TheSamba.com :: View topic - '57 DD panel to Deluxe 23 window electric conversion

Mon May 20, 2013 2:42 am

Update,
Got a new apron from Autocraft

Painted the stock beam, ready to be installed

then cleaned, primed and painted all the air vent stuff

And I also converted my 6V wiper motor into 12V by swapping the armature.
here are the pictures:

Mon May 20, 2013 4:41 am

jehugarcia wrote: Update,
Got a new apron from Autocraft
[url=http://postimage.org/][img]

Glad it arrived safe and sound

Tue May 21, 2013 2:40 am

East Coast Cornerstore wrote: jehugarcia wrote: Update,
Got a new apron from Autocraft
[img]

Glad it arrived safe and sound

Thanks, arrived friday, its perfect nice and straight ready for paint.

Today's update:
Time to install the front dropped spindles, brakes and drums to the beam

All new seals and bearings

And there it is

Wed May 22, 2013 10:43 am

I mix and use the Martin Senour paint regularly. Message me with any questions you might have. Make sure you use 5% CH253 or Ch257 hardener if you continue with the basecoat/clear coat route (as long as you are using "56" code formulas). The older data sheets do not show to use it, but Sherwin Williams has recommended to use it now. It prevents the basecoat from deteriorating underneath the clear.

I have not used that specific clear, but all their clears are good for the money.

I'm also surprised you are able to get "56" formulas in California still. If that becomes an issue, you can have it mixed as "C3", which is the lower VOC version and it's still 100% solvent based. I am using "54" single stage on my build if you want to see how it looks.

Also, if you ever ever in my neck of the woods between Stockton and Modesto, I will give you an incredible paint discount if you want to buy a bunch of stuff.....

Wed May 22, 2013 11:01 am

Also, I will GIVE you my left over paint for your sunvisors if you make the trip to see me. It's a unique color just for those visors.

Thu May 23, 2013 1:58 am

roachdub58 wrote: I mix and use the Martin Senour paint regularly..... if you ever ever in my neck of the woods between Stockton and Modesto, I will give you an incredible paint discount if you want to buy a bunch of stuff.....

Thanks for all the paint advice roachdub58, i'm not 100% convinced I want to tackle body and paint myself but I've been reading stuff and its making a lot more sense now, maybe i'm just crazy enough to try it, we'll see.

Bus Update: Wow today was a good day! got bunch stuff done.
First, the day started with my bus looking like this

Gabriel is awesome! he got me this splash Pan correct for a '57

Decided to test fit my safari windows, installed, all I need to do is weld the brackets in place

Then the powdercoaters called, my stuff is ready! well most of it anyways they forgot some stuff, its ok it allowed me to take some more stuff I had forgotten to take them.

Got busy working on that steering column, welded the lock plate in place finally

Then time to put it all back together, used shallac to seal it, hope that stuff works I dont want a leaky box!

Then the tire place called, my tires are mounted and balanced!

Dont they look awesome?

Between Gabriel and me flipped the bus back, my rotisserie thing works like a charm

Then went to work on mounting the front beam and all these rear suspension parts, finally, i was getting tired of seeing them on the shelf collecting dust

2 hours later

Then started test fitting the batteries

Took a panorama picture with my iPhone

33 out of 36 cells for the floor pack, plus the DC to DC convertor on that metallic box, I sure hope 50Amp 12Volt system is enough to run the cars auxiliary power circuit

Then some semaphore action just before bed is always good.

Tomorrow I'm off to texas for a wedding so I will have resume all this fun until sometime next week, Booooh

Thu May 23, 2013 2:19 am

Glad I could help, let's see what else I could find in Sacramento Bugorama this weekend! Have fun in Texas!

Thu May 23, 2013 2:22 am

very nice and inspirational work man! congratulations. Very clean.

Tue May 28, 2013 12:30 pm

connecting the batteries continues

Tue May 28, 2013 2:12 pm

This is a wild, wild build.
I love reading this thread. Batteries under the cargo floor=rad.

Tue May 28, 2013 3:36 pm

I agree putting the batteries there was a great idea. Making the access from the top was a good idea as well as far as I'm concerned. Well done man keep at it!

Wed May 29, 2013 5:00 am

This one of those threads that I really read and check every time I log in at thesamba. The bus is looking better and better each day! Cool one!

Thu May 30, 2013 8:47 am

Motor is in!

Now one question, Do I have these backing plates upside down? It seems like the E-brake cables are going to be a real pain to install the way i have them right now

Thu May 30, 2013 9:14 am

They look right to me. E-brake attachment is on the bottom, towards the front.

Great build also. Been lurking on this one for awhile.

Thu May 30, 2013 1:05 pm

Found these on a another post

I think this is what I have to do to make my E-brake cables work, does that mean I dont need these: http://www.wagenswest.com/partstore/index.php/bus-...lates.html

Thu May 30, 2013 1:27 pm

No you don't need those spacers on the early busses. You just need to cut the collar on the cable like in those pics.

Fri May 31, 2013 8:22 pm

Question: is my fuse block upside down? I haven't been able to find and exact match on any of the wiring diagrams, 57 us with 3 wire turn switch, but all have the lights wiring on the right and main power on the left, as u can see in the pic my fuse block has everything backwards

free photo hosting

Fri May 31, 2013 9:30 pm

The rims look great powder coated. Just for your information, I remember reading a thread where someone had them powder coated and they had an issue with the lugs loosening up a bit and a wheel may have fallen off. I think I remember them suggesting to sand/grind away the powder coat where the lug seeds to the rim. I will try to find the link and give it to you.

The project is coming along, always an inspiration to read the updates.

Spitty

Fri May 31, 2013 10:02 pm

Spitty1974 wrote: The rims look great powder coated. Just for your information, I remember reading a thread where someone had them powder coated and they had an issue with the lugs loosening up a bit and a wheel may have fallen off. I think I remember them suggesting to sand/grind away the powder coat where the lug seeds to the rim. I will try to find the link and give it to you.

The project is coming along, always an inspiration to read the updates.

Spitty

Better check on this carnal, you don't want to loose a wheel on the road! :lol:

Fri May 31, 2013 11:03 pm

Most/all of the wiring diagrams on the site are upside down - this is how VW printed them in the shop manuals. It's confusing.

As far as I know your layout is correct.

Try to reverse it, most of the wires won't reach. :)