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Dubskii Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010 Posts: 385 Location: So Cal
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Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 12:28 am Post subject: 57 Kombi |
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I've been a regular Samba viewer for a number of years now but relatively new to the VW game. Tried for years to buy a split window but could never afford or find the right one. Got my feet wet with a great first Bus in a solid running, OG paint, minimal rust 69 Sunroof Deluxe but even after I purchased it I was always on The Samba searching for a split window much to the extreme dismay of my wife.
The early splits always interested me. I dug the bullet turn signals, small hatch with the kick stand and ice pick door handles among other things. After several failed attempts to purchase various splits that popped up on occasion, I finally found and early Bus (1957 Kombi) that was running, braking, sort of rough around the edges but moldable into my liking in mid 2015. The Bus was located in California several hundred miles from me. After talking with the owner, an elderly gentleman, he informed me that the Bus was at Skinner's Classics and to call Robert to get the skinny. After several conversations, pics, videos, etc (felt bad for Robert) over the course of a week or so it felt like a good deal to me. SOLD! Sight unseen!!!
Now, being a very conservative and frugal person I am still shocked to this day that I bought it sight unseen! Makes my palms sweat to think about it and believe me, my wife was not thrilled (more on the wife topic later). However, it gave me comfort that an expert and well respected person like Robert visually walked me through the Bus and answered my questions several times over, put it up on the rack, etc. I would not have done it had that not been the case. A few wire transfers later, I now owned a split. Robert shipped the title to me and then I had to nervously sit back and pray a Bus was delivered like the one I had seen in the pictures. CRAZY I know.
About a week later the Bus in the pictures showed up in front of my house early in the morning. The transport guy fired it up to back it off the trailer and it damn near woke the entire neighborhood. It was so loud and sounded like a machine gun. Well, at least it started up and I could steer it into the side yard of my house and assess from there. SUPER EXCITED!!!
I have now owned it for approx 6 months and figured it was now time to start my own build thread.
Next up, assessment, future plans and a bit of the Bus's history. _________________ 69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia
Last edited by Dubskii on Sun Feb 14, 2016 10:25 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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williamM Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2008 Posts: 4333 Location: southwest Arizona
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Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 1:29 am Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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welcome to the asylum . looks like a great bus _________________ some days I get up and just sit and think. Some days I just sit.
opinion untempered by fact is ignorance.
Don't step in any! |
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obus Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2001 Posts: 11065 Location: just off Garden State Parkway Exit 81
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Pinetops Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2007 Posts: 2987
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Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 5:41 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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Congrats! I hope you'll keep us updated. _________________ "A rolling bus gathers no rust." |
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G-wood Todd Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2005 Posts: 1047 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 6:30 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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Congrats. Looks like a solid start. Look forward to progress pics. _________________ and take the kids for instance "Are we going in the Volkswagen bus?" and they say "Yay!" and clap their hands and if it's a glorious day you can slide the sunroof back and let a little of the glory in and all of a sudden, it stops looking funny.
-Volkswagen ad |
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Dubskii Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010 Posts: 385 Location: So Cal
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Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 10:54 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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Assessment
Note: Some of the below items have been posted previously on other threads.
Electrical:
Looks like the OG wiring with some definite hacks. Some exposed wiring. Turn signals didn't work. Brake light wire from brake switch was connected, for some reason, to the horn, no transaxle ground strap and a few other minor issues. All of these items were corrected a few months ago with help from several Samba members. Overall wiring works now but not wired per 57 wiring diagram
Body:
Did the magnet test all over. Had great magnetism over most of the body. A few spots here and there but overall very pleased. PO took the cheap way out and had the incorrect lipped rear wheel wells welded on. Long and short outer rockers will need to be replaced at some time; inner rockers looked and felt solid. Some crust on the lower portion of the drivers and passengers door. Portions of the cargo floors will need replacement. All new window seals. PO had removed rust, etc prior to painting dash, window/door jambs and POR 15d the underside.
Mechanical:
The 40hp engine was in terrible shape. Leaked like a sieve and absolutely no power. Bus came with a new transaxle, rebuilt RGBs, new gas tank, new hard and soft brake lines, wheel cylinders and pads and a host of other items.
Interior:
Wood, wood, wood. Too much for my taste. PO spent a lot of time cutting panels. Had kind of a deluxe/standard/kombi grab bag. White steering wheel painted black, ivory and black knobs
Future plans:
Definite changes to come to every aspect of this Bus. In no particular order my wish list:
- New engine/transmission
- Debating on a 3" lowering job.
- Front disk brakes.
- Sound proofing.
- Interior change as close to OG as possible
- Safaris
- Body work
- Paint
Yikes. Sounds like a lot and very expensive!
As previously mentioned. My wife was not happy until I sold my 69 (No room for two at my house).
Picture of both prior to sale.
_________________ 69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia |
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EDragnDean Samba Member
Joined: July 13, 2005 Posts: 1148 Location: Vancouver, WA
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G-wood Todd Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2005 Posts: 1047 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 5:03 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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Not a fan of the wood interior panels either. You could paint them a matching stock gray color. _________________ and take the kids for instance "Are we going in the Volkswagen bus?" and they say "Yay!" and clap their hands and if it's a glorious day you can slide the sunroof back and let a little of the glory in and all of a sudden, it stops looking funny.
-Volkswagen ad |
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Pinetops Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2007 Posts: 2987
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Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 6:43 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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Those wood panels look pretty nice, if you don't like them you could sell or give them to someone who would. Don't trash them. _________________ "A rolling bus gathers no rust." |
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bullifecal Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2005 Posts: 119 Location: south
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Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 8:29 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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burn that wood _________________ Lardy beaners like lowriders and Cerveza
NOBAMA |
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mg6770 Samba Member
Joined: July 26, 2005 Posts: 843 Location: North Shore CamPbodia
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Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 8:57 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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Pinetops wrote: |
Those wood panels look pretty nice, if you don't like them you could sell or give them to someone who would. Don't trash them. |
Yea don't trash em'. A camping guy like myself would be glad to take them off your hands. Fo-rilla gorilla, I'm in San Diego. _________________ Phil 4:13 |
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Dubskii Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010 Posts: 385 Location: So Cal
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Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 11:22 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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So a little history of Bus. According to the PO, he purchased this Kombi in 1977 to use at his family's California cabin. It's primary function was to haul fire wood up, down and around their property as needed. This continued for approximately 2 years until around 1979. The PO couldn't recall why, most likely some maintenance related issues, but it ended up getting parked underneath some trees on the property where it sat for the next 36 years. After constant hassling from the locals, the PO decided to pull this old girl out and get her back on the road in late 2014/early 2015.
History prior to 1977 is unknown. The PO couldn't remember who or where he had purchased this Kombi. It's life was varied in the painting department as it has a coat of red, yellow, white, blue and now primer. I am hoping that there is some decent OG Dove Blue underneath that I can strip down to.
As pulled from the woods (Not the best quality picture) and cleaned up a bit.
I ordered a Birth Certificate back in August or September of 2015 and still haven't received it. Curious to find out what options, etc she came with. VIN number is 23XXXX so if I looked at the information on The Samba correctly I believe her to be a February 1957 production. My last email conversation with the VW Museum indicated it was taking upwards of 9 months to get them shipped out. Hopefully soon... _________________ 69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia |
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Dubskii Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010 Posts: 385 Location: So Cal
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Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 11:31 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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Sorry. Yes the bumpers were taken off (god awful) and the interior panels will be put to good use. _________________ 69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia |
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Dubskii Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010 Posts: 385 Location: So Cal
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2016 11:40 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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I felt that the first order of business was to clean up any wiring issues I could find, (exposed wiring, bad connections, etc), fix turn signals, brake light, clean battery terminals, added a transaxle ground strap and polished up any ground connections.
Then ordered a host of small odds and ends from Wolfsburg West and CIP1 such as side and rear view mirrors, deck lid brake light, accelerator cable and repop drivers door handle. The Kombi came with 4 OG long spoons and 2 short spoons. I wanted all matching long spoons so two of those were picked up as well along with a VW emblem. At the time I wanted the ivory look for the cab so knobs, etc were picked up. I noticed the steering wheel had been repainted black at some point so I began the process of stripping the paint. The paint stripping did not turn out well so just left it alone knowing I would eventually replace the steering wheel. _________________ 69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia |
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Dubskii Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010 Posts: 385 Location: So Cal
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 1:08 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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I have been reading some paint stripping threads lately and I let my curiosity get the best of me. I bought some Citristrip and some plastic razor blades and got to work. As I mentioned previously there are multiple layers of paint on this sucker. Undeterred I started in and holy crap it is a ton of time and work! This is what I have uncovered so far in various stages.
Roof
Roof and it looks like someone used some decent grit sandpaper.
Rear Corner. Paint removed but not cleaned up.
Rear Corner. Cleaned up
I am liking what I am seeing so far but again...a lot of effort to get to this. I have noticed a few bare metal spots are showing up (to be expected). Should I hit those with some clear rattle can acrylic as they are exposed so they don't start to rust up? Curious to hear peoples thoughts on continuing based on what I have uncovered so far. _________________ 69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia |
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Pinetops Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2007 Posts: 2987
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 1:34 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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Clear coat would work but it may get in the way somewhat Oil, wax or grease would also probably keep them from rusting too quick if you wanted something easy to remove. Don't feel obligated to save that original paint unless you just want to. It looks good on that corner but the roof has a lot of paint loss. Like you said, it's a ton of work. If I were you I'd probably keep going just to get an idea of what the OG paint is like and then decide.
I guess it also depends what your budget is. _________________ "A rolling bus gathers no rust." |
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Stocknazi Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2004 Posts: 5150
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 6:13 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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I can see some swirl marks, so it looks like whoever painted the bus in the past did at least some sanding before painting.
I would keep going and see what you find under the rest of the paint.
You could use a small touch up gun, or get some spray cans mixed up and touch up the bare metal spots. You could also clear the entire bus after stripping.
Worst case senerio is you will have a good original paint base to paint the entire bus later on if you decide to do so. _________________ WANTED:
58 Westfalia cabinet knobs (3 needed), roof rack, and (7) privy tent poles (silver painted).
"When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty."
"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God."
Thomas Jefferson |
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Dubskii Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010 Posts: 385 Location: So Cal
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 10:35 am Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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Agreed. It would be nice to see what is underneath although I have a good idea of where the problem areas are. I will strip the paint as time permits.
On another note I have been breaking in my new 1600DP with an A1 Exhaust for the last several months and have put on approx 400 miles.
1600DP/A1 Exhaust
Old 40HP vs 1600DP
I paired this with a FF trans and kept the RGBs. Everything runs great but I am beginning to regret the smaller engine choice and feel I should have gone with a peppier motor. I am now looking into upgrading to 1776 or larger. If this is done, I will lower the Bus with WideFive flipped spindles, a SAK, 175/55/15 front tires, 185/60/15 rear tires and all new Meyle front end components. _________________ 69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia |
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Braukuche Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004 Posts: 10999
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 12:21 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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There really is nothing to lose. Should you chose to repaint it all that crap would have to come off anyway. Only difference is if you think the dove blue is not salvageable and you simply want to strip it and then seal with epoxy or paint it you can use a much more aggressive paint remover and do the job in a fraction of the time.
Nice bus by the way! _________________ Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now |
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Dubskii Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010 Posts: 385 Location: So Cal
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Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 11:43 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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I have been keeping track of my MPG as I break in my engine. I do mostly around town driving with some freeway cruising here and there. The furthest I have gone in one trip is approx 30 miles. Looking at my mileage logs I am only getting between 16-18MPG. This sounds way too low. I was expecting 20-25MPG when going with a 1600DP. My set up is a 009 Dist, Bosch coil, elect ignition and a 34 PICT 3 carb. What gives? _________________ 69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia |
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