Restoring a drag bus

fgrosso5 · Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:20 pm Post subject: Restoring a drag bus

Hey guys, I am making my way over the type 3 side to ask you guys a question. My dad had built a drag bus named " honey I shrunk the bus" over twenty years ago for a good friend of his Danny Corbo. We've kept in contact with Danny since he parked it and has offered to let us have the bus. I'm starting to seriously contemplate doing so but would be in need of a roof to chop up. The one on it has gotten pretty beat sitting uncovered for fifteen years. I'm in eastern pa and was just wondering if there are any decent enough busses left to do what I need to do. Pictures are as it sits now. Thanks guys

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66ratrod · Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 6:11 pm Post subject:

just out of curiosity, why is the seat in the center if it's still using a rear-mounted VW motor and there isn't any excess junk in the front. I would understand if there was a massive V-8 where the front seats were, but it seems to be set-up like a normal VW. Was this just for safety? It just seems like it would be very odd driving from the back Confused

I don't think many of the purists will tell you where to find buses to cut-up to repair a drag-bus, but Good luck with the resto (we'll have to race when it's finished Wink

)
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hitest · Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 6:16 pm Post subject:

Congrats on getting that fairly-famous bus! I remember it appearing in a lot of magazine event-coverage photos. There aren't many T2s in the drags- so I half expected your thread to be R rated!

It looks like the bus may have many other rust issues. I can't help you with a roof- but I'd bet there's plenty of metal to rework below that raingutter. Good luck- I think it's pretty neat.
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aa390392 · Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 6:39 pm Post subject:

its kinda "is what it is" a relic from another era? its going to take alot more than just the roof to get it back ....ah normal....I to kinda like it as it is...thought the pimk is a lil gay... Laughing

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exciter · Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 7:43 pm Post subject:

Boy I remember watching this bus run! great little performer. There are plenty of buses out there that have already been cut up that you should be able to buy a roof section off of someone on here in the clasifieds. Good luck with it and keep us posted on your progress,
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nuckled · Samba Member Joined: May 05, 2004 Posts: 75

Could this possibly be the first "tubbed" bus? Laughing

tstracy39 · Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 10:53 pm Post subject:

I don't think a roof clip would set you back too much in today's buyers market. Might be a problem sourcing something locally though.
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BUGTHUG · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 12:35 am Post subject:

Why not restore it back to its drag race days? Its more nostigila (sp). If you want a regular bus, plenty of selection in the classifieds.jmo
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sub-hatchtim · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 3:14 am Post subject:

my vote is for restoring it back to its glory as a drag bus its to kool not to
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SloMo · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 3:18 am Post subject:

fgrosso5 · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 3:54 am Post subject:

Thanks guys the plan is to restore it to its glory days. The seat is in the back for to reasons, more weight over the rear wheels= better traction, steering is not needed so much in drag racing, and to it did wheel stands all day long. The headlight buckets were removed so that he could use the whole to look out as the windshield was pointed to the sky most of the time. there is for sure plenty of things to fix on it but the roof is potentially the worst/ hardest to replace in my opinion.

widehatch · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 6:50 am Post subject:

take some pictures of the bad roof. from where i'm sitting it just looks like the paint is peeling off. but you are looking at it in person and you're seeing something we cant.
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BUGTHUG · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 2:57 pm Post subject:

Whats wrong with the roof? You don't like it because of the chop, OR is it a structrual RUST issue?
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Even the middle of the week says W T F

1963 15 window bus
1966 VW bug
1966 21 window micro bus
1969 Dune Buggy
1965 VW bug
1974 VW bug
1972 Kelmark, VW drive line
1948 Chevrolet Hearse

tstracy39 · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 4:25 pm Post subject:

I say have fun with it. It'd look kewl if it had the body channeled to match the proportions of the top half, and to provide a view out the windows. It's not like it won't require a crapload of welding already.
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fgrosso5 · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 4:32 pm Post subject:

The chop is a big part of what makes the bus. It is pretty rusty but not much is all the way through. My big issues with the roof is that my dad was rushed by the owner to get it done so he didn't have the time to work the roof as he would of liked so the painter ended up bondoing it pretty thickly, thats what you see peeling up in the pictures. It's actually chopped and sectioned making the wheelbase a few inches shorter than a bug I believe. A few other things such as aluminum panels to clean up the inside were never finished and I plan on finishing it to that point eventually.

volksaddict · Samba Member Joined: August 19, 2003 Posts: 1754

My vote for most original project so far this year. No one would ever think of building that today but how cool to restore something your dad built!
Now, what ya gonna do with it after you sink 5-10k or more into it to make it strip ready?

BUGTHUG · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 7:56 pm Post subject:

fgrosso5 · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 3:25 am Post subject:

Roll -it- and Show it Very Happy

[/quote]

That the plan. Racing it would be awesome and will probably occasionally happen, but I have a family and have raced before so I know how those two don't work together most of the time. My wife likes car shows on the other hand Very Happy

UZI · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 4:51 am Post subject:

cool! get some correct engine scoops for the resto.
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Squirm'n German · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:30 am Post subject:

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