TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun Mar 06, 2011 6:53 pm

Yeah I noticed that when I visited...kind of a bummer. Good Eagle Eye! How much of a priority is that? I tapped my knuckles on the windshield, it didn't seem loose or anything. Thanks for the link, too. That's handy! So far it looks like I'm going to to replace the fuel lines and hoses, tires, get the brakes checked and a tune-up... And replace the brake pads/lines if necessary. They felt pretty tight, but I don't really trust them. All the deluxe window trim is black and splotchy. The metal can be re-chromed can't it? Or would it be better to just replace it? I can't wait to vacuum it out... saw quite a bit of rat poop.

Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:02 pm

Keep in mind that the Champagne is sorta\kinda rare and replacing original parts with crap parts will kill the overall selling price, if you ever decide to sell.

I know that if I was looking at a Champagne bus I would walk away at the first sign of cheap replacement parts.

So, do some research on this model and do your best to keep it as close to original as possible. You wont regret it.

Sun Mar 06, 2011 11:30 pm

secretsubmariner wrote: How much of a priority is that?

I would say right after you replace the fuel lines replace that seal. You shouldn't drive it with the seal like that. The seal is what holds your windshield to your bus. Also, you're probably getting water inside the bus because of that seal. I don't have any experience with replacing seals so I can't help in that area.

Mon Mar 07, 2011 12:08 pm

Nice, I found it on Bus Depot so I guess I'll order it ASAP! It still needs a few too many things to drive any time soon...plus I have to practice driving with a stick...kinda freaked out about it :oops: but whatever.

Collie- You're right, I've researched quite a bit on the ol' Champagne Edition II ever since I stumbled across this one. I'm sort-of a purist, so no worries there! It's kinda-historic, so I want to make it shine...And also, with this gigantic dent in it and all this paint missing I haven't really thought about what it'd be worth if it were restored completely. Are you a fan of the Champagne yourself?

I bought some window winders thinking they would just pop on...but they screw on and I don't have screws for it! Sheeeit! *refers to bentley chapter 1* :wink: Just a few more hours!!!!!!

Mon Mar 07, 2011 3:44 pm

secretsubmariner wrote: I have to practice driving with a stick...kinda freaked out about it :oops:

Don't sweat that at all. I learned to drive stick in a 70 transporter. That's when my love for these Buses began. They're geared pretty low so starting out is a cinch and starting out is the hardest part of driving a manual.

Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:59 pm

secretsubmariner wrote: Are you a fan of the Champagne yourself?

Yes, guess so, I had one as a parts bus along time ago, it really was junk. But, the Champagne has a bunch of one year only things like the courdoroy seats, stock clock, brown dashboard and carpets, the stripe package and probably a few more things...

They are just different, thats why I like them....

http://www.ratwell.com/technical/ChampagneParts.html

Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:06 pm

The Champagne is now sitting on a slab of concrete in my backyard! It was too dark to get any pictures, but I'll take a lot tomorrow. Success!

Collie-Yes the brown parts are pretty cool. the rearview mirror is brown, too. The middle and back seats are in such awesome shape, I feel lucky 8)

Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:50 pm

Welcome to the Champagne Edition club!

Tue Mar 08, 2011 11:34 am

Thanks Prairie! I was hoping other champagne owners would find this thread, and I was hoping to be a part of some type of champagne 'club' haha :D :D :D

So! It rained last night, but I got up early before work to snap some pictures. Here they are!

Sexy

Smile!

That roll there is some vinyl-type material that matches all the door panels in the champagne-y color. Don't mind the air filter assembly.. :oops: haha

Ahh...feels good to be home!

What is this knob for? There are two, one on each C pillar...I'm guessing for seatbelts for the back seat, but I have no clue

Tue Mar 08, 2011 11:44 am

Coathooks.

.

Tue Mar 08, 2011 12:06 pm

I apologize if these pictures are gigantic...they're from my phone and I can't format them on my work computer.

Sweet VW/Audi logos on the glass all the way around...except the windshield..

After I pulled the middle seat in the dark last night... and cleaned it up some-ish

Not too bad :)

After I vacuum it out and scrub it up tonight I'll post more pictures (and hopefully ALOT smaller pictures) again I apologize :wink:

Tue Mar 08, 2011 12:07 pm

Thanks busdaddy! I didn't even think of that...wonderful!

Tue Mar 08, 2011 4:31 pm

Looking good! If it were me I would not paint that thing, just clean it, wax it and roll away.....

Vaccum and maybe clean up the carpets, it looks like a nice solid ride to me.....I will post a few pics of a PERFECT example tonight so you know what everything should look like......you will love it !!!

Tue Mar 08, 2011 8:30 pm

Collie-hell yeah! That'd be very interesting to see.

Today I cleaned the inside panels that popped off from the wreck. They were covered in dirt and sticky grime...

Before

After

Before...

and I forgot to take an after of that last one..but the improvement was about the same...barely noticeable through the grainy inside pics hahha :roll:

So! If it isn't raining tomorrow I'm going to vacuum this puppy up.

Figuratively speaking, of course.

Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:31 pm

This is a one owner CE from Canada, the guy bought it brand new and has some unreal stories of what he done, and gone with, this bus....

I put all the pictures in my gallery as to not hog the OP's space here, but its so worth a look...

Enjoy!

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Collie

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_cat.php?cat_id=15

Wed Mar 09, 2011 12:39 pm

Collie- That Champagne is soooooo sweet. Truly fantastic pictures, thanks!

Zelten- I just now saw your comment about the stick-shift. It has raised my confidence considerably :D
After looking over my own interior thoroughly, it looks as though a PO has re-upholstered some of the original panels as my interior side panel has no chrome, no armrest or ashtray... but it has all the holes for it on the particle-board part

Trying out an idea to get the panels straightened out..

Pictured: Typewriter, stool

And I have a whole new problem now to add to the list.

So I'm going to take off the slider door, I guess. It feels like the rails aren't sitting right. And the hinge feels kinda dry. I've got the Bentley so I think I can figure it out. Does anyone have any tips for a first timer that aren't mentioned in the Bentley? I have this strange fear of breaking my fingers, weird I know :wink:

The weather has been too cold to actually get to work on it. But I'm DETERMINED AS ALL HELL to remove that rear bumper today before sundown. We'll see. Thank you Zelten, Jtauxe, Collie, Prairie VW and everyone else for making me feel welcome. There aren't alot of visitors to this thread but I'm glad that there are those of you who stop by every once in a while.

Wed Mar 09, 2011 1:47 pm

Here ya go:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=446358

Colin has a great write up on refreshing your slider.

Wed Mar 09, 2011 2:13 pm

Thank you Skid! Much appreciated :)))

Wed Mar 09, 2011 4:02 pm

Looks like you're jumping right in. I love the enthusiasm. Fixing the door is also not a problem. When I bought my bus the door would fall off if I opened it. It's a couple hours job. You may need some replacement parts and that thread that skid linked is great!

Wed Mar 09, 2011 5:57 pm

Bus Depot is having a sale on the Hankooks- $76 each plus shipping. I paid $70 for shipping 5 tires and a small box of seals for the bug. The local tire place wanted $99 each, so I saved $55