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Trashman Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2016 Posts: 280 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 5:04 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Deluxe Build |
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Little personal update: I got a job at a VW restoration shop here in Santa Cruz and I'm loving it so far! Hopefully this is just the beginning
_________________ Bagged 1968 Neptune Blue "Deluxe" |
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KentABQ Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2016 Posts: 2406 Location: Albuquerque NM
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Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 5:17 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Deluxe Build |
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Congratulations Tman!
That sounds like it can be a lot of fun and a lot of hard work. _________________ -Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"
"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea
Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM |
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Trashman Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2016 Posts: 280 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Deluxe Build |
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Thanks Kent! I'm excited to put in the hard work _________________ Bagged 1968 Neptune Blue "Deluxe" |
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bally Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2019 3:30 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Deluxe Build |
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Congratulations! From what I've seen you do on this thread it sounds to me like you'll be well suited to the new job! I look forward to more updates! Cheers. Dave |
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Trashman Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2016 Posts: 280 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2020 9:45 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Deluxe Build |
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Not much done on the bus since the last update in October. I've just been driving everywhere, and in all my driving I have broken down twice... First time was due to that godforsaken serpentine belt system that I was just waiting to let me down again, which it did... far from home. The bus is now back to the good ol' v-belt and I couldn't be happier. Once again, IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT SWITCHING TO A SERPENTINE BELT SYSTEM, DO NOT DO IT!!! My second breakdown was a broken throttle cable, easy peasy. I ended up switching from the stock style, to the braided cable style as well as replacing the throttle cable guide tube that goes through the fan shroud.
In the mindset of easily accessing things for repairs and breakdowns, I moved the ignition coil from the back of the fan shroud to the side of the engine compartment mounted to the wheel tub. I also changed all of the terminals to the german, double-crimp style brass connectors.
Other than that, I have finally gotten back on the diesel heater project about a year later hahaha. I got the exhaust for it fitted, fuel lines, pump, filter and tank installed, and wiring done. Gave it the first fire up tonight and this thing can boogie! I ran it for about 30 minutes and the outlet was reading over 200*F. Since I have it under the westy seat where I store a bunch of stuff, I was concerned about the unit itself getting too hot, but the cool end of the unit maxed out at around 80*F and the hot end maxed out at about 115*F. I can live with those numbers. Here are some pictures from all of that.
The fuel tank mounted. Didn't think about the fact that the strap would cover up some of the words on the tank until after I painted it. Oh well
Here's where the heater is installed if you forgot since it was so long ago. Right now i just have the heat coming out of that tube hanging out of the seat pointed forwards. It will eventually connect to the stock heater tubes so it can be used to defrost the windshield (my main reason for doing this in the first place).
And here is where i put the controller for the heater. I just routed the wires under the seat pedestal, through and existing hole and double stick taped it to my cb radio. I opted for the most simple style control with just an on and off button and a dial the controls both fan speed and temperature.
I was also able to get the bus up on a lift for the first time since I bought it just to do a little once over on everything, and I was happily surprised to find everything in line and did a trans fluid change while it was up there and easy to do. But rest assured, all other work being down is on the ground and in the street. I have to stay on brand right???
_________________ Bagged 1968 Neptune Blue "Deluxe" |
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1FineOLD69 Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2020 Posts: 92 Location: santa cruz CA
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 1:26 am Post subject: Re: 1968 Deluxe Build |
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Trashman wrote: |
Little personal update: I got a job at a VW restoration shop here in Santa Cruz and I'm loving it so far! Hopefully this is just the beginning
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Hey OP great thread and nice looking bus! I got some real gems of knowledge from you already, I plan to try to treat my rust in the inside under my bed cushion and add some sound deadening material to keep the engine noise down also. Thanks for posting
I noticed you mention a VW restoration Shop in santa Cruz. I have been searching for a shop to cut out my rust and weld in some new pieces. I was hoping to find a shop that was into old VW's so I felt good about letting them have the job. If you don't mind could you tell me the shop? Please feel free to PM if your prefer. |
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vintage water Samba Member
Joined: September 17, 2020 Posts: 66 Location: CONCARNEAU
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2021 6:06 am Post subject: Re: 1968 Deluxe Build |
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hello !
well done job on the 68 !
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Trashman Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2016 Posts: 280 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2021 7:21 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Deluxe Build |
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Soooo apparently once you start working on vw's for a living you kind of lose time/motivation to work on your own stuff. Who knew?!
Anyways I've been able to do a couple things here and there that are just fixing the odd broken thing (Yes the bus is still my only ride so if something breaks, it's gotta get fix asap).
The first thing is sensible. I got some new tires. They still won't please all the purists but they are much better than before. I've got some 185/75 r14's for the rear and 165/65 r14 for the front. Now I'm finally cruising on the freeway and a reasonable speed and rpm.
Rears, still tucking castle nuts.
Fronts, now the tires hit the 3" tubs before the frame hits the ground.
Took the wheels and tires to get mounted in our shop car. Diesel and flames, can't get much cooler. Kinda want to buy it...
Then a got a pretty gnarly concussion and started doing weirder stuff to the bus...
First is some old truck mirrors. I still need to bring them in a couple inches on each side but I'm still working on freeing up all the rusty hardware on them.
Mounted them using the stock mirror mounts (still had to drill for the top mounts)
Then, I finally started on the headliner in this thing. FUR HEADLINER UP IN THIS BITCH! Still have some trimming out to on it but it's 95% done.
_________________ Bagged 1968 Neptune Blue "Deluxe" |
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Clatter Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2003 Posts: 7561 Location: Santa Cruz
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Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2021 10:42 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Deluxe Build |
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Just keeps getting better… _________________ Bus Motor Build
What’s That Noise?!? |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22677 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 3:09 am Post subject: Re: 1968 Deluxe Build |
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Trashman wrote: |
Little personal update: I got a job at a VW restoration shop here in Santa Cruz and I'm loving it so far! Hopefully this is just the beginning
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Congratulations!
That’s the fastest transition from “ it’s a great community” to “ what a bunch of cheap wankers” you will ever make
Seriously, have fun. _________________ .ssS! |
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Trashman Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2016 Posts: 280 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2024 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Deluxe Build |
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Jeez it's been a while since I've popped in around here. I'm back to say that I have a plan all ironed out for the next phase of the bus. I won't give up many details yet, but I will say that the air suspension will be out and the frame notches, tubs, raised engine, raised steering box, and front beam doghouse will all no longer be of any service. I'll give a little hint that it will be more crazy (albeit less complicated) than it is right now
That being said, the air compressors, air tank, air drier, valve block, ecu, controllers, height sensors, and wiring harness is all going to be for sale if anyone is interested.
edit: drop spindles for sale too. _________________ Bagged 1968 Neptune Blue "Deluxe" |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12862 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2024 6:23 am Post subject: Re: 1968 Deluxe Build |
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Totally looking forward to see this thing lifted over stock the same amount it was lowered.
Although, I would suggest finding someone wanting a slammed bus that’s willing to trade for something closer to your current vision. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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Trashman Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2016 Posts: 280 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2024 11:23 am Post subject: Re: 1968 Deluxe Build |
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TDCTDI wrote: |
Totally looking forward to see this thing lifted over stock the same amount it was lowered.
Although, I would suggest finding someone wanting a slammed bus that’s willing to trade for something closer to your current vision. |
I've considered that but I'm unsure about it. There would be so many things that I would want to do to it to make it "sell-able" that it almost wouldn't be worth it to me. But hey you never know. If someone were to offer the right amount I might consider it, but for now it's already "ruined" so I might as well ruin it in a whole new way. I've realized something about myself in the past few years, and that is at the end of the day, it not driving these things around that makes me the most happy, it's working on them and making them do things they weren't supposed to do that does, and this bus has been the perfect platform to allow me to do that.
First piece to the puzzle has arrived. I'm still not going to give up too much on whats going on, but this will be a good hint.
_________________ Bagged 1968 Neptune Blue "Deluxe" |
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