TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Apr 30, 2014 4:29 pm

I've wanted a Westy since 3 secs after I sold my last one, 15ish years ago. Stella was found in the wilds of Hartford. She runs and stops, but hosted a shit ton of rust.

The floors had to go.

Inner and outer rockers too, and a nose panel.
The seats were ugly, we'll probably put in a couple of Vanagon seats, if we can find them cheap, and leave restoring the originals for a wealthier time. I came up with, seriously, $450 bucks just for materials to rehab them.

And that's progress so far.

Windshield wanted a little love. (Still looking to buy one.)

Dashboard doesn't want to stick together anymore. Looking for a miracle there.

I was planning at first to keep this old paint job and just drive it super rust free and sound and looking tired, but I'm not sure if I can stand the nose anymore. Especially now, with all the glass out, I'll admit, I'm trying to invent a way to print money.

Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:25 pm

Nice progress, keep at it!

Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:25 pm

**edit, duplicate post**

Thu May 01, 2014 7:46 am

Thanks, Bala. This bus came with a long "to do" list.

Tue May 27, 2014 11:42 am

Nose job.

Thu May 29, 2014 3:17 pm

Looking for hints and tips on getting the nose straight.

Fri May 30, 2014 12:30 am

Instead of trying to pull the nose downwards which will distort roof and whole front nose with rotten rockers and A and B pillars, first fix pillars, doglegs and rockers. Then pull the nose forwards if you have to, then weld it in proper position lower nose. REmember that it is all sheetmetal and pulling on one section pulls on all the stuff attached. You really need to read more of the body work threads. More pics of the nose and under the chassis would help. The Bus design all depends on interlocking welded parts supporting each other. Find the thread that has the new Haynes body work book.

Sat May 31, 2014 10:05 am

Thanks for this heads up, 67. On Busdaddys's prompting, we tried jacking up under the front frame. It worked a treat, and if my untrained eye is correct, no damage ensued. :)

Thu Jun 12, 2014 3:21 pm

Floors and nose photo updates. She looks not entirely unstraight.

Thu Jun 12, 2014 3:26 pm

We will be working on the flor behind the seats next, and sadly, it looks like she'll need root canal. And perspective and advice is most welcome.

Tue Jul 08, 2014 1:14 pm

http://nwct.craigslist.org/cto/4554546759.html

interesting

Wed Jul 09, 2014 12:17 am

And it was just getting good, too bad. Should keep going.

Wed Jul 09, 2014 7:45 am

1967250s wrote: And it was just getting good, too bad. Should keep going.

I agree, he's already $12k in, so why stop now? :shock:

Wed Jul 09, 2014 12:41 pm

I would describe the danger of selling Stella in her current condition as zero.

I would applaud your "interesting" discovery, except she's been on sale here at the Samba too, for awhile, with a higher asking price and funnier (I think) description.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1654054

The likely case is that this is a pause, not a stop, and the familiar ritual of waiting for it to rain money is what is next, possibly followed by picking up the grinder and getting under there again. Who knows, but having not had a single inquiry on either ad or an online auction makes me think she's pretty safe for the time being.

While I would love to see this completed, the damn thing is just a little too daunting right now. Work will resume, if it does, in September.

Sun Apr 05, 2015 1:29 pm

Any updates?

Sat Apr 23, 2016 7:56 pm

Stella will be looked after this June by a very good VW man, with an eye toward getting her rolling again.