TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1966 Bus

Mon Feb 18, 2013 12:26 am

I got you covered. I'll be headed that way middle of this week. pm my your contact info if interested. it will cost you a fist bump and a thanks bro.

Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:16 pm

More progress today:

Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:26 pm

I woulda just cleared it. :D Like a trophy.

Nice work on gettin' her cleaned up.

Tue Feb 19, 2013 7:49 am

looking good already

Tue Feb 19, 2013 7:56 am

Not to be a killjoy or anything, but you need to fix your axle boots. The join in the boots should be only slightly above horizontal, that way the boot can flex up and down. You will have problems with it left that way.

Gordo.

Tue Feb 19, 2013 8:12 am

flemcadiddlehopper wrote: Not to be a killjoy or anything, but you need to fix your axle boots. The join in the boots should be only slightly above horizontal, that way the boot can flex up and down. You will have problems with it left that way.

Gordo.

I just put them back how they were about 30 degrees tilted to the back.

Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:47 am

RPGreg2600 wrote: More progress today:

Nice! What did you end up doing about the vent section you had, that was missing the left-hand seam?

Decklid hinge-carrier looks great; how difficult was it to remove the old one?

Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:58 am

Looks great man, great way to take advantage of the day off... :D

Tue Feb 19, 2013 1:20 pm

Split 66' wrote: RPGreg2600 wrote: More progress today:
\

Nice! What did you end up doing about the vent section you had, that was missing the left-hand seam?

Decklid hinge-carrier looks great; how difficult was it to remove the old one?

I didn't use it. I used the 67 vent panel I had and just welded my old fuel door catch onto it. The other one was going to need too much work.

The hinge carrier was not too bad. I didn't end up replacing the whole thing. I sectioned in just the right side. Didn't feel like drilling out all the spot welds. I cut it right next to the right side of where you stick your fingers to open the hatch.

Tue Feb 19, 2013 1:29 pm

First noted funny thing: Is the guy wearing the fire dept shirt wearing the shirt on purpose? :lol: 2nd note: These repairs look too good to be true, are they photoshopped? :lol:

Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:07 pm

RPGreg2600 wrote: Split 66' wrote: RPGreg2600 wrote: More progress today:
\

Nice! What did you end up doing about the vent section you had, that was missing the left-hand seam?

Decklid hinge-carrier looks great; how difficult was it to remove the old one?

I didn't use it. I used the 67 vent panel I had and just welded my old fuel door catch onto it. The other one was going to need too much work.

The hinge carrier was not too bad. I didn't end up replacing the whole thing. I sectioned in just the right side. Didn't feel like drilling out all the spot welds. I cut it right next to the right side of where you stick your fingers to open the hatch.

Awesome job Greg! You are back in business! I got the other side panel of vents too if some else needs it, pass it on!

Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:43 pm

Great Job Man!!!!

Thu Feb 21, 2013 10:01 pm

Today is exactly two months since the bus burned. It is starting to show signs of life. Started hooking up some of the wiring today and reinstalled the starter(cleaned and tested - ok) So far everything up front is working and the starter is turning over. Should be driving it Sunday!

Magic erasers are awesome

Couple questions:

Anyone tried these spindle nuts?

http://www.bustoration.com/Spindle-Nuts-Left-Right-PAIR-64-67-18MM-_p_1876.html

They look like a good alternative to bay spindle nuts for eliminating those stupid bendy washers. Have not been able to find bay spindle nuts. The one thing that concerns me about these is that they are made of aluminum instead of steel. I know they are a low torque fastener, but could see them deforming if you curbed a wheel or just from off road usage or typical bay area shitty roads.

second question: I had 235/75R15 all-terrains in the back. They were installed by the previous owner. I like them except for their poor traction. I have to replace them because they are melted, and was thinking mud terrains would be an improvement. I am concerned that MTs may not fit just due to being knobbier. Anyone tried them?

Thu Feb 21, 2013 10:09 pm

Very cool man! Maybe search the big tire thread for mud terrain? I haven't made it all the way through that thread yet...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=265458

Fri Feb 22, 2013 7:55 am

Looks great, but need to loosen up the axle boots and rotate them so seams are at horizontal. With the seams up at vertical the seams there will tear apart from axle flex!

Fri Feb 22, 2013 8:14 am

Funny how the last pair were on there for probably 20 years in the same position and it took a fire to destroy them. They look vertical in the pictures, but they are tilted back about 30 degrees which is how I've seen them on other buses.

Fri Feb 22, 2013 8:52 am

RPGreg2600 wrote: Funny how the last pair were on there for probably 20 years in the same position and it took a fire to destroy them. They look vertical in the pictures, but they are tilted back about 30 degrees which is how I've seen them on other buses.

The new rubber they are making them out of is not the same as the good old stuff. They can't take the flexing like the older rubber. I've had a pair straight up and down and they only lasted 2 years before the ripped. Although the old pair that were on there were straight up and down and lasted for 10 years or more. Its worth it to do that now while no engine is in it.

Fri Feb 22, 2013 11:43 am

Battery ground strap looks long enough.

Fri Feb 22, 2013 12:50 pm

I looked for a sending unit seal and couldn't find one in my spare parts. Did you have any luck finding one?

Fri Feb 22, 2013 1:03 pm

Split 66' wrote: I looked for a sending unit seal and couldn't find one in my spare parts. Did you have any luck finding one?

Yes, from Monument. Thanks.