TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Apr 27, 2016 6:04 am

Posted this on Volksrods as well, I can't tell where everyone spends most time now.... :wink:
Well, my dreams of building a Vrod truck are starting to gain momentum!
During a recent local CL perusal, I found this ugly little gem.. It's a Dumas (style?) flat bed, with a lot of tubing for bumpers and "roll bar"... The PO brought it out for spring service and was out for a cruise when it died on him... He coasts to the shoulder, and gets out to investigate and sees flames from the engine! He didn't have an extinguisher with him, and by the time the basement savers did their part this is what was left. It really isn't that bad, as far as metal damage(not much metal left back there after the conversion..).. Lots of melted fiberglass and interior soft bits, but that all goes away for my version anyway!
Someone may be able to salvage the rear of cab fiberglass piece too... But not me! That tops coming off!
:dancing::dancing::dancing:

Sat May 14, 2016 3:09 pm

I spent today stripping the toasty girl down! Now I can start planning the build going forward.

I've got an old Chevy bed lined up and some custom ideas in my head that I need to start sketching out before I forget them!

Love to make progress!

Tue May 17, 2016 5:26 am

Picked up the butt holder yesterday! Came out of an S10..

Enlisted my HotRod girl to pull some hog rings!

And down the the bones! Turns out it's a custom built seat. Nicely done, but needs narrowed by 3-4" to fit comforably(currently 50" wide..)

Haven't decided if I want to keep the whiplash restraints.... Or maybe just shorten them a bit... It'll sit low in the cab, so they won't be too abrupt above the cab line...

Tue May 31, 2016 4:48 pm

Got the seat narrowed today.. Had to take out more than I wanted, so the console just ended up being an armrest! :roll:

Tue May 31, 2016 7:38 pm

Glad you put it here, I look forward to watching the build.

Wed Jun 01, 2016 7:06 pm

Whoa, someone is watching this! Lol...

I was beginning to wonder there..... :wink:

Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:48 pm

Took a break from the Vrod, to gain some much needed shade, and weather protection!
Expanded my tiny shop a little with some carport areas!

More parts orders today for the Vrod, hope to start back into it this week!

Mon Jul 04, 2016 7:55 pm

GI Joe

I just stumbled on your build. I know you mentioned in the past of wanting to do one. Great to see it happening. Any pics or drawing of where you are heading with this?

Tue Jul 05, 2016 2:33 pm

The rod committed suicide because it couldn't stand to be purple anymore. Better paint it something else because if your VW doesn't like something you have done or neglected to do, they get MAD. :lol:

Tue Jul 05, 2016 4:56 pm

Hey Zig!! Yes, it is coming to fruition! :wink:
Not much for drawings, but I have taken a lot of inspiration from "Das Pantybuncher"...

Of course, I've got plenty of one-off ideas for mine! :wink:
I'm gonna keep the Baja front end, until I can locate a 36/37' ford fiberglass hood setup!

It will NOT be purple again, that is for sure! :) :lol:

Tue Jul 05, 2016 6:33 pm

You are in for a lot of love from that VW :wink:

Tue Jul 05, 2016 8:26 pm

ought to be sharp.

pics or it is not happening

Wed Jul 13, 2016 9:54 pm

Well, my search for doors yielded me This!

Solid '63 shell, with 4tab hood(I guess that's a big deal?), and gas tank!
This was a Much better deal than the closest pair of doors I found.....

Now, do I body swap and chop this one into a pickup, Or cut on this one to repair the '71 body?..... Hmmmm........ I may just get it driving as a sedan, and convert to RPU later....?? Decisions, decisions!

I also picked up paint supplies for the wheels and accent pieces! Hope to get them shot this month!

Oh yeah, picked up some early '70s Chevy bed sides today!!

No more stalling now, I've got parts to start working on!

Thu Jul 14, 2016 4:51 am

Sedan = 0 RPU = 1

now get busy chopping

Thu Jul 14, 2016 4:55 pm

63ziggy wrote: Sedan = 0 RPU = 1

now get busy chopping

Yeah......I gotta do it My way... Plenty of sedans out there! :wink:

Sun Jul 17, 2016 7:05 pm

Got some big progress today! Spent a couple hrs and gave the kiddos some wrenches and let them at it! Got the body off the pan, and the rest of the glass debris and charred junk vacuumed off the pan!
Measured the bed sides as well, and decided on 50.5" overall length!

Sat Aug 20, 2016 12:15 pm

It's been slow going this summer.... I'm nowhere near where I wanted to be on this build....
It appears I'm going to Overdue this one! Just got the pan back from blasting! All clean, and ready for some minor repair and then Master Series!
I'll be building a low profile subframe to keep the body from sagging. Going to use rectangle tube and follow the outside edge of the pan, as well as some cross bars where the seat will mount. I don't want this thing to get sloppy in the doors. I'll also be adding some very style gussets in the door jambs..

And my super safe riggin', to get access to the underside! 😒

I've alway heard of sand getting Everywhere during a blast, but WOw! I busted out the car dryer(leaf blower) and went to town on this thing for a good 1/2 hour....
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa127/Joes_shots/Phoenix%20Volksrod/IMG_1135_zpsjhzkpef3.mp4

Sat Aug 20, 2016 9:09 pm

The stack of 2x4s is classic. I've never stripped one down that far, VW or otherwise, sometimes I've wished I had. So by all means, overdue it, yes please! It gives you more time to plan the outrageousness.

Sat Aug 20, 2016 9:53 pm

Will be keen to follow your progress on this.I have just started to build one as well.

Sun Aug 21, 2016 5:13 am

2x4's!!??? Kevin, that would be flat out dangerousness! Those are 2x6 my friend! :wink: I am all about Health and Safety on this farm! :lol: :?
It looks precarious, but it really was a calculated and controlled lift between Becca and I....

all the rubber bits will need replaced, and thus brings me to the "overdone" level of this RPU... This started out as a "remove burnt pieces, clean up the charred bit, enclose the cab back, chop the top off, and drop a bed onto it"
I think not getting to work on it straight away did me in, with too much time to think about things to do.... Oh well, it'll be my first down this far, and I'll learn what I can from it and make it as awesome as I can!!!

@nbturbo, this will be child's play, compared to Anything I saw in your gallery!! :wink: Some great engineering in there!!
I Love the extended fenders on your Oval too, such a classy alteration!