TheSamba.com :: View topic - "Helga" Matt's 65 bus restoration thread

Fri Apr 22, 2016 7:54 am

Hello everyone!! I'm kicking off my build thread. I was able to pick up this 65 standard over the weekend. I'll have a lot of questions along the way and really value all your help!!! I'm trying to involve the boys (8 & 6yrs old) as much as possible. Here are some pictures.

Fri Apr 22, 2016 11:04 am

Looks awesome and have fun I really wish I still had my VW.

Fri Apr 22, 2016 6:57 pm

I'm happy for you Matt! I know you will give that bus a good home.
It's great that a lot of the metal repair work has been done, and it looked like it was done well to me.
Contact me if I can help, and send a list of parts you are looking for, I'll try to find some for if needed.

Let's have a bus shop night some time!!!

Sun Apr 24, 2016 7:38 am

I spent a couple of hours getting the old seal out of the right side door. Now that I have a good technique down. The other side should be pretty easy...

I got the old old covers off the seat frames and i'm going to sand blast them and paint them

I finally figured out an easy way to get the old glue off the window frames! The disk takes it all off along with the rust too!! My question is do I need to worry about this exposed metal flash rusting?

Sun Apr 24, 2016 8:02 am

Get some good rattle can epoxy paint and cover it ASAP depending on the humidity levels it will flash rust them you are back to square one. I would cover everything right after I finish for the day.

Mon Apr 25, 2016 6:19 am

I got the seat frames sand blasted and I'll paint them soon
also got primer around the windows. I ended up using self etching primer thinking that might bone a little stronger.

Tue Apr 26, 2016 5:55 am

I got the seat frames painted !

Tue Apr 26, 2016 1:01 pm

Cool!.... what are your plans for the build?

Tue Apr 26, 2016 1:07 pm

easy e wrote: Cool!.... what are your plans for the build?
Keep the patina. Throw a rock and roll bed for camping in the back with seat belts for the kids. Birch plywood for all the panels. Probably get beefy tires. Can't do a rack on it (won't fit in the garage). Going with Safaris. I have a 63 beetle that is pretty and shiny, my bus won't be...

Thu Apr 28, 2016 6:01 am

I found a cheap scraper at Harbor Freight that seemed almost perfect for scraping out old seals, however it was a little too wide to I hit it with the cut off wheel and NOW have the perfect tool.

Then it was off to the sheriff's office to get a vin verification in order to get a bonded title. I'm that much closer to having a title in my hand! A friend of mine also had to take his very original 63 beetle because it brought it in from out of state.

Thu Apr 28, 2016 11:57 pm

Dang I know where I'm taking a bus to get detail. Nice start on your bus!

Fri Apr 29, 2016 5:25 am

Thanks Bryce! Let me finish this bus first then we can talk business! ;P

I was able to pull the old tank and any hopes of reusing it was lost when I noticed hot toasted it was. That's okay I was planning on getting a new tank anyways.

I found a rats nest behind it!

I sprayed a can of engine cleaner all over and scrubbed it with a plastic brush. It's much better now! I need to access to the area to add the rock and roll bed and rear seat belts before the tank and engine go in.

Sat Apr 30, 2016 6:28 pm

I lucked out big time today! Wasn't sure what I was going to encounter when I looked at the brakes, but someone had already done them and they look really good! This was a little surprising because the box of parts include wheel cylinders. So I figured they were still needing to be done. Also I got the title yesterday so now i can start ordering parts!

I didn't have a large enough hammer, had to borrow a 5lb sledge to get this one off

Wed May 04, 2016 5:27 am

I should have a lot of parts tomorrow! In the meantime I found a place in town that could turn the rear drums.

Wed May 04, 2016 6:46 am

man, lookin good. I need to get my bus in town so I can catch up!

Thu May 05, 2016 7:27 am

This is the battery tray

I got the front drums off and decided they need to be turned/cut as well

I learned about the use a stick method to get the seal and bearing out

freshly turned at Just brakes

The bearings all cleaned up seem to be good enough so i'll be reusing them.

Fri May 06, 2016 5:48 am

Well i pumped about 3.75 quarts of gear oil in her and the only leak so far seems to be from the right axle seal

when I woke up this morning atleast a quart had come out

And I've got parts! suspension, brakes and trans!!

Sat May 07, 2016 9:24 am

Longboardluv wrote: when I woke up this morning atleast a quart had come ou
What do you think? Will you open it back up and show the assembly? Maybe there is something that can be spotted.

Sat May 07, 2016 9:40 am

BarryL wrote: Longboardluv wrote: when I woke up this morning atleast a quart had come ou
What do you think? Will you open it back up and show the assembly? Maybe there is something that can be spotted.

It's the axel seal. I'll replace it.

Sat May 07, 2016 9:47 am

Longboardluv wrote: It's the axel seal. I'll replace it. ]
Oh, sorry, I thought you had just done the rears, too. Kewl.