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Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:56 pm

Hey I just picked up a pretty neat 1961 split window AKA the Butter Bus and looking to begin the project but I would love to know it’s original color before trying to put the panels back on and repainting it. The code it SK633B but I haven’t been able to identify the correct color yet. Any help helps thanks.

Thu Jul 15, 2021 4:59 pm

If that's original paint it's in incredible shape. If you go almost to the bottom of the paint code page to the SK codes you'll find SK633B is probably ivory, which it looks like your bus is. Maybe the B refers to the belt line color? Any idea who did the conversion?
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/colorstype2.php

Thu Jul 15, 2021 5:07 pm

I have seen that it says Ivory but it also puts a question mark after it so I was not sure. Also I have no idea who or when it was converted but it was originally in Oregon then came to California at some point.

Thu Jul 15, 2021 5:42 pm

I would caution original paint thoughts. The drums, door seals, custom cooling screen are paint matched.

Thu Jul 15, 2021 5:45 pm

FarmerBill wrote: If that's original paint it's in incredible shape. If you go almost to the bottom of the paint code page to the SK codes you'll find SK633B is probably ivory, which it looks like your bus is. Maybe the B refers to the belt line color? Any idea who did the conversion?
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/colorstype2.php
Not original paint as the engine vent grate and gas door lock are painted to match. I would think ivory would be much more white.

Thu Jul 15, 2021 6:08 pm

Yep, you're right. Definitely a respray. See if you can find some factory paint hidden somewhere, like in the engine bay.

Thu Jul 15, 2021 6:49 pm

I’ll have to look but everything looks to be the same color as the dash and exterior.

Fri Jul 16, 2021 12:29 am

Not original paint. Mechanism of the right front door is painted like the door.
Try to remove the front headlight and check if you see a paint code in the bucket.

Fri Jul 16, 2021 4:31 am

It looks to me like this was an Ivory color bus. The interior paint on the dash and under dash area still look original to me. The entire outside has been repainted. You could try to remove the repaint on the outside and see how much of the original paint color is left. If it was me I would weld in the new rear wheel arches and weld in new rear engine cooling vents that were cut out and start stripping paint. I used Citri-stip on my old double cab and had pretty good success.

Fri Jul 16, 2021 6:01 am

Hey thanks for all the replies I guess the next step is to re weld the windows and other body modifications and to try to strip the paint down to the original color. I wonder why they put such a strange code on just an ivory panel van. I guess I don’t really get why they didn’t just use the original ivory color code but anyways thanks everyone for the help so far.

Fri Jul 16, 2021 10:16 am

Ivory was a special color for the organizations like the red cross in Germany. That is probably the reason for the SK colorcode.

Fri Jul 16, 2021 12:13 pm

Hey I just took some photos in the engine bay of what I think is the original paint. If I am wrong please correct me all comments are welcome. Thanks again

Fri Jul 16, 2021 6:25 pm

That looks like the old Marlboro Man holding a pack of cigs. He even has a lasso.

It looks like original Ivory. Why did they paint it black I wonder.

Fri Jul 16, 2021 8:16 pm

BarryL wrote: That looks like the old Marlboro Man holding a pack of cigs. He even has a lasso.

You pass the Rorschach test!

Thu Nov 25, 2021 8:50 pm

Hey Everyone I am posting again because I have an engine question and I could use help from those who know a lot more than I do. About two months ago while I was driving my bus a spark plug backed out and was loose in my engine compartment but was still attached to the wire. I immediately pulled over and checked the engine and saw this is what happened which I then waited a few hours or so and put it back in because I thought I had just not tightened it properly when I first put it in. This seemed to be what the issue was since I daily drove it for about two months without any issues except that about a week ago once again the same plug backed out seemingly exactly the same way as before and I once again had to put it back in in order to be able to get back home. This leads me to my question being why has my spark plug backed out twice now and what the solution might be? Any help is much appreciated since this is my only mode of transportation and I don’t want to do any more damage if possible. Thanks Again for any help and Happy Thanksgiving.

Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:24 pm

Possibly one or more of the below:

Not torqued to proper spec.

Worn head threads.

Badly cut factory threads on the spark plug making it loose.

Missing crush washer on the spark plug.

Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:31 pm

Could be one of couple scenarios

-someone cross threaded and partially stripped the plug threads
-cracks in head from plug hole to valve (very common)
-head over heated
-plug thread just worn from years of usage. I have seen this happen in a lot of VW heads. The soft aluminum threads can only take so much use and abuse.

I would pull the head and check see condition and repair threads. I like the Timsert kits they are expensive but best method on the market and approved by GM, BMW, and several other major auto manufactures as a "factory repair"

T

Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:51 pm

Thanks for all the quick responses. My next question is how difficult would it be to take off the head to check the threads and maybe repair them? I am not opposed to doing all the work and have pulled and done an engine swap last summer after I got it. The only issue I am facing currently is that I am in college and so it is no longer in a driveway. That being said if it’s not a long ordeal or an expensive one I’m just wondering if finding a shop to help out may be easier than me doing it myself. I’m new to all of this so any information is helpful and I want to do everything myself if possible but sometimes the circumstances don’t permit that. Thanks again
-Brad

Thu Nov 25, 2021 10:34 pm

You can easily pull the engine and fix the threads of the head with a Time-Sert without having to remove the head. Might be able to do it as a newbie on a Saturday, maybe need Sunday also to finish it up if you are real fumble fingered.

Fri Nov 26, 2021 12:28 am

Alright thank you for the info I guess it’s time to start researching time-serts and how to install them. If anyone has any more advice I’d love to hear it. Thanks for the help again and I’ll be back when I inevitability need some more help down the road.