TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1976 Father+Son Westoration (restoration)

Sun Feb 20, 2011 5:55 pm

Like the thread title pun?
Back in August I bought my second bus http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=429563&highlight=buff (now own a 3rd parts bus) and was planning on driving it close to the shape it was in. Along the way I relized nobody was going to fix this bus up, and that it would be passed along until it was scrapped or parted out- so I began a restoration.
(I apologize for all the pics, but alot has been done)

All of my babies- and one of my dads (MGB LE)

Plenty of Rust on the drivers side

- Ordered the floor pan from Bus Depot- not a perfect fit, but I worked it in place.

Mmhmm Puddy!

Ughhh inner rust

No panels...no problem!

Some sheet metal- Future infrastructure of my bus!

Fitting some home brewed panels to fit the inner apron pattern.

Brake/ Oil/ and ATF leak- different problem for a different day.

Dad broke his ankle in 3 places...time for me to really have a go.

This one had me seriously poundering...$200 for the panel...or hours of labor...eh i'm young

Panel I cut and bent along with another Flanged panel (not shown)

Not the Finished product- I still need to pop drain holes+ Cut vents.

Oh yeah...and the hard work

My rims are blinging once more :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=demBrm9_aHY
(I pulled the interior, but its all there)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIidHvkSxv8
(Yes that ropes attached to the throttle)

All panels put on will be por-15'ed and undercoated-as well as sealed- I am waiting to complete all paneling before its welded inplace in order to keep the body straight as as close to OG as I can make it.
And thats it for the moment!

Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:05 pm

Keep up the good work,it looks like you are getting a handle on it . It looks like your bus is an auto . I really like mine. Keep us posted with your work.

Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:21 pm

Man what a great job you are doing !!!

Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:34 am

Did you really just apologize for pics? I love to see them brought back from near death like that. Good job.

Mon Feb 21, 2011 8:28 am

You have a lot of work ahead of you but good for you for saving another bus.

Loved the rope on the throttle too! :lol:

Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:17 am

Thanks for the encouragement! I wasn't thrilled with the automatic transmission at first, but it runs pretty smoothly. I cut the panels for the other side of the valance and will put them in place soon...I also started an order to rebuild the braking system and reseal the camper. I'm trying to get as much done before Spring Track starts up again!

Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:40 am

One thing I forgot to ask you ,how old are you ?

Tue Feb 22, 2011 11:47 am

I just turned 18 this month! But i've been messing with old cars since I was a youngin'.

Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:31 pm

I can tell ! I wish my son was interested in my buses like you are . One you get driving that auto I think you will like it.

Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:17 pm

WTF!! That is ridiculous! You're basically remaking the lower half of your bus - that's awesome!

Nice work. Seriously.

Mon May 09, 2011 4:13 pm

I moved from the rear end due to frustration and I've begun work on the rockers and random rust spots- both outers were rusted and full of puddy.

What I still get to deal with...later...later

Side, only tacked in the picture, but its been welded- inner workings were por 15'ed

Pulled off all canvas- Last material holding mouse s*** smell

Heavier welded metal for the frame.

Covered the weld nut area-finishing driver side

Bracket fits with back weld nut.

Passenger side rocker

Good representation of my Bus...

Cut out rust spot by wheel well.

Scrap metal from my dad's old MGC

Mon May 09, 2011 4:40 pm

nice work brotha... it's nice havin' access to a sheet metal brake and a shrinker/stretcher... nice fab work...

Mon May 09, 2011 9:15 pm

Man that's some awesome undertaking! I would have packed it in looking at the kind of rust that's on that bus. I applaud you my friend. Some serious good work!

Thu May 12, 2011 2:25 pm

Thanks alot! Can anyone tell me the distance from the back driver side center bolt to the passenger side center bolt on the frame where the bumper mounts? All 3 of my buses have been rear ended and I don't have an accurate template to work off of...

Thu May 12, 2011 2:41 pm

Kudos to you for taking this on, its just like a European bus and making your own panels as well!

Fri May 13, 2011 3:58 pm

TheFonz wrote: Thanks alot! Can anyone tell me the distance from the back driver side center bolt to the passenger side center bolt on the frame where the bumper mounts? All 3 of my buses have been rear ended and I don't have an accurate template to work off of...

As near as I can make it it's 1065mm. Awesome undertaking...good on ya.

Tue May 24, 2011 2:43 pm

Thanks alot for all the encouragement, I am puting together a $1400 order to Bus Depot which will keep me busy for a atleast another month. And thanks alot for the measurement Jalabert...now its time for some finessing with a block of wood and a jack!

Tue May 24, 2011 3:39 pm

TheFonz wrote:

All of my babies- and one of my dads (MGB LE)

whats with all the boats :?:

Tue May 24, 2011 5:30 pm

bugger101 wrote:

whats with all the boats :?:

They must have been pulled out from the same lake that bus came out of! :lol:

J/K, awesome work TheFonz, that's a huge project. Thumbs up for saving a Bay that did not stood much chance otherwise!

Tue May 24, 2011 6:04 pm

I always knew The Fonz was cool, but dang. You are seriously cool. Solid work!