TheSamba.com :: View topic - my 65 bus walkthrough , from idaho to france

Thu Feb 13, 2025 3:03 pm

hello vw friends

the samba is one of my best site when i need information or tips for my vw air-cooled ... so let me add my humble topic for my 65 ... nothing special , just the pleasure to share with you ( also practice my English / frenchglish ) , i'm to tired social media :roll: :)

we own several air-cooled before , beetle ( 62 66 68 69 ) , some baywindow ( 71 79 and more for few month ) , a t25 2.1 wbx and a 64 notchback.

just before xmas we receive a 65 walk through ... our first split-screen bus.

this a 11 windows passenger bus ... the mplate indicate that it was deliver to L.A , and i know it was in idaho for several years.. after the bus shipped to uk , had some work to go back on the road , and a samba member take it to the isle of wight. 10 years after , i buy it and the bus is now in France ( next to Switzerland and Germany border )

fun fact : when you look at technical section of the samba for color scheme , this is our bus on photo for example ( the 3th photo link )

idaho license plate slogan is " the world famous potatoes " , my region is know as the " high potatoes " :)

thx for reading ;)

Thu Feb 13, 2025 3:14 pm

Very cool.

What part of Idaho did it live? Idaho is a large state, the size of Germany, but mostly forests and deserts. It is a good place for Buses. The climate is very dry.

Thu Feb 13, 2025 5:54 pm

That is a great picture! :D

These buses love to work and drive. Enjoy.

Fri Feb 14, 2025 2:33 am

Lind wrote: Very cool.

What part of Idaho did it live? Idaho is a large state, the size of Germany, but mostly forests and deserts. It is a good place for Buses. The climate is very dry.
i don't know where it was ... not a lot or rust also ... so yes maybe in dry part of idaho

Fri Feb 14, 2025 3:03 am

Buggeee wrote: That is a great picture! :D

These buses love to work and drive. Enjoy.

i just drive it for few miles , winter is here and it need a little work :)

Tue Feb 18, 2025 11:01 am

little work on the bus ... because it's very cold , on ski season :D

i was searching for 14' steel rims but , hard to find know , or to expensive.

i test some big tire on the bus ( 175/80/14 and 185/75/14) , stutted tire for some ... 40 years old ...

i found an old set in my garden :roll: , and get a refresh

just need some new hubcap clips , and new tires..

my 71 bus was slammed , but now " i'm too old for this shit " ( lethal weapon ) , and i'm inspired by shasta snow trip and other offroader

thinking about nankang ft9 , available in 185/80/14

need to remove dropped spindel ... maybe next winter :)

the bus was in us version for the blinker light , converted to european version in uk , but with some trouble ( no whipper , stop light ... ) and some hasardous wiring... so we rebuild the fuse box with some fix when needed ...

my wife help me sometimes :D

more easy to find the good wire than the original vw wiring diagram

to be continued ;)

Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:16 pm

Do you plan to re-wire for USA specification, or keep it UK/Euro style?

If putting the hazrd circuit back in, be sure to use the right wiring diagram
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiring/bus_63_USA_with_emergency.jpg

Wed Feb 19, 2025 8:53 am

there is no hasard switch on the dashboard , but the hole is present....

need to look for that, it's safer :)

also indicator relay is 6v version ( bus the bus is 12v ) , lot of fun with wiring :)

Wed Feb 19, 2025 11:05 am

The hazard switch itself is readily available new

and used as well. It looks like you have the big red hazard light in the dash (to left of speedo).

Use either a 211-953-215C turn signal relay from an early baywindow, or get the modern electronic unit and you can run LED lights as well

https://www.pantera-electronics.com/bosch%20hella%20flasher%20relays%20with%20kbl.htm

For the big hazards relay (211-953-207; very hard to find!) you can use anything like this

or to keep the OG look and use a similar VW unit

In any case, use the wiring diagram I mentioned previously and you will have no issues.

We have the same extra hole in our 65 buses:

the third switch hole, below the radio openings. What was in yours? It seems too small for a cigarette lighter.

Thu Feb 20, 2025 10:03 am

Quote: We have the same extra hole in our 65 buses:

the third switch hole, below the radio openings. What was in yours? It seems too small for a cigarette lighter.

it's for an " on / off " switch for the stereo...

Wed Feb 26, 2025 2:16 pm

little fix yesterday , dome light is operational...

the +12v screw system was broken on one

my first bus with an headliner and dome light " like it could be "

i've ordered a 12v flasher relay after chating with 70bus..

new paint for the front bumper, with us specs front bumper ... 2nd and not in good shape , so i have to buy some new parts ( was on a brasilian bus before )

and the result

time to work on the rear bumper , but there is a problem ... maybe brasilian over rider bumper is different than US ?

this parts don't fit with the " round " of the bumper

i'll test with a new one next days , after a ski week :D

Mon Mar 31, 2025 12:56 pm

some little thing

new tyre 175/80/14

a little ride in my garden , where i have empty tank issue :)

i've found the instruction on the samba for the us spec bumper , all is ok now ..

after , i've tried to measure the compression of the motor ... one sparkplug comme without tool :roll: , and another have some screw thread with , due to an old repair.

my daughters help me :lol:

it's out :)

Fri Apr 11, 2025 1:28 pm

a friend just pick up for me a industrial vw motor , direct from a switzerland atomic shelter :)

only 94 hour of run , with full maintenance book

the older motor will be inspected this winter ..

Fri Apr 11, 2025 3:00 pm

Here’s an option for your hazard wiring. I’ve got a 65 USA van too and wanted to keep the hazards whilst updating wiring to 12v uk spec. I also wanted to remove the floor mounted dimmer and use the stalk like in the 66/67 vans.

Link below for my build thread and the wiring using a 66/67 stalk and a WW 9 pin relay. https://forum.ssvc.org.uk/index.php?threads/%E2%80%98franklin%E2%80%99-65-build-thread.105/

Fri Apr 11, 2025 6:16 pm

That is a fantastic engine. I've never seen one except in brochures and books.
Yours even has a like new Bus pressure plate.

Sat Apr 12, 2025 11:42 am

Troytempest69 wrote: Here’s an option for your hazard wiring. I’ve got a 65 USA van too and wanted to keep the hazards whilst updating wiring to 12v uk spec. I also wanted to remove the floor mounted dimmer and use the stalk like in the 66/67 vans.

Link below for my build thread and the wiring using a 66/67 stalk and a WW 9 pin relay. https://forum.ssvc.org.uk/index.php?threads/%E2%80%98franklin%E2%80%99-65-build-thread.105/

woowww ! lot of good tips :D for the fuel sender too !

the " selector " is available brand new

https://www.serial-kombi.com/fr-FR/combi-split-ecl...ils-n39838

Sat Apr 12, 2025 11:44 am

BarryL wrote: That is a fantastic engine. I've never seen one except in brochures and books.
Yours even has a like new Bus pressure plate.

not so rare here , a lot of them is in use for generator or waterpump ...juste need some modification to fit on the bus , but not expensive for a new motor :)

Sat Apr 12, 2025 11:47 am

a short video from my friend

Sat Apr 12, 2025 12:24 pm

If there are so many, start exporting a few! I could use a good gas-powered generator...

Now that we have reliable 9-pin boxes (we do, right?) that 67 conversion is an interesting option. Back when all we had was OG 9-pins they were a source of much cursing and tech writeups. I'm not sure I use my high beams often enough to swap out the t/s switch, though.

Let us know what you decide and show the process.

Wed May 14, 2025 1:55 am

little work this long week end :) a friend who built motor help me , and also he had all the tools needed.

a pleasure to work with a brand new motor , no modification or another issue, also all is clean :)

we take the clutch and the flywheel of my old motor to put on the new.

after 30 min ..

bosh spark plug " period correct " made in germany ;)

my friend tell me to the change valve spring and valve cups... , but lot of people use it " stock " with no modification ..

control of flywheel adjustement

ready to go !

we have to change the intake manifold , who had a strange size ( 32 carb on industrial motor ).

just need to remove the gasket on the 123ignition because we can't move it ...

after some tune , all is ok ...

bonus :

mainteance log of the swiss civil protection
( not for my motor )