TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun Sep 28, 2008 2:00 pm

Got this bus in April, finally got it home yesterday....drove it, new brakes, dp 1600, but in need of some metal repair. OG paint looks pretty good after spraying off many years of dirt. This westy has not been on the road since 1994. Thanks to Danny Brown at Brown's VW in Kansas City to getting her running again. Still having a bit of an electrical problem with the lights and flashers, but it will get worked out eventually.

My plans are to keep it pretty stock. I have inner and outter rocker repair metal, new rear corner, outtriggers and jackpoints. I have patch panels in the front floors, but I will eventually be installing an entire front floor and doglegs. I have a fantastic og paint front passenger door to replace the crusty one I currently have...will probably patch the lower cargo doors until I can find some nicer ones. After the metal work, I'll attempt to blend the Pearl White. I have a nice original set of VWofA elephant mirrors to replace the truck mirrors, too.

I plan on a few minor changes/accessories - nothing major, but also not quite original to the bus:

* 15's (instead of 14's)
* a nearly NOS e-z camper tent (instead of the so42 big top tent)
* bice bumpers (i have the rear, and will be looking for a decent priced front, but will roll the og rusty one for now)
* a 68 bay fridge (not the so42 cooler)
* a repro spice rack, courtesy of Clara, by way of Texas (second owner)
* a 3/4 HWE roof rack
* a PLF black bra - she needs some sexy lingerie, but will go topless from time to time to flaunt her sweet OG emblem I have - this will replace the rusty one.

More photos/info to come as progress is made. I'm sure I'll be here asking for help.

Sun Sep 28, 2008 5:34 pm

westy_LA_fade_away wrote:

Nice bus, nice pics. I particularly like that one of the kid washing the bus. 8)

Pierre

Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:08 pm

Thanks Pierre - that's my 9 (almost 10) year old son, Grant...he loves to help out :) - Hopefully it's restored before he turns 16 - ha.

Sun Sep 28, 2008 7:44 pm

My daughter is 5 (soon 6) years old. She's a bit young to help, but she loves my VWs and always want to help me out when I'm working on them. She's very proud of her dad beeing able to fix cars... 8)

Pierre

Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:01 pm

early 67 bus - before the dash radio opening was changed to 67 style??. does it have single circuit brake master also?

Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:38 am

Hey Bill - Nope large dash hole...originally a dual MC, but the brakes were completely re-done and changed to a single (has anyone got any experience with this being done before? Is it common?) I discovered a "tiny bit" of rust on the package tray, but I obviously have bigger issues to worry about right now...

Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:43 am

Here's a shot of the old dealer plate frame...last tagged in 1994.

Mon Sep 29, 2008 12:39 pm

Nice project! Why cover up the nose with that black bra-thing, though?

The split nose is the most provocative piece of autmotive design to come along in the last 58 years.

Just my opinion. :)

Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:09 pm

Hey Arthurnugen - thank you...very excited to get going on her - this is my second splitty.

The bra is just to protect the paint on the nose from rock chips (which seems to be in really nice shape) on all the long camping trips I plan to take...I want to be able to log some photos in the "taking your bus off the beaten path" thread next spring :)

I have a few accessories lying around the garage that my son wanted to install - the shifter handle and bra were two things he could help with, so we threw them on as soon as we got the bus home...

Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:04 pm

Very nice find/purchase. I'd love to find a 65 Dove Blue hardtop bench model. Maybe someday.

What's on your m-code plate??

Look forward to seeing the progress on it.

Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:53 am

M-code
01 9
425 A42 025 108 139
UH 2312 523907 7020080

VIN# plate
237020080
2070
950

Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:11 am

Ok, pretty simple decoding...but what is the 2523907 #? That's the only one I am stuck on...and I am late for work, so I'll search around later unless someone has a quick answer for me.

-------

01 9 = Sept 1, 1967
425 = seat belts
A42 = SO-42 Westfalia interior, no extra fitments SO-42 Westfalia interior
025 = US Spec bumpers and 6 pop out windows
108 = Camping Equipment aka “without side windows” (5 louvered windows)
139 = Sealed beam headlamps, red tail light lenses
UH - USA - Houston/San Antonio

231 = Cargo doors right, left hand drive
2523907 = ???
7020080 = vin

Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:27 am

westy_LA_fade_away wrote:
01 9 = Sept 1, 1967

Incorrect, it's Sept 1, 1966 - early in the 1967 model year.

westy_LA_fade_away wrote:
2523907 = ???

2= Nitro lacqer paint

523907 = Special order (Westy) paint in Pearl White.

Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:41 am

As to the 523907, I thought the 523 meant "left hand drive kombi" and 907 meant Pearl White upper and lower.

Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:45 am

Major Woody wrote: As to the 523907, I thought the 523 meant "left hand drive kombi" and 907 meant Pearl White upper and lower.

I believe that the "Special order" portion of Westy paint codes (523) indicates the the inside of the cargo area gets painted unlike a normal Kombi.

Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:48 am

The 5 series paint codes are here
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/colorstype2.php#westy

Quote: 1963-1967
Westfalia/Commercial Codes/Special Order
The following codes are usually preceded by 523
where 5 = export model and 23 = Model (Kombi)

Wed Oct 01, 2008 10:22 pm

Very cool, thanks for posting the m-code plate. They are always interesting to see, especialy in westys. IMO :wink:

Sat Oct 04, 2008 12:02 am

hey Marc could you post the westy tag# too? It's a plate in the base of the z-bed, next to the closet.

thanks!

Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:46 pm

Xavi - Apologies for the delay in posting...my wife and I had a baby on 10/2 so I've been "a little busy" :) Mom and baby are doing great, and believe it or not...I've actually made a tiny bit of progress...

Camper interior got pulled out to reveal the og floor

and the og rust...

Cargo doors have typical lower rust:

And I tried my hand for the first time at banging on some german metal:

Before:

After:

The front cabin area was a mess, so I pulled the seats:

I am about half done with the rust bullet treatment, and I have a super-nice package tray that I need to install to replace the rusty one...

Obviously, I have a T O N to do this winter, but I am having a blast so far...and I hope to have her ready to roll by the time my baby boy is ready to camp next spring!!

More pics coming as progress occurs.

Adios,

Marc

Sat Nov 22, 2008 8:09 pm

slowly, I am attacking the rust on this beast!

Here is a shot of the windshield rust - - it's bad, but not rusted through

The PO had a piece of plywood covering the luggage shelf - ouch:

I pulled out the completely crusty rear hatch seal today:

And I buffed out the rear passenger side corner to see what the OG paint was going to look like - pretty nice...

I am planning to attack the windshield area with a grinder next - it's not as bad as it looks...(famous last words?). If all goes well, the frames will be prepped and painted this week and the seals and glass re-installed next week. The rear tray is a different story....not sure how I am going to handle that one yet.

I am trying not to get discouraged...I knew this was going to be a lot of work...I am shooting for the early spring to be road-worthy and safe.