TheSamba.com :: View topic - What would be the first job you would do?

Tue Mar 19, 2013 4:47 am

The story behind the bus is so...

She has been owned by the same owner for the past 22years. It´s an original Dormobile pop top and it was the love of his life. 12 years ago he had the engine faithfully rebuilt but unfortunately on the day of the collection of the vehicle his mother died. He drove the bus home parked it in his garage and was never to drive it again. He has religiously turned the engine over by hand once a week and it sounds like a fuel injected motor (its not) I mean it sounds beautifully strong.

The interior and exterior are all there with a few little personal touched. eg the lights ehhem!

The paint has been applied by hand and he has done his best to keep the rust at bay. after reading the article on removing after market paint I think I might take it back to the original blue.

Thank you for all the advice I shall make Stopping my first priority. Clean out the oils and check her breathing also change the fuel lines for sure. A fire extinguisher is a fine point.

Also will get her some new boots. Can believe the rubber will be good after 12 years standing idle.

I have attached a few more photos for you and would welcome all your thoughts. As long as they´re clean. Images are not to clear but I think you´ll get the gist.

All the information above is what I am piecing together. I would appreciate your expertise and advise if you spot something contrary or an addition to the above.

All the best
Marc

Tue Mar 19, 2013 6:15 am

I'd like to see that Dormobile top open!?! :-k

Tue Mar 19, 2013 7:09 pm

Looks like a good project!!

Does the engine have heat exchangers or J-tubes??

Tue Mar 19, 2013 7:23 pm

pyrOman wrote: I'd like to see that Dormobile top open!?! :-k

x2! Some neat things that I have not see before.

Does it have belly pans and the 'top is open' light on the dash? Did you get some 'dormobile' emblems?

Very nice!!

Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:52 am

fix the brakes and take it for a spin. then put some lube on the dormy mechanism and pop it open.

Wed Mar 20, 2013 11:00 am

Great buy Marc, good luck with the resto. Are you in Melbourne?
Niko.

Thu Mar 21, 2013 4:48 am

In responses to requests to see the pop top open. I will provide photos on Sunday when it arrives. It´s winding it+s way from Adelaide to Sydney as you read these words. I managed to get the chassis number today and it appears to be manufactured in 1958 and not a 1962. this is the date of first registry. Which makes sense.

Semaphores, no indicators and small tail lights which I´m told are in the vehicle but I´ll check on Sunday when it arrives.

I ordered the front and rear wheel master cylinders. New soft brake lines, Fuel line and fuel filters today- Should arrive tomorrow in preparation for the new arrival.

Regards,

Thu Mar 21, 2013 6:24 am

///Mink wrote: pyrOman wrote: #1. Get it running.

#2. Get it stopping.

I'd do it in the reverse order. :P

To each his own. Both issues are pretty much equally important but IMO, if it can't run, I ain't bothering with the stopping until it does! First thing is making sure it will run. Now, that does not necessarilly mean to throw it down the hill. If the engine fires up, the transaxle can be checked while on jackstands. THEN, the stopping issues can be taken care of. 8)

Thu Mar 21, 2013 9:44 am

Fathermarc wrote: In responses to requests to see the pop top open. I will provide photos on Sunday when it arrives. It´s winding it+s way from Adelaide to Sydney as you read these words. I managed to get the chassis number today and it appears to be manufactured in 1958 and not a 1962. this is the date of first registry. Which makes sense.

Semaphores, no indicators and small tail lights which I´m told are in the vehicle but I´ll check on Sunday when it arrives.

I ordered the front and rear wheel master cylinders. New soft brake lines, Fuel line and fuel filters today- Should arrive tomorrow in preparation for the new arrival.

Regards,

see, now it is almost perfect, small hatch, semaphores, dormo roof...

I loved my 66 westy with dormo roof, yours is even cooler

congrats on your find.

Thu Mar 21, 2013 12:15 pm

I'm highly doubtful that's Dormobile. Dormie roofs stretch from gutter to gutter and the shape is off. The inside doesn't look like it either. If it's as early Bus as you think, it's most definitely not as they weren't made yet.

Still a very cool Bus!

Thu Mar 21, 2013 6:21 pm

Well I'm excited about this weekend and I will be better positioned to answer all your questions as best I can.

In regards to the Dormobile spec. I'm not sure but afte a quick google I found the following statement:

"The first Bedford CA based Dormobile motorhome, complete with a gas stove, a sink and cupboards and seats which converted into beds, appeared in 1957.[1] The elevating roof, hinged on one side and featuring a red and white striped canopy, was quickly evolved in order to make it possible to stand within the vehicle. The campervan idea originated as a compromise negotiated with the UK tax office.[1] Earlier in the 1950s, the manufacturers specialised in converting the Bedford CA van into a mini-bus, featuring extra side windows and seats. "

I hope this is of interest to someone.

Regards,

Thu Mar 21, 2013 6:46 pm

What Dormie ? all I see is that badass steering wheel ! Fathermarc wrote: First job I do would be get the paperwork in my name. Cool bus enjoy

Thu Mar 21, 2013 7:41 pm

Bulli Klinik wrote: I'm highly doubtful that's Dormobile. Dormie roofs stretch from gutter to gutter and the shape is off. The inside doesn't look like it either. If it's as early Bus as you think, it's most definitely not as they weren't made yet.

Still a very cool Bus!

i agree that it does not look like the dormobile top that was on my 66 westy, but then again, i am no expert, i would not be surprised if there were different versions.

we will just have to wait to find out, won't we

Fri Mar 22, 2013 6:19 am

Fathermarc wrote: Well I'm excited about this weekend and I will be better positioned to answer all your questions as best I can.

In regards to the Dormobile spec. I'm not sure but afte a quick google I found the following statement:

"The first Bedford CA based Dormobile motorhome, complete with a gas stove, a sink and cupboards and seats which converted into beds, appeared in 1957.[1] The elevating roof, hinged on one side and featuring a red and white striped canopy, was quickly evolved in order to make it possible to stand within the vehicle. The campervan idea originated as a compromise negotiated with the UK tax office.[1] Earlier in the 1950s, the manufacturers specialised in converting the Bedford CA van into a mini-bus, featuring extra side windows and seats. "

I hope this is of interest to someone.

Regards,

The first VW Dormies were made in 61 or 62, but I've been around Buses long enough to never say never. The one the article is referring to is a Bedford.

My eyes have become accustomed to knowing what a Dormie top looks like. I've been eyeballing mine almost daily since 96.

Curious to see what yours looks like popped.

Fri Mar 22, 2013 6:22 am

When I look at that Bedford top, it does seem to be a bit smaller than the standard Dormie top. Maybe you have an incredibly early Dormie?

That's either a home-built or an incredibly rare Bus...The plot thickens.

Sun Mar 24, 2013 3:12 am

It arrived early this morning on the back of a trailer. No dramas and everything went well. I spent the entire day emptying the dirt and boxes. Ripping up carpets and throwing out garbage.

When it arrived I was fearful of the rust in the door skins and valance. I secretly hoped that it hadn't eaten its way through the best part of the vehicle. I do hope I haven´t bought a bucket of rust.

A few hours of toil and sweat on a glorious Sunday morning in Bronte, revealed a sound body. The underside is in tip top order. A few body skins in need of replacing. Drivers door lower. Front v section bottom outer. Inner LHS. Passengers door lower skin. Cargo door lower. Valance under cargo doors. Thats it! To my delight everything is excellent. The red has been hand painted and i even had a little scrape with a blade to reveal the Blueun O.P. Nothing on the vehicle is missing. Original everything. Every last nut and bolt had been saved in a container along with the items it belong to. Even the bunks for the pop top hammocks were there folded and clean.

As for the pop topitself. Well your guess is better than mine. I know it's not a Dormobile. I don't know what it is just right now. But its well thought out. Well made. All the same as the R'N'R bed construction. It' cool and I love it. Pictures to follow.

Have also the two part sun visor. The screen stone guard. The original rear lights. A Nardi steering wheel. Parcel shelf. Ashtray. Sun visors. Pop out windows. Rear view mirror. Door cards. Deep Chrome domes for wheels. Every switch. Every bolt. Its complete. Im so pleased. All the bulbs are showingas 12V and a few relays so I´m secretly hoping it´s had the conversion already. There are two cold shocks on the rear that are leaking oil so I´m also hoping it´s IRS but need to do some research.

It still smells of mice/rat even though I disinfected the entire interior after stripping. The little vermin had decided on making the tool box under the seat its home love palace.

My wife and I sat in the front seat and glowed. It now a member of the family. We need to decide on a name. Big grin ear to ear.

Regards,
Marc

Sun Mar 24, 2013 4:48 am

Sounds like a sweet project already! You will enjoy it, specially when you get it running! 8)

Sun Mar 24, 2013 7:25 am

Excellent! A great Bus and a happy owner!

Sun Mar 24, 2013 8:20 am

Check out your local pet store for spray bottle product that will neutralize urine smell.

Do be very careful of what you throw away. There are a lot of repro parts out there, but some are just junk and others are still not being made. Even worse is tossing out interior camper parts only to find that they are near impossible to find in good used shape. Plus it might turn out you have one of only a hand full of original examples of a particular camper interior.

Sun Mar 24, 2013 11:28 am

pyrOman wrote: ///Mink wrote: pyrOman wrote: #1. Get it running.

#2. Get it stopping.

I'd do it in the reverse order. :P

To each his own. Both issues are pretty much equally important but IMO, if it can't run, I ain't bothering with the stopping until it does! First thing is making sure it will run. Now, that does not necessarilly mean to throw it down the hill. If the engine fires up, the transaxle can be checked while on jackstands. THEN, the stopping issues can be taken care of. 8)

All good advice, as stated in previous posts my first thing would be to check/replace the fuel lines, what good is it if it will run and stop if you are on the side of the road watching it burn!!