TheSamba.com :: View topic - 54 kombi "Dahlströms grävmaskiner" build thread...

Wed Jan 08, 2014 11:53 pm

Work continues. I have started in the rear now. The sheet metal above the engine and the parts holding the engine lid was very bad so I needed to repair this.

For some reason my kombi seem to have the holder for the upholstery panels in the back... I was told only kleinbuses had this.

I used Gersons inner strenghtener and replaced the old one. Really nice fit!

And also fitted the outer part. Also great fit.

Hopefully the engine lid can go in soon. I need to straighten it first though.

Mon Jan 13, 2014 2:28 pm

My engine lid more or less looked like a Pringles crisp after being opened by probably a crowbar because of a seized locking mechanism by someone looking for an engine maybee... Anyway I managed to straighten it fairly good with the help of some rough methods :wink:

I have also removed the old hinge and my new one is now ready to be welded to the engine lid. Need some help of a friend there though. I havent got enough hands to get it right :P

The siezed lock was a challenge but two days in oil and some heat made it work again.

Everything mocked up:

Mon Jan 13, 2014 2:38 pm

starting to look like a bus again :)

Mon Jan 13, 2014 4:54 pm

Nice work! they are definitely not easy to straighten. Really look forward to seeing it in NL :wink: ,please keep at it!

Tue Jan 14, 2014 6:27 am

It's really taking shape, keep up the good work!

Fri Jan 24, 2014 12:25 pm

Yesterday i went to therapy and tried to cure my impatience :D
Started to work on minor stuff rusted together as a result of years in the swedish woods.

The old opening window with a broken latch and broken glas.

Fortunately I had another latch from another bus that spent maybee a couple less years in the Swedish woods :D
However it needed som work.

And the new latch in place!

Now I need a new piece of frame and glas to save some time.

Next up now is shortening of steering column and mounting of steering rods and spindles.

Fri Jan 24, 2014 3:31 pm

Nice work Nize - it's good to get the little things done - it is all progress...

Dave

Sun Jan 26, 2014 6:59 am

Nice job sir! You are patient to continue to chip away at the work until you get it on the road again!

Mon Feb 03, 2014 2:54 am

When the outside is gonna be kept rough its nize to have the captains lounge all painted up... :P

Also good news regarding the CSP dual circuit master break cylinder. It all seems to fit very well!

Mon Feb 03, 2014 4:51 am

nice "captains lounge"
love the contrast in/under against out 8)

Fri Feb 07, 2014 2:53 am

I had a satisfying night in the garage yesterday. Finally you get to mount those sand blasted and painted parts or those new fresch parts bought recently. Just like a new 22 mm CSP master brake cylinder.

Wires and pedals installed! I got some small pieces left to solve. Such as retaining springs for clutch and throttle pedals and the small bolt for the clutch cable. Also installed the steering column.

Its actually starting to look like a van again! :D

Fri Feb 07, 2014 7:41 am

Nice work! Looks great!

Fri Feb 07, 2014 2:42 pm

nize wrote:
Its actually starting to look like a van again! :D

you mean bus, of course!? vans have the steering wheel on the other side or the engine up front, some are even watercooled... :)

Tue May 06, 2014 4:14 am

I have been worthless in posting updates lately. Just too much going on with two kids and a small farm and a resto project like this but now its time for a catch up...

Electrics sorted and rear window in place... The rear window was a nightmare to fit. Three persons and just as many hours:

I did not have any barndoor front seat so I adapted a 1959 singlecab seat that was lying around in the garage.

The pod is on its way in to the bus...

The old rubber mat was prepped with glycerine and ethanol...

Got the tank back from acid dipping and then covered it in epoxi primer. did the same to the bumpers that I just rebuilt.

The engine for the project will initially be a 126A industrial engine.

Color matched the bumpers to the blue color on the body. I still got the white to do:

The old 6V wiper motor had siezed but the problem was the grease. It was more like surf board wax. Removed it, regreased it and then it worked again! Nice old German quality. This part had been in the woods for 25+ years.

The wipers and semaphores are run on 12V over electrical resistors of 1 Ohm. Seems to work fine but they develop some heat.

Gas tank sprayed in black:

Then, this passed saturday the time had come... It was time to get the junk rolling :D
My good friend Demian paid me a visit and gave me a good pair of hands. Engine was married to the gearbox, bumpers put on, heigt adjustment, wheel adjustment, start up of engine and more and more... Then it just happened. Suddenly it was standing on its own on four wheels with an engine in the back. I turned the ignition key, fired up the engine and reversed out of the garage. A really strange feeling after all those years of work.

Then I could take it for a spin outside in really nice weather. Hard to beet that feeling!

Demian arrived in his cool barndoor. Here are some photos from the moment:

There is ofcourse still some stuff left to do. MOT needs to be passed and I need to blend in all the repairs and some minor adjustments but overall it is a happy time right now! I´ve got a barndoor that is rollin and drivin!

Tue May 06, 2014 4:23 am

Great work - thanks for the update - you must be very happy :)

Dave

Tue May 06, 2014 5:19 am

Brilliant! Perfect timing too, the summer is just around the corner

Tue May 06, 2014 6:12 am

big step for the swedes :D

Tue May 06, 2014 9:39 am

Nice thread. I'm super stoked for you! Summer time is around the corner, perfect timing.

Tue May 06, 2014 11:43 am

Nice it's a great feeling driving suddenly driving your own BarNdoor :D
Stance looks good

Tue May 06, 2014 5:58 pm

Awesome job getting it on the road. You have made up a lot of ground in a short amount of time!

Phillip