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Rain's Westy
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2004
Posts: 498
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 Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 12:11 am Post subject: 56 wolfsburg deluxe project (3/26 final pictures ) |
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Over the years allot of folks have been after me to get going on this dam cool bus project and turn it into something ... well it is finally happening in a big way...
I am doing 95% of the work myself ...About the only things I shy away from are the seat upholstery, and headliner install,the transmission rebuild and the actual spraying on of the paint after the prep work is done.
I started the welding about three years ago and stopped at the point where the body needed to be blasted clean . then it sat in my shop for a few years...
So I took everyone's advice and sold my 67 21 window about a year and a half ago,I plowed most of the money into this project ...
Since then , had the OG trans rebuilt, restored the front beam, and 36hp motor, powder coated gobs of small and not so small black parts, bought correct 15" bias ply tires from Coker tire, sent the restored seat frames to Lenny @WCC and had him do the seat upholstery and panels to OG spec (yes I am very pleased with them!!) etc ...I then waited for dry warm weather to get into the metal work... I also prepped and painted the little things and when I had spare time painted the bumpers, window frames , rims,etc
This spring I went east and dug up some ultra valuable antique insulators to sell to further pay for this project... sold them to some happy geek collectors and wamo... Off to work I go !!
I Sand basted away all the rust from the underside and the nooks and crannies last week . It took me the better part of three ten hour days and was one of the yuckiest jobs I have ever done... Immediately after blowing off the sand I sprayed on a good coat of sealer on the underside .
Starting this week I am doing the welding...
>>>>check back frequently as I will be adding pictures as this project progresses<<<
Spot Welders are such fun toys!!! ...Attaching a floor patch to the new inner rocker
ickey wheel well rot!
Fixed! Patch made from some scrap sheet metal ends then spotted and welded in to place
Believe it or not the big 100 year old insulator in this photo sold for more then the rear bumper would sell for complete... One hobby feeds the other!
A days work done...
There are more pictures in this series that were just posted to the gallery... enjoy!
I will be posting more pics in the coming days as I progress with this project . I hope to begin paint prep work in about two weeks and spray it in the next four to five.
Plans for tomorrow are to repair the left dog leg rot and finish the right rocker welding and repair the heat tube and install the belly pans.
Last edited by Rain's Westy on Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:13 pm; edited 10 times in total |
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UZI
Platinum FUBU
Joined: February 08, 2002
Posts: 13335
Location: phila-DELFT-ia
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 3:28 am Post subject: |
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you have a bus that most people can only dream of owning. glad to see you taking the time to get it out on the road. good luck with the project!
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Extravagant Lifestyle
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Kommercial
Samba Moderator
Joined: December 28, 2000
Posts: 1154
Location: San Tan Valley, Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 3:32 am Post subject: |
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| Loving the progress pics, keep it up! |
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Kelly
Samba Member
Joined: November 25, 2003
Posts: 2437
Location: Olympia, WA
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:43 am Post subject: |
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looking great! Once you get this done you'll have long forgotten the 21 
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thom
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2000
Posts: 5943
Location: Sacramento
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:24 am Post subject: |
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>Believe it or not the big 100 year old insulator in this photo sold for more then the rear bumper would sell for complete...
Shocking!
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1956 Single Cab
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gatorwyatt
Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2002
Posts: 1867
Location: Clearwater Fl.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:10 am Post subject: |
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not to hijack but how do you come up on one of those insulators?
mike, good to see your are going forward on your 56...i will be right behind you hopefully if business picks up!
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Rain's Westy
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2004
Posts: 498
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:34 am Post subject: |
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| gatorwyatt wrote: |
not to hijack but how do you come up on one of those insulators?
mike, good to see your are going forward on your 56...i will be right behind you hopefully if business picks up! |
I find insulators by dooing ALOT of historical research and then dooing grunt work digging dumps, hunting old line routs etc. The one in the photo was reconstructed from about 35 shattered parts and still has considerable value. It was taken out of service around 1920 and discarded in a dump... That is in part why I have been making cross country trips in my 66 Westy the last two years.
Here is a link to a historic 1906 photo of the line
http://www.insulators.info/pictures/?id=203831997.
I must say it is amazing how many old buses are still to be found in old junk yards across Nebraska, Kansas etc. I saw some nice ones in my travels...Did not see any deluxes or barndoors ,but nice clean 59-61 combi's and panels abound... many with good parts and VERY savable bodys. |
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Stoney Hawk
Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2007
Posts: 1017
Location: Washington
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:08 am Post subject: |
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I actually meet you in Spokane when i was at a garage sale and you were at an insulator party next door.I was stoked on your oval.
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Major Woody
Samba Enigma
Joined: December 04, 2002
Posts: 9010
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 1:06 pm Post subject: |
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Mike, next time I'm up your way I'd like to take a look at your progress.
Chris |
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BarryL 
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2004
Posts: 14259
Location: Casa de Oro, California
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Radical. That spot welder is dynormous. Someday I'll let all the pictures load on my chintzy dial-up. I love that bus and those bumpers are art. |
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ConcreteBalloon
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2008
Posts: 457
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:05 pm Post subject: |
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I feel rather silly, but what is an insulator?
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sub-hatchtim
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2006
Posts: 2610
Location: Phoenix AZ
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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an insulator is a non conductive material
that mushroom insulator is used on high voltage power lines im wiling to bet it came off of a transmission line id like to know some more info on it i have a small collection myself i also build power lines im a member of ibew and on my way to becomeing a journeyman lineman |
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ConcreteBalloon
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2008
Posts: 457
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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Haha, I was actually just doing a little research and found what they were just after you posted. I was about to edit my post to say so, but why bother now?
I wasn't even thinking about electrical insulators. I kept finding them in relation to glass bottles and such, so for a short while I thought the surely had something to do with alcohol; an antique keg of sorts. Especially when Grim Reaper referred to an "Insulator Party."
Haha, needless to say electrical insulators hadn't even crossed my mind.
Thanks, though!
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'62 Turkis Kombi (Now fixed up and resprayed in O.G. Colors) |
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jeremyrockjock
Samba Towbar Builder
Joined: January 01, 2002
Posts: 5008
Location: Richmond, Verjinya
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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Looking good. Just curious, what type of sandblaster are you using?
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empiracer
Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2002
Posts: 1098
Location: Issaquah / Seattle, Wa.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Wow good work Mike! I remember seeing this Bus way back when i got the Meatwagen from you. After seeing what you did with the 21 I know this one going to be absolutely Beautiful. BTW hows the Oval ? |
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Rain's Westy
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2004
Posts: 498
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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| squareback_fiend wrote: |
an insulator is a non conductive material
that mushroom insulator is used on high voltage power lines im wiling to bet it came off of a transmission line id like to know some more info on it i have a small collection myself i also build power lines im a member of ibew and on my way to becomeing a journeyman lineman |
Antique insulators used on the first pioneering lines built 1895-1908 are highly sought after collector pieces .I know many lineman who save them both small and large
My prize specimen is from the Adams#1 Niagara Falls- Buffalo ,NY Line from 1896. This was the first three phase line built by Westinghouse with the "Tesla System" that is the basis of the entire modern electrical grid of today. It is the same type that is in the Smithsonian on display.
here is a historic picture of the one in the above photo with my bumpers as it looked in service 100 years ago
http://www.insulators.info/pictures/?id=203831997
My Friend Glen Mcadam who is also on the samba is really into both insulators and VW's as well .... they are hobbies that go together well as a bus can really come in handy on insulator hunts in remote areas... for camping out and getting into the back country.
Good luck reaching journeyman lineman ! it is a hell of a good job these days!!
Last edited by Rain's Westy on Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:02 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Rain's Westy
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2004
Posts: 498
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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| jeremyrockjock wrote: |
| Looking good. Just curious, what type of sandblaster are you using? |
It was a big rented thing that holds about 200 pounds of sand. I also rented an Ingersall Rand 100 compressor to run it... not fun work if you do not like getting dirty!! |
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sub-hatchtim
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2006
Posts: 2610
Location: Phoenix AZ
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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| wow thats realy cool the only ones i have are from lines ive recked out from working in southern california and all over arizona mostly 4kv and some from a telegraph line that runs along the i10 do you have any wooden cutout boxes |
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Culito
11010101
Joined: December 07, 2006
Posts: 5865
Location: Columbia Missourah
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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An insulator party, eh? Those must be crazy!!!
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ConcreteBalloon
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2008
Posts: 457
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Culito wrote: |
| An insulator party, eh? Those must be crazy!!! |
haha, when I thought they were old fashioned kegs of some sort I wasn't all that surprised by the idea.
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