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Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:41 pm

Well, I wasnt really looking for another bay, but lo and behold, I found yet another. Now sadly, this one doesnt come with some super funny, well narrated story I'm afraid, because theres not much to tell. Admitedly, I do like bay rescue, so when someone told me about a "brownish bus" in need of my rescue services, I decided to look. So me and my trusty tow bar bought us a jumbo bag o funyuns and once again headed out into the wilds of Oklahoma with only a tiny pic and some ambiguous directions to follow.

I talked to the owners several times on the way and the directions got more and more like I was being lead to the proverbial lamb slaughter. For example, my last direction was "We are right across the street from the burned down house and pasture." And as the guy was hanging up, I heard: "Hey! Hes really here!" Uhm. Okay. When I arrived, I found some super nice people, who were more than willing to show me the bus. (Damn you over active imagination!) And Ill be dammed if it wasn’t a Champagne. I had sorta been looking for one of these.

So as the story goes, the kid selling it and his brother (the car guy) had been working on it steadily trying to get it to run and idle. They said (and the receipts support) purchases for a fuel pump, fuel injectors, MAF, plugs, wires and a German Supply FI fuel line kit. I was pleasantly surprised. The kid (and his brother) went on to explain how they had gotten it running, and he drove it to school, and……

Got hit by a guy with no insurance. Being a student, he couldn’t have it fixed, let it sit, and now it wont idle at all and has a major exhaust leak. He said he couldn’t bear to see it sit, and needed a tire for his now driver and to pay rent. So I opened the door.
Whoops! Fell off.

Bottom track is good, but this top part pops out. Ideas here? Scarring on the top part looks like its been that way a long time. Anyway, once looking inside I notice:

Full size bed! Score. Covered in some stank ass brown blanket. Yowza. Also I got some years fridge, which needs to be removed:

And a crap ton of parts. I turned the key, and it fired right off, and died right off, both with the same ear shaking exhaust roar. Hmm. Mental note for later. Interesting side note, do any of our viewers from the greater Oklahoma area recognize this bus? It has a samba sticker on it, and came with a Bentley. (I now have like three Bentleys, HA!) So I bought it. Simple as that.

Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:42 pm

So I set off to find the nearest car wash (anyone remember I always wash a “find” before I go home? Well I found one, and after getting yelled at by the hillbilly proprietor to help him “fix this damn phone” (true story) I scrubbed it up real quick.

I got headed home, and 40 miles before I got there:

But I was able to pull over quickly and:

Back on the road, I got home with out any other problems. I am however concerned about two things I found, one being copius amounts of starting fluid and two being:

In the box of parts was a set of rings. That doesn’t bode well for me, me thinks. Cleo the cat, who inspects each one of my buses as I bring them home, gave her approval.

Even with the body damage, im actually pretty happy with the bus over all. It needs tons of work, but hey, what else do I have to do with my time, right? The rust is very very minimal, and well, its a Champagne. :) Anyway, thanks again for reading, and only time will tell what happens, but I wanted to share.

Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:45 pm

Engine pics (sorry, camera died, iPhone quality only) Point out any and all flaws you see.

In case anyones counting, this is now the second member of HKUCBOO, the Hoss Kicked Unrunning Champagne Bays Of Oklahoma. :lol:

Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:57 pm

Nice score Kirk!

I guess the chrome rear bumper was crushed in the wreck?

Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:39 pm

Good lookin bus for sure!

does it have the clock?

Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:42 pm

Great find! Are there stripes under that paint?

Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:46 pm

Whats the point of by-passing the charcoal canister they way the p.o did?

Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:08 am

HKUCBOO 4 LYFE! The most exclusive club on the whole Samba. :lol:

Great find Kirk!! Lucky. My slider door did the same thing, the EXACT same thing. I have pics just like that in my 'pagne thread in the first few pages. I re-adjusted the top roller by scooting it up a little higher into the track and it has rolled and latched fine since.

You have a friend who can help you replace the corner?

It's a bummer that the stripes are gone! Interesting though, both of our 'pagnes have chrome front bumpers and parts bus rear bumpers. I guess that just comes with the territory. Sacrifices must be made in the name of HKUCBOO.

I went to look at 2 squarebacks way the hell out west of Tulsa once, and I had a similar experience with the locals and the insanity that is induced by the solitude of the outer rural areas. Really nice people though. Glad you made it out alive! AND KEEP US UPDATED!

Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:33 am

Lol I also emailed them about this. Never heard a answer...

Thu Aug 16, 2012 6:07 am

Kirk wrote:
Looks like there was an AC Condenser installed at one point. If you don't install another condenser, you'll need a donor bus to chop out that corner and re-weld it in or you'll have overheating problems in no time. You might need a donor bus anyways for that rear corner :wink:

Nice find though! Wish we had busses lying around in that good of condition in New England

Thu Aug 16, 2012 6:58 am

Aye...that is pretty hacked. :roll: I would just use aluminum insulation reflective-y tape when you get a foam seal in there. Then drive it like the Devil is chasing you! OKLAHOMA STYLE, y'all! YEEHAW! *fires shotgun into the air*

Thu Aug 16, 2012 7:00 am

Hahahaha. Since I have access to a welder I'll probably proper fix it. Now all I need is a parts late bay and a fist fulla dollars.

Thu Aug 16, 2012 10:41 am

Kirk wrote: Hahahaha. Since I have access to a welder I'll probably proper fix it. Now all I need is a parts late bay and a fist fulla dollars.

Bro-dawg:

If you DO get a parts bus, and you chop pieces off of it and have no use for it later...I can hide the body for you :twisted:

But for realsies- I'll buy the remains of the hypothetical-future-parts-bus if the side I need is good on it. We should talk if/when that time comes!

Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:41 pm

nice score...

Thu Aug 16, 2012 3:14 pm

Uberslow's Dopplgenger! :shock:

78 champagne edition... check
74 Rear camper interior w/ full width bed and cabinet... check
Vanagon captain's chairs, (though you have the color I want), even with outer arms removed! ... check
you even have the 73 westy cabinet that I am after next on my list! It's like a preview!

I have the wood floor and westy windows... just about a year ahead of you in getting mine.

The CE club is growing, the funky buses are coming out of the woodwork!
Awesome!

Fri Aug 17, 2012 3:56 am

thewalrus wrote: Kirk wrote:
Looks like there was an AC Condenser installed at one point. If you don't install another condenser, you'll need a donor bus to chop out that corner and re-weld it in or you'll have overheating problems in no time. You might need a donor bus anyways for that rear corner :wink:

Nice find though! Wish we had busses lying around in that good of condition in New England

My bus also has that corner hacked out and it did have AC , please tell me VW didn't do that from the factory .

Fri Aug 17, 2012 5:04 am

Phoneguy- Hellllllll no- it was a dealership thing I think.

Ken- your woman from this angle looks kinda like the April O'Neal from the first live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies. Idk if you've ever seen it, but it's rich with of-era hip-hop and hilarity. Aaaaaand April O'Neal drives a bus...a white splitty. :D I haven't had my coffee...please forgive me buddy.

Fri Aug 17, 2012 5:59 am

ken mitchell wrote: Uberslow's Dopplgenger! :shock:

78 champagne edition... check
74 Rear camper interior w/ full width bed and cabinet... check
Vanagon captain's chairs, (though you have the color I want), even with outer arms removed! ... check
you even have the 73 westy cabinet that I am after next on my list! It's like a preview!

I have the wood floor and westy windows... just about a year ahead of you in getting mine.

The CE club is growing, the funky buses are coming out of the woodwork!
Awesome!

That is funny. :) To bad you arent closer, I'd swap you chairs. I have a feeling these will get covered in brown plaid along with the bed by an upholstery friend of mine. :) Which 73 Westy cabinet? That fridge one? Again, wish you were closer. I have a jump seat for that area. Yay Champagnes!

Fri Aug 17, 2012 7:43 pm

I believe that is "the bear". Busboyjake rescued it. When I drove it, it didn't have the caved in rear passenger corner. He took care of it and brought it back online. It was a smooth bus at one time. Here is a pick of her in Bartlesville. He drove that bus everywhere.

Sat Aug 18, 2012 7:39 am

The Bear lives! Take good care of 'im, Kirk.