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Mon Apr 28, 2025 11:21 pm

Well I've been into aircooled vws since I was a little kid hanging out with my grandpa. I've wanted a split window bus or truck for pretty much as long as I can remember. Came across this single cab last year and basically had to have it. Must've been someone's business truck at one point, the driver side gate says something about boat sales/rentals. Rear gate says septic tanks. Came from Manitoba at one point, its in B.C. (canada) now. It's missing the engine and a couple small things otherwise pretty complete. I haven't done much on it yet unfortunately. Gathered up a 1600dp got some 90.5mm pistons and cylinders to build a 1776 dual dellorto carbs, Random sheet metal, etc. Threw a couple tie rods on it and 215/75/15 bfg ko2s
Deciphering m codes isn't really my thing if someone wants to help with that I'd appreciate it, i think it's a 1962-63.
Unfortunately it's got plenty of weight reduction and gonna need most of the lower metal replaced rockers are gone, treasure floor is rough, cab floors, etc

Tue Apr 29, 2025 5:44 am

It is an early 63, February, M codes are in the technical pull down.

Tue Apr 29, 2025 12:11 pm

Looks like a nice project!! Looking forward to much more.... :)

Tue Apr 29, 2025 12:45 pm

Nice Find! Hard to make out if that is Ruby Red or Sealing Wax Red based on paint fade. You could have a lot of fun with some revamped logo's on your Septic Bus

"Stool Bus" "Yesterday's Meals on Wheels" you get the idea.

Tue Apr 29, 2025 12:46 pm

390 North American equipment Seen on various 60-62 Trucks
KN Canada, St. John, N.B.

Tue Apr 29, 2025 1:40 pm

The 15 3 is the 15th day of March so March 15th, 1963 production

390 must have been used on 1963 Trucks too

RED on a '63 is Ruby Red

Logos are always cool.
Weird that they cut off the middle of the front bumper overrider

Tue Apr 29, 2025 2:38 pm

EverettB wrote: Weird that they cut off the middle of the front bumper overrider
Maybe it had a big roll of hose hanging on the nose, suck em up! :P

Tue Apr 29, 2025 2:51 pm

busdaddy wrote: EverettB wrote: Weird that they cut off the middle of the front bumper overrider
Maybe it had a big roll of hose hanging on the nose, suck em up! :P

Probably someone towed it with that bar, or at least tried to. Then cut off the all too bent up bar. Take a good look at the bumper blade center point it is kind of tucked downward where the top of the blade should be flat.

Tue Apr 29, 2025 5:26 pm

Eric&Barb wrote: busdaddy wrote: EverettB wrote: Weird that they cut off the middle of the front bumper overrider
Maybe it had a big roll of hose hanging on the nose, suck em up! :P

Probably someone towed it with that bar, or at least tried to. Then cut off the all too bent up bar. Take a good look at the bumper blade center point it is kind of tucked downward where the top of the blade should be flat.
Yeah, the quickest way to make the extraction mistake disappear. That bar tempts so many amature tow helpers.

Tue Apr 29, 2025 5:47 pm

velvetgreen wrote: Nice Find! Hard to make out if that is Ruby Red or Sealing Wax Red based on paint fade. You could have a lot of fun with some revamped logo's on your Septic Bus

"Stool Bus" "Yesterday's Meals on Wheels" you get the idea.

:lol: :lol:

Tue Apr 29, 2025 5:52 pm

EverettB wrote: The 15 3 is the 15th day of March so March 15th, 1963 production

390 must have been used on 1963 Trucks too

RED on a '63 is Ruby Red

Logos are always cool.
Weird that they cut off the middle of the front bumper overrider

Cool thanks for the exact info!
Figured people more knowledgeable than me would how the numbers worked
Yea I'm stoked on the logo's, always thought it's be cool to have a vehicle with them! The front bumper is pretty mangled up and bent up anything could've happened in 62 years since it was built

Tue Apr 29, 2025 5:54 pm

Eric&Barb wrote: busdaddy wrote: EverettB wrote: Weird that they cut off the middle of the front bumper overrider
Maybe it had a big roll of hose hanging on the nose, suck em up! :P

Probably someone towed it with that bar, or at least tried to. Then cut off the all too bent up bar. Take a good look at the bumper blade center point it is kind of tucked downward where the top of the blade should be flat.

Yea that's honestly makes the most sense, someone probably tried to pull from the over rider tube and I can imagine what happened next

Thu May 01, 2025 10:11 pm

Swapped out the very crusty front shocks that were definitely do for replacement. Doesn't feel like much, but rome wasn't build in a day either.

Is there any reason I can't use a bus cargo floor in place of my treasure floor? I'm seeing conflicting info about it being different but I figure I can probably make it work. It's definitely better than my current situation haha.
Kinda neat the spare tire holder and old Goodyear bias ply is still in place

Fri May 02, 2025 1:15 am

vdubsforlife wrote:
Is there any reason I can't use a bus cargo floor in place of my treasure floor? I'm seeing conflicting info about it being different but I figure I can probably make it work.

As far as I'm aware, the only floor variations are around the position of where the cargo doors would have been if it was used on a bus (left or right side doors).

For a single cab, you will need to open up that rectangular flat spot pressing at the rear of the right hand half though, because that's where the fuel tank outlet goes.
Have a look at Glideking's 'Funky Truck' thread. He shows tools he made to punch it out and have the correct 'upstand' around the hole to keep the foam rubber tank-to-floor seal in place.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6733480#6733480

Not sure if Huetti covered that in his '57 rebuild too? https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=605363

Fri May 02, 2025 6:42 pm

As far as I'm aware, the only floor variations are around the position of where the cargo doors would have been if it was used on a bus (left or right side doors).

Ok that's makes sense that the cargo doors might be a bit different vs a treasure door

For a single cab, you will need to open up that rectangular flat spot pressing at the rear of the right hand half though, because that's where the fuel tank outlet goes.
Have a look at Glideking's 'Funky Truck' thread. He shows tools he made to punch it out and have the correct 'upstand' around the hole to keep the foam rubber tank-to-floor seal in place.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6733480#6733480

Ohh thanks, I see what you mean about that little square hole that would need to be opened up for the fuel tank
Not sure if Huetti covered that in his '57 rebuild too? https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=605363[/quote]

Tue May 06, 2025 10:58 pm

Well starting to gather up more metal to make this thing solid again

It's a good thing I'm not a big guy or get claustrophobic easy haha not much room in that treasure chest. Its gonna need alot of metal repair but it will be well worth the efforts in the end

Wed May 07, 2025 10:08 am

That section up front, where the cargo floor meets the bulkhead, should be worked on. It's a complete pain in the butt to do (there's a thread on it in here somewhere) but important for structure. Even slapping a big angle iron there to join the two is better than nothing. Friend's s/c went over railroad tracks and bus broke at that joint!

Thu May 08, 2025 12:32 pm

70bus wrote: That section up front, where the cargo floor meets the bulkhead, should be worked on. It's a complete pain in the butt to do (there's a thread on it in here somewhere) but important for structure. Even slapping a big angle iron there to join the two is better than nothing. Friend's s/c went over railroad tracks and bus broke at that joint!
Makes sense thanks, yeah they really isn't much of a frame per say with the unibody structure. I'm sure that's a bit of a weak point if driving all rusty without much holding it together.
I remember reading through the build of your single cab when I got mine, yours came along ways! Looks like a pretty solid truck now

Thu May 08, 2025 12:52 pm

There are a number of good restorations on here, but for trucks I've read all of
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=545030
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=754924
and
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=545000
for finishing.

And searching for individual posts, like 'dogleg repair' turns up lots of great advice about specific procedures obviously.

Looking forward to seeing the end results!

Sun May 11, 2025 9:55 pm

Feels nice to be working on these old aircooled vws again, been quiet afew years since I've touched them. These things are what made me want to become a mechanic. Wish I could work on old vehicles daily instead of the modern junk I have to fix day in day out.

I checked the oil in the transaxle months back and fished out one of the safety wired bolts for the ring gear to differential with a small magnet. Which is exactly what you want to see haha

The play in the hockey stick and nose cone bushings leave a bit to be desired aswell. Must be close to an 1/8 inch of play in between the bushing and hockey stick

The rest of the bolts are slightly loose aswell, I can rock the ring gear back and forth on the diff carrier. The carrier is also egged out a bit from the bolts running loose. I'm thinking a super diff and new bolts at a minimum. Planning to run a 1776cc with dual carbs, if the transaxle couldn't even handle the og 40hp now would be the time for upgrades