TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Nov 19, 2010 11:06 pm

After several years of owning my 53 SC I'm finally getting around to giving her the attention she deserves. After some discussion with Ken over the past couple of years he has offered his skills up to do the rust repair on it. Seeing as he's no stranger to buses and I prefer not to do the metal work myself we have come to an agreement and it will soon be in his capable hands. I don't forsee this being an 8 month project start to finsh like the 25A was but if I can have her roadworthy inside 2 years I will be happy.
A couple weeks ago I pulled her out of dry storage where she has been hibernating. With the fast approaching winter I knew I had to get it into my shop for the teardown in preparation for the 5 hour trip west to Ken's place.

The day I found it sitting outside a repair shop in a small southern Saskatchewan town approx 5 years ago.

Found to be pretty complete with all original bits other than the engine but I know where that is sitting :roll:

Pulling it out of storage

Some "funky green" I have been collecting

Some of the bad

Pulling the front belly pan off I found it packed completely full of mouse nests (this pic was taken after I removed most of it)

Halo from the VW Canada badging

The PO's had stuffed in a 1600 DP & a late model Beetle trans with the BD reduction boxes bolted up (can you say 4 reverses and 1 forward!).

They "clearanced" the hoop under the trans to make room :roll: At least they didn't hack the front mount!

The truck had been used on a farm most of it's life and was quite the work horse. Apparently they use to haul a large water tank in the bed. There is some pretty serious damage to the seperation panel between the cab and bed...so much that it will need to be changed out. I will need to get a better pic to demonstrate how messed up it really is.

Sat Nov 20, 2010 1:49 am

SWWWEEEEEEEEEET.
Glad its gonna get treated well by mr king. You made the right choice. :)

Sat Nov 20, 2010 6:59 am

Im loving that truck :D ... Keep the pics coming.

Sat Nov 20, 2010 10:30 am

i'm looking forward to following this one! Congrats Trevor.

Sat Nov 20, 2010 11:36 am

Looking forward to seeing an 53 Canada Type 2 being restored! \:D/
The best part it is a Canadian,eh
Wish the best!

Sat Nov 20, 2010 12:54 pm

I'm looking forward to working on this old girl over the winter.

Trevo, I say we have her done for the Classic 2012. Should give you enough time for you to put her back together. Hopefully I'll have another BD finished by then and we can cruise down together. What do you say?

Sat Nov 20, 2010 12:58 pm

Where is the "like" button?

Sat Nov 20, 2010 2:08 pm

Great pics...

Interesting that the gas tank still got the stencil painting even though it is truck specific and not seen.

Sat Nov 20, 2010 4:23 pm

Concept1 wrote:

Trevo, I say we have her done for the Classic 2012. Should give you enough time for you to put her back together. Hopefully I'll have another BD finished by then and we can cruise down together. What do you say?

I say I think you're a machine when it comes to projects :lol:
I like that idea and it gives me a goal...just hope I don't run out of money before then. This sucker is gonna drain the wallet that I'm sure of but it will be worth it (at least that's what I'm telling myself) :wink:

The fuel tank stenciling I found interesting also. I thought the trucks had the stenciling on the rocker. Ken does your SC have the markings on the tank also?

Sat Nov 20, 2010 5:46 pm

Mine is late 54 and had no stenciling on the tank..

Mon Nov 22, 2010 11:55 am

[quote="Trevor P"] Concept1 wrote:

I say I think you're a machine when it comes to projects :lol:
I like that idea and it gives me a goal...just hope I don't run out of money before then. This sucker is gonna drain the wallet that I'm sure of but it will be worth it (at least that's what I'm telling myself) :wink:

The fuel tank stenciling I found interesting also. I thought the trucks had the stenciling on the rocker. Ken does your SC have the markings on the tank also?

Yes, it does. Strange thing too. Mine has the normal vin plate, not the VW Canada style. Maybe we should try to track which vehicle had those, VS those that didn't. My truck was definitely delivered to VW Canada, in Toronto.

Tue Dec 07, 2010 5:43 pm

I took the time to straighten the rear springplate stops. Like I mentioned this SC hauled some HEAVY loads in it's life!
They're not perfect but a heck of a lot better than they were, and will help to give the necc. clearance for the planned shock mounts.

Doors stripped down

Something I found stamped into the bed floor. Some kind of production # perhaps??

Finished stripping the old beast down a week or so ago and it is now loaded up on the trailer in preparation for the trip to C1 this Friday. Hopefully the weather isn't too brutal on the drive out.

Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:02 pm

Appears really solid considering the age. Looking forward to the resto

Tue Dec 07, 2010 10:22 pm

Awesome this will be another great canadian thread to follow . :D If my lottery ticket ever pans out my bus will be heading to Kens I would love for him to work on mine as well We will see what the future holds, nice truck !!!!

Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:02 am

I'm really looking forward to working on this old Girl.

You're going to be building the beam, trans and engine while we are doing the metal work.... right?

Classics 2012. No excuses.

8)

Wed Dec 08, 2010 11:40 am

Concept1 wrote:
You're going to be building the beam, trans and engine while we are doing the metal work.... right?
8)

You know it! Just need a donor beam so I don't have to cut adjusters into the original one.

Classics 2012??? We will see, as I'm sure I'll be nice and broke ass poor by then. :wink: :lol:

Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:14 pm

I might have a reasonable front beam for you, but it's located in Austria/Europe. if interested pm me.

Wed Dec 08, 2010 7:56 pm

Glad to see this old girl finally get the treatment Trevor.
I like Ken's idea of OCTO 2012. I think we should convoy.
Barnies can lead and the rest of us fatties will bring up the rear.
Think we can scare up a half dozen buses for the adventure?

Thu Dec 09, 2010 8:53 am

I also might have a good candidate for a donor beam. Located in the California bay area. The bump stops are cut off and the steering pin bracket are gone. I was going to try to rebuild it to stock but have since found a complete beam. PM me if you're interested...

Thu Dec 09, 2010 9:49 am

Riff Raff wrote: Glad to see this old girl finally get the treatment Trevor.
I like Ken's idea of OCTO 2012. I think we should convoy.
Barnies can lead and the rest of us fatties will bring up the rear.
Think we can scare up a half dozen buses for the adventure?

This, I like. I don't care who leads. Lets just do it. Trevor will tell you, it's a crazy long drive, but the fun factor is way high.

I'm thinking Mr. Murray might have his '55 single ready to go by then, your 15, and a couple of barndoors.