What was I thinking? / Restoration 64 Kombi

[Muggee007]

[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/73084465@N07/6594647921/[/img]

I hope that image shows up.....

Hello Everyone!

This is my first post and hopefully the start of a long restoration process for my 64 Kombi. I have worked on other cars over the years (mostly old BMWs and Mercedes) but this is my first VW and it is in pretty bad shape. Rust removal and heavy body work are not my thing so if you see something Im not doing correctly please let me know.

Everyone here has been an inspiration to me and I hope that the progress of my project will inspire others.

Klassib fab and other panels were delivered yesterday and everything is looking great. Time to really get to work. Thanks already to MonkeyNut in NC and Gerson you guys have been great to work with.

[OTO X58]

here you go:

Good luck with your project!

[Muggee007]

The inside was really too far gone. All the wood was rotten from the backside.

sorry about the angle, Ill have to work on figuring that out for the next posts

First delivery of metal!!! Its like Christmas!

Minimum tool requirement for removing the floor.....

Spot weld cutter from NAPA that was recommended here. The hole is a little big, but this thing is AWESOME. I bought extra blades but after the entire floor it is still sharp. One thing is that you do need to drill a pilot for the pin otherwise it wanders. Oh and thanks to the forum for the tip of using a wire wheel to find out where the spot welds were it really did help.

This is where Im at now, Im probably going to pull the beams to do the top hats instead of splitting them, Im a little worried about the shifter alignment later though.

[bill may]

[Eric&Barb]

Do please consider posting your images on thesamba. Too often old interesting post have no images because other websites have removed them due to how long they were there.

Hammer and center punch would be better and faster to get the spot weld remover tool a starting dimple instead of drilling.

Do not give up on the interior cabinets. Can be used for templates to make new ones. Your bus very likely was camper modified by some company or off plans followed by an individual. If the former it could be one of the last examples of that companies work, and either way a nice piece of history of the bus.
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In Stereo, Where Available!

[Muggee007]

Actually the square tubes are from a sun roof section I purchased. Its hard to see in the pictures but the roof is badly damaged on the kombi. I know it wont be original but I thought that if Im saving this thing from the scrap yard and I need to put a roof in anyway.... sunroof sounded good.

I am now using the samba gallery so I hope that is whats proper.

I didnt get much done today, finally got my house roof inspected from the tornado / storm damage done this year. More pics tomorrow. I pulled the speaker from the dash today and Im wondering if the bracket is original... pics in the morning.

[Muggee007]

I beams are fighting back and had some stuff get in the way of the bus today. I was wondering if this is really a stock speaker mount and speaker? Ill look through the rest of the forum for some answers as well, just thought it was kind of cool. Im pretty sure it wont sound really good in its current state

[sventinker]

Yes that is a correct speaker mount and don't toss that speaker because you can get it re-coned.
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April 3rd 62 standard mgr/pw
374 North American equipment
Includes 6 popouts
025 Safety belts
195 Adjustable bench seat/backrest (until 1963)

[rebapuck]

I have just redone the first three of my awning windows and they no longer leak!! Ask me how when you get to that step.
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Judy
1966 Camper "Hannah"
1967 SingleCab "Khady"

[cru62]

You don't need to drill a hole for that spot weld cutter. If it wanders you can just use a center punch in the middle of the spot weld.
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"My biggest worry is that when I die, my wife will sell all my parts for what I told her I paid for them"-Jon

Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.

Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Muggee007]

Well it turns out you get what you pay for . I started to measure up the tophats I bought from the bus depot and well they are junk. First clue should have been that the bends were no where near 90 degrees, the problems is when I make them 90 degrees the tophat is much to tall to be used. They are much too long and there are no holes cut either. So being that I am happy with the rear top hat from Wolfsburg West and I needed some little things from them anyway, an order was placed. Pictures will be posted of the difference when the new parts arrive.

Thanks for the suggestion on the center punch instead of using a drill, Ill give it a shot.

I was not going to toss the speaker, but I hadnt considered putting a new cone on it. I have done this for subs (no the bus is not getting a subwoofer) but did not know there were generic cones for smaller speakers out there.

Im torn on the camper windows, I like the pop outs better and according to M codes thats what came with the bus originally in the first place. If I decide to keep the camper windows Ill ask for help down the road.

Speaking of M codes, according to what I read I should have windshield washers? There is a hackjob of a setup on the bus now, but the holes do not look like they are in the proper place.

My code plate has a 13 5 in the upper left corner and in the middle has the following numbers 425 015 025 114. Does this mean that I should have washer fluid in the bus?

Thank you for the comments so far.

[bill may]

you can use TEK screws (#10 or #12)about 1 1/2" long to drill out spotwelds. they have a hex head that i cut off to chuck in drill. they look like a hex headed sheetmetal screw with a short drill bit on end. you can drill about 30-50 spotwelds,throw dull one away and use another one. i think they come a box of 100 real cheap at home depot
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Admin note: Bill Passed away - July, 2017

1965 panel bus-Kermit
"Camping is cheaper than therapy"
www.sv2s.com
www.steeringboxscrapers.net
SBS #100
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=453617

[SkooobaSteve]

[Muggee007]

Here are some updates... My real job has been getting in the way of the bus ha ha.

Cutting access to the retaining nuts... they were broken off an rusted solid, PB blaser EZ out you name it didnt work.

Dont worry I cleaned it all up and coated it with rust sealant and primer before sealing it back up.

First time with a lid since 78!

If anyone can help me on a minor thing, the two rods that prop the lid are missing some sort of connector at the end... IE it seems that something needs to attach the two together so it will actually prop up the lid. Does anyone have pics of this piece?

All this fun stuff has been reinstalled (with trans to check for alignment) and it all looks good. C Pillar and B Pillar are patched and cargo rocker is in place. Pics will be posted soon.

[Muggee007]

I need to post some more pics of the progress on the rust bucket but after I get this nose piece in I think I have officially crossed the threshold of going from my rust having a bus problem to my bus having a rust problem

OK here is the problem.... I have the piece dry fitted to the frame rails. The support is pushed flush to the frame rails and it is still sticks 3/4" too far out on the drivers side and 1/2" on the passenger side. Can I "bend" this to fit the shape of the bus???? Is this normal??? I have everything braced and the door gaps looked good when I started so whats up?

Please let me know so I can get this part done.

[quartermilecamel]

Is the nose sheetmetal itself just too far in maybe?
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Waiting for santa to drop off funky green. I can wish can't I????

[olliehank47]

For the engine lid.

64 had two different engine lid props--early were single, flat metal folding metal arms, and later (through 67) were two-armed, round rod-like arms that loop around two rollers near the bottom of the engine compartment frame and attach to the engine lid with a single bolt. From your photo, I can see the rollers attached to the engine compartment frame so you will need the rod type prop. Here's a link: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=950714

[Muggee007]

@quartermilecamel, Thanks for the suggestion but it turns out that the dimension from the frame bracket to the front edge was too long, combine that with the wrong radius in the part and that explains the problem. I had one of my friends come over and help me tweak the shape back and I folded over the tabs a little further on the frame rails allowing the support to sit further back. All in all it fits really freakin sweet now! This is my 1st VW so I am still trying to figure out how this puzzle goes together. I have A pillars now!

@olliehank47 Thank you so much for the link. I have the rod but not the paperclip looking retainer. A coat hanger loop welded together works great! I thought the piece would look a little more complicated.

Thanks everyone again, the samba rules!

[Muggee007]

Its been a while since I have posted an update. Traveling for work has thrown any schedule out the window. Maybe THIS May I will be riding in my Bus.

Ebrake pin from a friend

It doesnt look that bad from this side, but someone used foam for insulation and combined with the camper windows destroyed the metal inside

Rims Blasted and painted. Mental note: Next time buy better rims instead of spending two weeks getting these looking good.

And Finally!!! She rolls.....

Cant wait to finish the metal work and throw those spindles and plates from WideFive on there!

[RPGreg2600]

Nice!