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Sat Jan 11, 2014 10:33 am

Since the weather is terrible and I am stuck inside I figured I would start a build thread so I can extract the knowledge of others on the board.
I Posted in the Today in Bus Hunting thread already, but wanted to document the journey of trying to get this bus roadworthy.

Since the Westy is pretty much done and getting used I had become bored to death with no project in the wings. I bought an Alfa as a true father son project but he is in school so it will stay as it is for a while, so I was looking pretty hard for a small hatch Bullet nose bus.
I found a 59 Mango about 6 miles from my house a few months ago. I had been trying to get that bus from the owner from day one and really was getting nowhere. The owner is a cool young man and just would not part with it for cash, I had offered a solid price and parts but it never came through as he wanted to trade it for another bus.
All the while I have been gathering parts for a Mango with hopes of running one down as it and the PG/SG are my favorite early buses. I am glad I started as it makes looking at some of the flaws on this bus tolerable knowing I have replacement parts.
Now to how it arrived- sorry it is copied from the other thread.

Over the past weekend I told Grayson I was looking for a Mango and had several parts to replace with so it did not have to be a perfect bus.
While on a Conference call Tuesday Grayson texted me saying hey think I found your Mango. Since I was on the never ending call, Grayson started working the deal and started getting pics and shooting them over. Grayson said can you get it today? Seeing as I was in my company car and scheduled for meetings the next two days that was a no go so I reached out to my buddy Josh (poor Josh) and asked him what he had going on. Once Josh said he could drive up (4 hours) and grab it Grayson put me in touch with the owner and the deal was done. I was going to be stuck in Winston Salem and the seller wanted it picked up by Friday so I was only going to be able to pay for it and not help extract.
Josh went by my house and grabbed the extraction kit and some wheels and hit the road to scoop it up. Once he got there he called me and said, yep it is a project but not as bad as we have seen. I asked if it had the front seat in it and he said, no only the drivers top frame. So even though we thought it had the "front seat" it turned out to be a Walk Through so even better. Josh actually said the wheels broke loose and it rolled on it's own which is a first for me.

So I had to wait until the morning after I got home to even lay eyes on the bus since Josh took it to his house. While on the trailer I was happy to see it but did see some things the seller failed to mention such as a pretty crushed passenger corner, but all in all it was in the condition I expected.

It was built on January 5 1960 and was pulled out of the woods nearly 54 years to the date. It was delivered to Washington DC. It is MCoded for a full length middle seat and Ambulance step. The seller mentioned it had been in the same family since new.

It has one of the nicest noses I have seen on it, it had one football size dent that pushed right out once the kick panel was removed.
The speedo is in incredible shape although the dash has lost a good bit of paint.
The roof is very solid with maybe 2 dings up there.
It has an engine that turns over freely but appears to be newer than the Bus.

Sat Jan 11, 2014 10:41 am

And now for the pictures. The plan is to fix the rust and blend where needed. I need to research best way to protect the bare metal spots but it is unlikely I try to paint them.

This is the first picture of it its resting place since Hurricane Hugo with the patented Beetle rescue wheels mounted for trailer loading.

The Bus was wearing about a 1/4 inch of moss and grime and looked nearly yellow. Here it is finally in the driveway.

And after a quick trip to the basement a nearly patina matched emblem.

Nose with the dent showing.

And pushed out by hand.

Drivers side before a rust mort treatment and ClR bath.

Cleaning begun on the roof.

And one full pass, will get a couple more but for now.

Sat Jan 11, 2014 10:44 am

Mango walk thru, you lucky bastard! :lol: Congrats, and looking forward to seeing this ones progress...

Sat Jan 11, 2014 10:54 am

The Cargo area is in much better shape than the westy so it will only need outer sections so that is a blessing. The Luggage Area is solid.

Has all the panels but can't say they are all in nice shape.

And the first order of business was this.
The passenger corner was hit twice it looks like once low once high. I have replaced a corner before and was open to doing it here but figured I would sacrifice my arms and get in there and see if I could work it out.

After several hours it is starting to resemble a corner again.

And A few more hours and now I can move to smaller hammer and do the detail dolly work.

And of course with the corner tweaked the vents were also challenged.

And a few hours later.

OG engine lid removed itself just before loading.

It will be a wall hanger and this one will take it's place on the bus.

At least this time I know what I have got myself into and since it has a solid frame I feel I can start it towards a new life. The corner was a let down but it seems like it will come around in time.
I am happy it is a walk through but my wallet will not be so happy finding replacement seats. Right now the plan is to convert to a camper since I got hooked on the SO42.
Looking forward to any advice you guys are willing to share on how to preserve the exposed metal and repairing this old thing.

Phillip

Sat Jan 11, 2014 12:00 pm

i think you finally found the right bus.

i personally think the mangos have the best looking interior colors of the narrow hatch buses, a nice wood paneled camping interior should look great as well, though

congratulations!

Sat Jan 11, 2014 1:50 pm

Boiled linseed oil works. You can put it over the whole bus to prtoect teh patina, it will also bring back some shine to the paint. The only downside is dust and lint can stick to it. There is a thread on here somewhere about it.

Sat Jan 11, 2014 7:33 pm

Looks awesome dude. Congratulations! If we caravan anywhere though, just please drive behind me so I don't end up with the small hatch envy.

Sun Jan 12, 2014 5:45 am

Awesome bus Phillip, can't wait to see you work your magic on this one.

Sun Jan 12, 2014 5:53 am

zuggbug wrote: Awesome bus Phillip, can't wait to see you work your magic on this one.

X2. I'm still amazed at what you did with that westy.

Sun Jan 12, 2014 5:57 am

RPGreg2600 wrote: Boiled linseed oil works. You can put it over the whole bus to prtoect teh patina, it will also bring back some shine to the paint. The only downside is dust and lint can stick to it. There is a thread on here somewhere about it.

Forget the linseed. It's like a dust, bug, dirt trap.

Sun Jan 12, 2014 7:04 am

Use spray bomb clear on the exposed pitted areas that you've cleaned.
On the surrounding paint you can use warm Vaseline but wax goes a long way to.
Brian

Sun Jan 12, 2014 8:17 am

ricekooker wrote: RPGreg2600 wrote: Boiled linseed oil works. You can put it over the whole bus to prtoect teh patina, it will also bring back some shine to the paint. The only downside is dust and lint can stick to it. There is a thread on here somewhere about it.

Forget the linseed. It's like a dust, bug, dirt trap.

Gibbs Oil or Strike Hold metal conditioner work great to fend off surface rust without being greasy or dust magnets. They actually soak into the metal and can be cleaned off with wax and grease remover when ready to paint.

Sun Jan 12, 2014 4:48 pm

Thanks for the tips. Eric trust me not much to Envy here, unless you envy rust.
I finally got all parts to open today.Drivers seat pedestal will need to be replaced or patched. Can count on full dog legs too. Rear hatch is somewhat solid except where mice stored their meal on the inside of the bottom lip and it rusted from the inside out. I may try to save every panel this time, everything needs attention.
Did 2 more CLR baths then a pass with 2K wetsanding. Have the metal order list going. Long rocker is bugging me more than anything so I want to fix it fast.

I will have to patch up the hinge carrier or replace (I actually have a new one) but I sat the replacement hatch on just to see how far the rear had come in 2 days.

This weekend was my son's last weekend before returning to Georgia Southern so I did not spend much time out there on it. Good thing is Tuition is paid so I guess I can put a few dollars into this pig.

Sun Jan 12, 2014 6:46 pm

ricekooker wrote: zuggbug wrote: Awesome bus Phillip, can't wait to see you work your magic on this one.

X2. I'm still amazed at what you did with that westy.

Thank you both.

Sun Jan 12, 2014 7:37 pm

Looking good! :D

Did you get my last message?

Tue Jan 14, 2014 3:55 pm

roberto wrote: Looking good! :D

Did you get my last message?

I did. I will let you know, thanks for looking out for me.

Just placed the bulk of the metal order, ouch. While I wait I am doing bits and pieces to get parts ready for the rebirth. These panels may not be salvaged but I will give it a go. I have pulled vinyl before so that is an option.
The cargo door panels had stripper DNA as they were touching their toes.

After some hard life lessons they are a little straighter now.

I had to skip my workout due to making a panel press with all the weights.
And Long panel. I keep saying to myself at least you have these panels.

Some better.

And an actual accomplishment. Arm rests unbolted with ease and are cleaning up nicely so they will be used again.

I am working up a scavenger trip this weekend to grab some much needed parts. I am ashamed of the Drivers seat pedestal so no pics until it is replaced.

Tue Jan 14, 2014 4:00 pm

otis_bartleh wrote: Mango walk thru, you lucky bastard! :lol: Congrats, and looking forward to seeing this ones progress...

HA, Lucky or stupid, I am still deciding! Thanks for the encouragement!

Tue Jan 14, 2014 5:10 pm

did you order a d/s seat pedistal with your metal order?

these were supposed to be in the work with gerson, curious if he has them avalable yet

lets see that rusty pedistal; you got to have a before and after shot

my pedistal has a huge hole in it and needs to be replaced too; still drives ok, just a little drafty :lol:

Tue Jan 14, 2014 6:27 pm

I did not order that through him, I am hoping to use OG. I have the before pictures, I just have not posted them yet for motivation.

Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:46 pm

Your Westy resurrection and your knack to bring your buses back to life have me in awe! To this day, I go back and reread sections of that thread. For a novice like me, it gives me inspiration.

I am really looking forward to reading about this project and seeing the approach you take with its challenges.

Spitty