TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1985 Westy

Sat Mar 29, 2025 3:52 pm

I really don't want to get into the details of how but to sum it up a guy I used to know took out his alcoholic and drug induced rage upon my van, real estate and other properties during a psychotic melt down during covid. I am just now getting my feet back under me, lost more money than I ever want to ever again. I put the van into storage to be addressed later, the time has now come to figure out what to do with it.

A few key things

- I have zero experience with any body work
- I have zero experience with any mechanical work
- I do have a friend that can paint the whole van when time comes
- I don't want to spend a boatload.
- it has a newish rebuilt engine from California, I would guess without digging through papers to find docs less than 20k on that rebuilt engine
-mechanically was sound before battering rammed
- needs new pop up tent and window seals were pretty shot too other than a serious deep cleaning inside and out everything besides pics is good
- does need new floor carpet in sliding door area.
- The guys and shops who worked on old VWs reasonably close to my area have all retired or work on personal projects exclusively
- Friend is sales manager at new auto dealership, they have bodyshop and he says they can do it, but for how much is unknown

I need some good advice please, any insight on how I should move forward is gratefully appreciated.

How hard will this be to tackle, I am assuming fixing the side with the worst damage will require replacing the rear hatch and the corner panel as the damage is too much to be hammered back? Also as it sat for a few years the creases in the damaged areas have begun to oxidize so easier to just remove because of rust issues. Where do I even find these body parts especially the rear hatch? What's a ballpark figure for a replacement hatch? I'm guessing not cheap and neither will the shipping expense getting it here either. Other side can probably be hammered out by someone with experience? Or is it easier to just replace?

I was told 5k for paint materials for new paint for the whole bus. Before labor. Has anyone had any experience with spraying a white base then plastidip to save money? Or doing paint myself is a recipe for disaster I'm assuming.

At what point do I consider cutting my losses? This van is like a boat in that it's a hole in the water you throw a lot of money. I was offered $3500 as is. Pretty sure I can sell the engine for more than that, seems low ball to me.

What should I do, roll it back into storage and wait another 10 years to think about it? Maybe scratch vin numbers off and drive it through dudes living room that went psycho for no reason? Even though he definitely deserves it, I would never stoop to his level, nor do I ever want to see that person again.

Please help me!

Thu Apr 03, 2025 9:44 am

88 views, no replies, & 2 votes - recount please - lol

Mite need a 'glue on' body pulling kit off Flee Bay or Scamazon.
Add a come-along from Horrible Fright w/ basic hammer/dolly kit, a tree, & some heat.TONS of YT videos about pulling metal. Welding shop may have those snatch clamps that tighten the more tension applied.
Automotive metal wants to go back to the form it was shaped.
I'd give it a go with YT video certification but I like a challenge.

I have straightened the rear of a 2006 Sentra that my stepson backed into an oak tree at the river bottom of hunting lease - after telling him "drive around is ok & if you go through a gate close it. AVOID the river bottom cuz too many ruts - truck only".
Oh well.
Took an inner bulb holder from aftermarket parts place & a junkyard trunk. I don't weld so I used panel adhesive.
Got the metal close & used a scissor jack with 2x4 inside trunk & said puller stuff.

DVAP in AZ (Desert Valley Auto Parts - if still in business), Avery's, local car club, or a WTB in Samba classifieds for body panels.

$5K before labor for paint ? Guess you have to supply your own lube !
A gallon of Nason with hardener & reducer can be had for about $520 at my local O Reilly's. HS clear wit & hardener is another hundred. Also likely to sit &sit &sit &sit at any body shop as $making cars go before it - seen it WAY too often.

Everything takes practice. Everyone started somewhere.
Don't underestimate yourself !

Best to you ... stay safe

jinx

Thu Apr 17, 2025 8:32 am

If you can get corners...go for it. They arnt going down in value. If you enjoy your vanagon then its worth as much as it takes to get it back on the road.

Id take this over rust any day.

Fri Apr 18, 2025 4:13 pm

Find another good body missing the mechanicals, they are cheap, swap all your good stuff into it, save all the extras and kiss that wreck good-bye.