TheSamba.com :: View topic - 64 Kombi restoration (Formerly know as the "partial restore”)

Sat Aug 14, 2021 6:23 am

Couple weeks ago we stoped at a viewing area on top of a mountain and just when is opened my door about a 100 kph gust of wind hit. Pulled me out the bus. Sprung the door and was very hard to get closed. At camp I was able to bend the door up enough to make it usable.

Decided today I should fix that. Socket in the hinge trick brought the bottom back where it needed to be. Tried forcing the top hinge forward but didn't work. My top door hinge is cracked inside and moves some. I will need to fix that someday. Placed washers behind hinge at inside two screws.

Got the door close enough to shut well. Not going to be perfect untill I repair the door. I really should have cut that open and reinforced when I restored it

Tue Aug 31, 2021 5:24 am

Update on engine. Never found what caused the knock but likely ignition or carbon. It had excessive carbon so will look at the jet sizes and any other things that may cause carbon. It doesn't see high RPM as the SP runs out of torque quickly at higher revs.

I did adjust the distributor drive end play from .054 to .026 and seal a crack in the condenser wire.

We put 300 miles on it over the weekend and it ran perfectly.

Sun May 15, 2022 2:05 pm

Out of storage and cleaned up.

Adjusted the brakes. Front always takes a bit but rear is usually very close.

Adjusted valves. One was slightly tight and one slightly loose. Probably same as when set last. New valve cover seals. One was leaking quite a bit.

Greased the front. I never know how much to put in the front beam so I put lots. At some point I need to do the king pins.

One headlight seal has swelled. Likely the Rust Check caused it. Headlight seals seam to be the only rubbers effected. I cut 3/4" out at screw and put it back.

Tires are getting used up but will do this year. It wares the rear out faster so trying a higher pressure in the rear and see if it makes a difference.

After it got a nice wash in the rain. The rust check I spray along the seams spreads everywhere. Made the bugs come off easy though.

Sun May 15, 2022 10:25 pm

You guys up north sure have a short season. I'm glad that I can drive mine almost year round. The times that there is salt on the roads over here have become really short, just a few weeks per year. Enjoy the season while you can!

Quote: Greased the front. I never know how much to put in the front beam so I put lots.

Keep on going until you have clean grease coming out of the seals.

Sat Aug 20, 2022 1:53 pm

Doing a few odd bits on the bus today. Finally took 2 minutes and installed the accelerator boot. Now the passenger can't keep pointing out they can see the road go by though the floor. :). Maybe I should install the splash pan next..

Sat Aug 20, 2022 2:09 pm

Cargo door latch handle fell out. I had done a repair on it a couple years ago and didn't get good penetration when welding it together. Definitely did this time.

I use a small flat screwdriver and hammer to work the rivet flange in so the back will pop off.

Bit of a pain to get together. Found it was best to assemble everything except springs and clamp in vice. Then gently install springs and clamp back on.

I used a couple punches to spread the rivets back out while supporting back with a socket. Then tap the rivets flat. The install screws hold it all together anyway.

Fri Nov 11, 2022 2:50 pm

Found a container of stuff from 1990 when I first started stripping the bus. Was sorting the fastener and found the door stay pins. :) Slowly getting the little things correct.

Fri Nov 11, 2022 3:06 pm

Storm tomorrow so putting the bus away today. Been a nice fall for the bus and could probably get another few weeks...

Rust checked all the seams and inside the bottom structure where I could. I use the thin rust check as it only leaves an oily film that whipes off. It also spreads through all the seams very well.

Let it drip the afternoon and put it in the storage barn. Someone left an old bay in my usual spot. :)

Sun Jun 11, 2023 1:12 pm

Car show yesterday and had a hot drum on the way home. Very hot drum actually.

Both cylinders stuck on the right. Believe one was stuck for awhile and just not working. Other came out easily and just needed cleaning. Other wouldn't come out and then I see fluid dripping from the left side. Brake line had worn through from the drum. I had checked it a couple years ago and no wear then. Once line was change I was able to push the suck cylinder out and clean it.

One link pin was loose so adjusted and tightened. Greasing the front takes the slack out of the king pins... going to need to do them in a few years.

Added a return spring to the accelerator. It didn't return to idle well after the boot was added. think I may need to adjust the idle up now.

New wiper blades. Old one got hard and were definitely more worse than when new. :) These are C&C from CIP1 and seam to be much nicer than the Wolfsburg West ones I had.

Sun Jun 11, 2023 3:08 pm

Do you mean the little metal line inside the drum wore through?
Scary, that can be dangerous if it fails.

The linkage might be sticking and need a spring because it goes on the outside of the J-bracket.
Like this

Sun Jun 11, 2023 3:27 pm

EverettB wrote: Do you mean the little metal line inside the drum wore through?
Scary, that can be dangerous if it fails.

The linkage might be sticking and need a spring because it goes on the outside of the J-bracket.
Like this

Yes. One in the drum. Strangely, I took off the drums 4000 miles ago specifically to check for this and there was no indication of contact.

Interesting. I didn't know they went on the outside. Thanks. Next time I am under there I will change it. Don't think it will make a difference though. I think the return spring on the carb is weak.

Sun Jun 11, 2023 4:46 pm

sgellis wrote: EverettB wrote: Do you mean the little metal line inside the drum wore through?
Scary, that can be dangerous if it fails.

The linkage might be sticking and need a spring because it goes on the outside of the J-bracket.
Like this

Yes. One in the drum. Strangely, I took off the drums 4000 miles ago specifically to check for this and there was no indication of contact.

Interesting. I didn't know they went on the outside. Thanks. Next time I am under there I will change it. Don't think it will make a difference though. I think the return spring on the carb is weak. You may want to add one of these:
https://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=111129000

I've never liked the feel of the accelerator using only a carb spring. It just never feels strong enough, plus it accelerates (no pun intended) wear on the side of the carb where the spring attaches.

Sun Jun 11, 2023 5:29 pm

StockNazi wrote: You may want to add one of these:
https://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=111129000

I need to find one for my 54. Actually I think I have one in my stash. I will see how it will work on this.

Sat Aug 12, 2023 2:43 pm

Getting the bus ready for a camping trip.

Noticed a headlight has been fogged up a lot. Took a look at it has water setting in it. I just lossened the screw enough for it to drain. I did stick something up the drain hole but got resistance. When I have more time I will remove and clean everything and see what is blocking the drain.

After 4 years I finally installed the plate light boot. Was a pain but got it on eventually.

Fri May 09, 2025 5:02 pm

Bus out of storage and did a quick go over. We are doing a trip next week so wanted to check everything.

Last year the steering box seemed to be getting more slack faster than expected. The plan was to rebuild/replace the steering box over the winter but didn't get around to it.

Anyway, I had someone turn the wheel back and forth and noticed the arm rocking on the steering box spline. Nut was bottomed out so wouldn't tighten. The shaft and/or the arm is damaged. Found a large washer That would go over the spline and that stopped the movement. Now it is back to a non-sketchy amount of slack. :) Maybe next winter I will get to rebuilding the box.

Everything else seems great except one lower link pin has a slight amount of movement but cant adjust it out. Probably missed some washers when I restored it 15000 miles ago.