Sept '67 (1968 MY) deluxe, another Blakes Bus

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Chassis repairs and battery tray

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Front chassis notches

Late bay steering box conversion

Rear chassis notches

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T25 (Vanagon) engine hatch
I had this cut down to fit between the longitudinal engine deck supports.

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November 2022, and the bus is back at home.

First job is to get some paint on all the recent metalwork.
The engine hatch surround is primed, seam sealed and primed again.

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January 2023
R/H door stripped, rust treated and primed.

While the window mechanism is drying after a good clean,

I'll start on getting the tombstone seats in place on the tubs.
Some 2" square tub to support the inner runners.

There's enough room to slide under the steering wheel.
Driver's seat is angled inwards to be able to comfortably reach the pedals.

Square tub welded in place, final check for position and then a coat of primer on the tubs.

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February 2023
Back to the cab door, sound deadening in place and interior of door sprayed with chassis wax.

Lock and latch mech cleaned, lubed and refitted.

Window scrapers refitted with new rubbers, but the old metal spring fixing strip.

Window glass and mech,

and the vent window/1/4 quarter light installed.

That's this door complete until the trim panels are fitted.

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March 2023
All the remaining windows and rubbers removed to clean the reveals and ready for a headlining to be fitted.

No dramas there, just a lot of Colorado dust and sand to clean up.
A spot of rust treatment and primer/paint where needed, but nothing major.

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Sourced a headliner and some used bows.

I did wire the courtesy lights before the headliner goes in.

Material fitted around windows.

But unfortunately a setback, the headliner isn't long enough to wrap around the windscreen lip. It's plenty wide enough though.

So back to the supplier.

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April 2023
While I'm waiting for the headliner issue to be sorted, the engine bay and tank shelf needs a further cleanup.

Factory sealer only where you can see it?

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Rust treated, resealed and primed.

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Stripped the fresh air flaps and mech. The flap seals are nearly perfect so just need cleaning, but the rods where cut when the interior was removed.

I have some rods, rubber gaiters and the internal mech in stock, so they're refiitted and ready to be reinstalled.

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Vent windows stripped, cleaned, repainted and new seals.

And repeat.

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Another job started, Swedish spec late bay washer bottle.
I wanted to fit one of these for increased washer capacity and the electric pump.
Inner front metalwork requires a little trimming for it to fit.
It's not being installed yet, as the wiring loom, etc needs access where this goes.

Oh yes, I've also started to sound deaden panels as well.

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It's now late May, 2023 and the headlining is back and being fitted.

That looks better.
Starting work on the N/S cab door.
Stripped completely, frame repainted, door sound deadened, window and latch mech cleaned lubed and refitted.
New scrapers and rubbers.

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Fresh air flaps are installed and connected to the mechanism.

Euro dash clean and build.

With the correct 1968-69 top dash pad and air ducts.

And in the bus.

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Collected a brand new laminated windscreen, and the deluxe rubbers arrived in the post.
So the joys of fitting windows to come. Managed to convince a friend with strong fingers to give me a hand.

Windscreen in after 4 previous attempts where the deluxe trim kept popping out at the last couple of inches.

Solid rear window in as well.

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Tombstone seats next.
R/H seat runner mounting holes marked drilled and tapped.

A few coats of primer and topcoat on the tubs and cab floor.

And then sound deadening.

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Rubbed back, primed, seam sealed and painted the front arches.

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Rebuilt the vent windows with new rubbers.

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Cab floor underside clean and paint.
I've had to cut part of the inner front valance to clearance the late steering box as this sits slightly higher.

Pedals have also been cleaned up, straightened, painted and installed.

Brake master cylinder and throttle linkage installed as well.