TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sat May 05, 2012 7:02 am

I am still playing with all the engine bits. I guess it is all baby steps with this type of build.
I am working on the cooling tin,t-stat and exhaust shielding, thanks to all the help in the performance engine forums.
I am fitting the exhaust. I know I will take alot of flak over my choice, but it is a just for now exhaust, while I save up for a Vintage Speed system.

I have some concerns about heat transfer from the J-tube exhaust, so I wrapped them. I will also be fabbing a heat shield.

The exhaust wrap, with stainless wire woven over top. This helps to stop it from shifting.

Today I will be tackling the pushrods...cutting to length and setting up the swivel foot adjusters.

If I have time I will try to do a spindle flip on my practice spindle.

Gordo.

Sun May 06, 2012 4:17 pm

Well it is tough to get much done on a sunday when there is Moto 2, World Superbikes, and Moto GP on tv. So I had to stay home and try and get something done on the commercial breaks.

This is what I could do.

Get a start on the upholstery. removed all the old stuff and only broke one hook tang.

This seat back will be headed to Skaw's Bus.

I wonder if this is why my asthma has been acting up lately?

time to order the seat covers and padding. I will be going with Platinum mesh vintage TMI stuff. Panels too. Anyone had really bad experiences, or just the minor issues that come up on the search. I know there are better ones out there but they come at a much higher price than TMIs.
Headliner I will be getting from West Coast restorations as I have heard it is better quality at near the same cost.
Welcome to any suggestions you may have.

gordo.

Tue May 08, 2012 6:49 am

Back to the engine.
I had to "clearance" the full flow oil pump cover to fit behind the new degree pulley and the new pulley tin had to be cut away just enough to meet the clearsnced areas.
I bent up some tin to close in the sleds around the J-tubes , just enough to mimic what would have been the heater boxes. This should allow my T-stat to operate as intended.

gordo.

Fri May 11, 2012 7:23 pm

This looks like it's going to be great!
Have joined the site and posting just to keep up to date.
Looking forward to watching the progress.
Good luck! :D

Fri May 11, 2012 11:20 pm

Ah, Perth...you must be my Son Wade's friend.
Glad to see your interest in Vintage VWs, it shows great character.

Things should start to happen a bit quicker now as the body could be back to me in a week or two.

Gordo.

Mon May 14, 2012 6:54 pm

Had a look at the Bus today. Joe had the whole thing stripped down to bare metal and epoxy primer applied. He will epoxy primer the doors tomorrow and begin the first skim coats of body filler on the joins.
I should have it back soon.

Mon May 14, 2012 7:04 pm

flemcadiddlehopper wrote:

This bus is looking good...one question: i saw your ruddy primer cargo floors before installation. Were those from WW? If so, did you buy them recently? I thought they had a new style cargo floor.

Mon May 14, 2012 11:15 pm

The floors were from CIP1 . It was their orange ones that are supposed to be the heavy gauge ones. If I was to start over with another Bus I would try and get all Gerson pieces. I know the floor has a wave to it...if it was a panel I would care, but being that it will be under rubber floor mat and seats...I'm good with it.
All in all I am very pleased with the work that Joe has done for me. It will be a very solid Bus for many years to come, due to the attention to getting rid of all the rust and sealing the body well.

Gordo.

Tue May 15, 2012 8:07 am

Your muffler won't fit under the rear apron. Been there, done that. The one I bought is now collecting dust on a shelf in the garage. :(

Tue May 15, 2012 10:11 am

Great work :wink:

Tue May 15, 2012 4:35 pm

The exhaust looks familiar.

My bus, fairly new to me, came with the same exhaust. I think it's called a Monza, or something like that.

As you can see from the pictures, it doesn't exactly fit my 66 bus.

Tue May 15, 2012 9:23 pm

Oh my. I will work the exhaust to fit under the bumper before I cut the bumper, that's for sure.
I think those GT (Monza) exhaust systems may be bug exhaust. This exhaust was listed as a Bus exhaust for years up to 72. Time will tell once installing the engine and trans.

It is not really considered a tuned exhaust, so if need be I can add a bit of length to #2 and #4 tubes to drop it lower. Or, even cut and turn the pipes going in and out of the muffler a bit to drop the tail pipes lower.

Either way it is not impossible to get a good fit.

On to some other advances in the project. I had a chance to work on the practice spindles. I think I have the spindle flip figured out.

Got some good penetration on the welded beef section.

Here is a before and after shot, to help see (measure) the drop.

I will give the real ones a little more clearance.

gordo.

Wed May 16, 2012 9:51 pm

First off.... the things you find when your taking thing apart are always surprising.

Surprise, no needles.

Surprise, spiders and wasps living in harmony. It's a VW Bus the symbol of peace.

And now one small question. The front end I have for this Bus is, I think, a late link pin front end. The practice spindle I have must be early link pin.
The early link pin front end has small link pis and a thick spindle. The late front end has the big link pins and a narrower spindle.

so...Late left and early right ???

just need to know so I can order the right disk brakes.

thanks. Gordo.

Thu May 17, 2012 8:40 pm

I had a chance and got both spindle welded up and clearenced.

I believe these to be the late spindles and the correct ones for my year and the ones needed for the Saco Disk Brake kits.

Gordo.

Mon May 21, 2012 4:53 pm

Now that spindles are nearly sorted out, I thought i had better get the other bits of the front end cleaned up and ready for reassembly. I ordered new link pins and roller bearings,tie rod ends, plus the adjusters for the front beam.

Axle tubes sand blasted and fresh paint.

New boots on the long axles now locked on the trans.

I was wondering if the '68 front swaybar would fit onto the link pin front end? If the pinch bolt for the lower link pin is long enough it could be used to bolt the ends of the swaybar to the control arm. Then the '68 swaybar bushing and clamp would fit right on the control arm too. The only issue I can see, is at full sag of the suspension the swaybar touches the front beam ends. I will ask if it has been done in the performance section.
Here is what the swaybar looks like without the bushings installed.

I must say I am very fortunate to have a very understanding Wife. This is our 24th wedding anniversary today and she had no problem letting me go and work on the Bus.....Of course I brought flowers back with me, just in case "go ahead work on the Bus, I don't care" was code for something else.

Gordo.

Mon May 21, 2012 6:20 pm

It's code. You're screwed.....or rather, you're unscrewed.

Sounds like, "Fine. Go out and have some beers while I stay home alone. I don't mind." In other words, if you go, you'd better sleep with one eye open or she'll sew you up in the sheet and beat you with a broom handle.

Happy Anniversary!

She sounds like a keeper.

Mon May 21, 2012 6:30 pm

Yes she is a keeper. After all it was her idea to throw some funds at the bus to restore it in the first place.

Gordo.

Mon May 21, 2012 7:57 pm

Cool project!
Always good to see a bus being restored that thoroughly..
Good luck! 8)

Mon May 21, 2012 10:18 pm

Thanks, I had to....it was either restore it or send it on it's way. I hate selling shit, i always regret it later.

Gordo.

Mon May 21, 2012 10:32 pm

Nice job!!! You are truely an inspiration! i appreciate your help greatly!