TheSamba.com :: View topic - Larry's 1962 Single Cab Resto "Brrt Brrt"

Mon Mar 07, 2016 9:37 pm

I guess there are multiple ways to measure link pin offset if you dont have the VW tools.
Here's how I do it:

First I insert the new link pins into the trailing arms

Then I use a machined straight edge and carefully hold it against the machined edge of the lower link pin. You have to be dead-on sure it is flat on this surface. At this point I use dial calipers to measure the offset at the top pin. Bentley calls for 7mm. If you are + or - use the chart listed in the book to arrange your shims.

Once you've established your shim placement install the spindles.
By the way...had these spindles rebuilt by Greg (campingbox) and he did a phenomenal job.

Mon Mar 07, 2016 11:39 pm

Ingenuity, years of experience and lateral thinking...... Awesome!

I like your no nonsense, practical style. Gonna enjoy this build. 8)

Tue Mar 08, 2016 11:01 am

Got Larry's truck out of the garage today. Finished with the first phase of restoration.
Brakes,steering and suspension all sorted...time for a test drive!
The red and white on the front is paint tests. Truck will be painted the original Ruby Red with a white upper deluxe two-tone

Here's a couple short videos:

Tue Mar 08, 2016 2:27 pm

Excellent. We love videos!
Kurt

Tue Mar 08, 2016 4:27 pm

glideking wrote: Excellent. We love videos!
Kurt

Thanks Kurt.
You have set the bar pretty high with videos.

Tue May 03, 2016 9:21 pm

Back on this project!
Starting disassembly for rust and body repair. This truck is hit-and-miss when it comes to corrosion. Some areas are still rock solid and others are totally gone. Also, this old truck has been used up, rebuilt and used up time and time again. There are 4 paint jobs on it (1 of which is brushed), lots of brazed on galvanized HVAC duct steel sheet slathered in gallons of Bondo and plenty of down on the farm hacks to keep things going. It is what it is...probably helped this old SC survive all these years living in the elements.
Time to remedy that...

One of the hacks: Fitting a Beetle muffler with a gas torch. This one actually made me smile. The old boys that did this were pretty darned good with a torch.

Here you can see the 4 paint jobs: The original Ruby Red, then a butt-ugly Butternut Yellow, a brushed John Deere Green and finally, spray bomb Dove-ish Blue

Notice the mangled rear apron to clear the Beetle muffler:

HVAC sheet for the treasure chest:

Wood box for fuel tank mount:

Tue May 03, 2016 9:32 pm

A few shots of some of the rust so we have some good "before" shots.
Notice a complete lack of the inner rocker, out riggers and jack points:

Tue May 03, 2016 9:38 pm

Waiting on Funky Green and Auto Craft, so...
Started cutting out the quarter. Someone in the past loved the pink stuff! :shock:

Wed May 04, 2016 6:12 am

Go Man, go! Nice to see this one coming back to life. Hey, the Gateway VW Club is having a meeting tonight in Sunset Hills at 6pm, you should drop by (with or without the SC) to meet some of the local gang...

Bill Bowman

Wed May 04, 2016 6:21 am

BulliBill wrote: Go Man, go! Nice to see this one coming back to life. Hey, the Gateway VW Club is having a meeting tonight in Sunset Hills at 6pm, you should drop by (with or without the SC) to meet some of the local gang...

Bill Bowman

Where do you guys meet?

Thu May 05, 2016 4:23 pm

While waiting on the sheet metal to arrive...just doing some busy work.
Started cutting out rust and rebuilding the wheel house lip in preparation of the new quarter.

Also, completed the tedious task of stripping the paint from the right side louvers

Mon May 09, 2016 7:18 pm

Starting in the treasure chest now. All the old floor removed. A few more "before" shots of the rust.

Thu May 12, 2016 11:22 am

Still cutting out rust...I'm sure all Bus owners are all too familiar with this favorite past time.
Front cross member out...found that the rust has eaten it's way up the front treasure chest wall and also into the spare tire area in the cab behind the seat.

Does anyone know if the union of these panels attach somewhere to the front crossmember? I have no remnants to compare.

Thu May 12, 2016 11:30 am

Found a stress crack in a frame rail. The area was thin from rust pits so I cut it back to solid metal and welded in a plate. I ended up having to build up the edge with weld to fill in some of the thinner areas. This will all be ground smooth.

Thu May 12, 2016 11:32 am

Test fitting an Autocraft panel. Very nice fit. I will use this to start aligning and rebuilding the inner structures as soon as the Funky Green shipment gets here.

Mon Dec 26, 2016 8:46 pm

Six months later, what's the progression been thus far?
Hope all is in good health and the fire for finishing up this single cab still well lit.

Mon Dec 26, 2016 10:41 pm

SamboSamba22 wrote: Six months later, what's the progression been thus far?
Hope all is in good health and the fire for finishing up this single cab still well lit.

Life has a way of slowing things down. Had another job (non VW) come in that needed an immense amount of metal work.
Plus the owner of this fine split window SC and his wife (good friends of ours)donated all their old kitchen cabinets and granite countertops, after their big kitchen remodel, to the wife and I. Needless to say, the wife wanted a new kitchen so I've been finishing that up.

The single cab project will be coming back in the shop after the new year, plans are still alive and well and completion is set for sometime in 2017 ...stay tuned!

Wed Feb 08, 2017 3:45 pm

excited to see the progress, and cannot wait for more!! Way to go! The condition you got it is still the screen saver on my computer. I suppose i'll change it when you are finished!

Thu Feb 09, 2017 7:39 am

trent77 wrote: excited to see the progress, and cannot wait for more!! Way to go! The condition you got it is still the screen saver on my computer. I suppose i'll change it when you are finished!

Glad to put a smile on your face.
Couple more weeks and it should warm enough to get back on this awesome project. I can't wait!

Sat Mar 11, 2017 10:59 am

The spring thaw is going good enough to get back on the truck, plus my major house remodel has come to a stopping point.
Tried to wake up the SC on a warm day and it wasn't wanting to come out of hibernation. Found fuel fouled plugs...so I threw in a fresh set. Truck now runs but have a serious over-fueling problem and very rich condition. Anyway, fast forward and long story short it's been traced to a gunked up carb and I think a problem with a replacement Brosol fuel pump.
We decided to rebuild the original Peirburg fuel pump and 28PIC Solex carb.