts
Excellent condition VW hub caps
2 Mirrors
2 sets of sunroof hardware including cranks, cogs, cables, rails, plastic, etc (5 bus cables total, 1 brand new in packaging)
mounting hardware for the seats to the floor
a gauge cluster
some parking lights
and more all for stupid cheap
_________________ 1970 Original Sunroof Bay Window Transporter
1971 Bay Window Transporter
1974 Original Sunroof Bay Window Transporter |
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socalbusguy Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2015 Posts: 65 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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more pics
_________________ 1970 Original Sunroof Bay Window Transporter
1971 Bay Window Transporter
1974 Original Sunroof Bay Window Transporter |
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Wasted youth Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2012 Posts: 5134 Location: California's Hot and Smoggy Central Valley
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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KICK ASS! Total score! |
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