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Kirk Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2003 Posts: 5487 Location: North Texas
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:41 pm Post subject: 1978 Champagne Edition Find |
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Well, I wasnt really looking for another bay, but lo and behold, I found yet another. Now sadly, this one doesnt come with some super funny, well narrated story I'm afraid, because theres not much to tell. Admitedly, I do like bay rescue, so when someone told me about a "brownish bus" in need of my rescue services, I decided to look. So me and my trusty tow bar bought us a jumbo bag o funyuns and once again headed out into the wilds of Oklahoma with only a tiny pic and some ambiguous directions to follow.
I talked to the owners several times on the way and the directions got more and more like I was being lead to the proverbial lamb slaughter. For example, my last direction was "We are right across the street from the burned down house and pasture." And as the guy was hanging up, I heard: "Hey! Hes really here!" Uhm. Okay. When I arrived, I found some super nice people, who were more than willing to show me the bus. (Damn you over active imagination!) And Ill be dammed if it wasn’t a Champagne. I had sorta been looking for one of these.
So as the story goes, the kid selling it and his brother (the car guy) had been working on it steadily trying to get it to run and idle. They said (and the receipts support) purchases for a fuel pump, fuel injectors, MAF, plugs, wires and a German Supply FI fuel line kit. I was pleasantly surprised. The kid (and his brother) went on to explain how they had gotten it running, and he drove it to school, and……
Got hit by a guy with no insurance. Being a student, he couldn’t have it fixed, let it sit, and now it wont idle at all and has a major exhaust leak. He said he couldn’t bear to see it sit, and needed a tire for his now driver and to pay rent. So I opened the door.
Whoops! Fell off.
Bottom track is good, but this top part pops out. Ideas here? Scarring on the top part looks like its been that way a long time. Anyway, once looking inside I notice:
Full size bed! Score. Covered in some stank ass brown blanket. Yowza. Also I got some years fridge, which needs to be removed:
And a crap ton of parts. I turned the key, and it fired right off, and died right off, both with the same ear shaking exhaust roar. Hmm. Mental note for later. Interesting side note, do any of our viewers from the greater Oklahoma area recognize this bus? It has a samba sticker on it, and came with a Bentley. (I now have like three Bentleys, HA!) So I bought it. Simple as that.
_________________ MAKE FORUMS GREAT AGAIN
Bear
Coble
Super
Oppenheim
Last edited by Kirk on Wed Aug 15, 2012 2:29 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Kirk Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2003 Posts: 5487 Location: North Texas
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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So I set off to find the nearest car wash (anyone remember I always wash a “find” before I go home? Well I found one, and after getting yelled at by the hillbilly proprietor to help him “fix this damn phone” (true story) I scrubbed it up real quick.
I got headed home, and 40 miles before I got there:
But I was able to pull over quickly and:
Back on the road, I got home with out any other problems. I am however concerned about two things I found, one being copius amounts of starting fluid and two being:
In the box of parts was a set of rings. That doesn’t bode well for me, me thinks. Cleo the cat, who inspects each one of my buses as I bring them home, gave her approval.
Even with the body damage, im actually pretty happy with the bus over all. It needs tons of work, but hey, what else do I have to do with my time, right? The rust is very very minimal, and well, its a Champagne. Anyway, thanks again for reading, and only time will tell what happens, but I wanted to share. _________________ MAKE FORUMS GREAT AGAIN
Bear
Coble
Super
Oppenheim
Last edited by Kirk on Mon Aug 20, 2012 5:45 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Kirk Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2003 Posts: 5487 Location: North Texas
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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Engine pics (sorry, camera died, iPhone quality only) Point out any and all flaws you see.
In case anyones counting, this is now the second member of HKUCBOO, the Hoss Kicked Unrunning Champagne Bays Of Oklahoma. _________________ MAKE FORUMS GREAT AGAIN
Bear
Coble
Super
Oppenheim |
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Bala Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2003 Posts: 2613 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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Nice score Kirk!
I guess the chrome rear bumper was crushed in the wreck? _________________ 1976 Westy
1966 Beetle |
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adventurebus Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2005 Posts: 180 Location: Quad Cities
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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Good lookin bus for sure!
does it have the clock? _________________ 1968 Karmann Ghia
1974 Westfalia Automatic (sold)
1974 Thing (sold) |
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Collie Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2006 Posts: 1285 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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Great find! Are there stripes under that paint? |
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Coal64 Samba Member
Joined: March 23, 2009 Posts: 286 Location: Maine
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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Whats the point of by-passing the charcoal canister they way the p.o did? _________________ 1972 Westfalia |
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secretsubmariner Champagne Wrangler
Joined: January 08, 2011 Posts: 3104 Location: Tulsa, OK
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:08 am Post subject: |
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HKUCBOO 4 LYFE! The most exclusive club on the whole Samba.
Great find Kirk!! Lucky. My slider door did the same thing, the EXACT same thing. I have pics just like that in my 'pagne thread in the first few pages. I re-adjusted the top roller by scooting it up a little higher into the track and it has rolled and latched fine since.
You have a friend who can help you replace the corner?
It's a bummer that the stripes are gone! Interesting though, both of our 'pagnes have chrome front bumpers and parts bus rear bumpers. I guess that just comes with the territory. Sacrifices must be made in the name of HKUCBOO.
I went to look at 2 squarebacks way the hell out west of Tulsa once, and I had a similar experience with the locals and the insanity that is induced by the solitude of the outer rural areas. Really nice people though. Glad you made it out alive! AND KEEP US UPDATED! _________________ -Tony
ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ
1978 Champagne Edition Bus FI
1970 Auto Fastback FI |
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minispdrcr Samba Member
Joined: September 13, 2010 Posts: 272 Location: Oklahoma City, OK
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:33 am Post subject: |
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Lol I also emailed them about this. Never heard a answer... _________________ Marcin P.
1969 Westfalia Weekender Edition
1973 Morris Mini 1300 Super
1998 Audi A6 |
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thewalrus Big Jack
Joined: March 27, 2006 Posts: 3014 Location: Belchertown, MA
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 6:07 am Post subject: |
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Looks like there was an AC Condenser installed at one point. If you don't install another condenser, you'll need a donor bus to chop out that corner and re-weld it in or you'll have overheating problems in no time. You might need a donor bus anyways for that rear corner
Nice find though! Wish we had busses lying around in that good of condition in New England _________________ '73 Transporter 1.7L Dual Carb
notchboy wrote: |
You ran over some #Vanlife'ers hopes and dreams? |
60vwnewengland wrote: |
Looking forward to next weekend, weed, krunk juice, hookers, blow, hanging with bums, philly, ...the awards! |
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secretsubmariner Champagne Wrangler
Joined: January 08, 2011 Posts: 3104 Location: Tulsa, OK
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 6:58 am Post subject: |
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Aye...that is pretty hacked. I would just use aluminum insulation reflective-y tape when you get a foam seal in there. Then drive it like the Devil is chasing you! OKLAHOMA STYLE, y'all! YEEHAW! *fires shotgun into the air* _________________ -Tony
ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ
1978 Champagne Edition Bus FI
1970 Auto Fastback FI |
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Kirk Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2003 Posts: 5487 Location: North Texas
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 7:00 am Post subject: |
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Hahahaha. Since I have access to a welder I'll probably proper fix it. Now all I need is a parts late bay and a fist fulla dollars. _________________ MAKE FORUMS GREAT AGAIN
Bear
Coble
Super
Oppenheim |
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secretsubmariner Champagne Wrangler
Joined: January 08, 2011 Posts: 3104 Location: Tulsa, OK
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 10:41 am Post subject: |
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Kirk wrote: |
Hahahaha. Since I have access to a welder I'll probably proper fix it. Now all I need is a parts late bay and a fist fulla dollars. |
Bro-dawg:
If you DO get a parts bus, and you chop pieces off of it and have no use for it later...I can hide the body for you
But for realsies- I'll buy the remains of the hypothetical-future-parts-bus if the side I need is good on it. We should talk if/when that time comes! _________________ -Tony
ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ
1978 Champagne Edition Bus FI
1970 Auto Fastback FI |
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curtis4085 Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2011 Posts: 4806 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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nice score... _________________ Special Thanks to:
Headflow Masters - Vista, CA
www.headflowmasters.com |
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Paintedbus Samba Member
Joined: September 14, 2003 Posts: 679 Location: salem, ma
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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Uberslow's Dopplgenger!
78 champagne edition... check
74 Rear camper interior w/ full width bed and cabinet... check
Vanagon captain's chairs, (though you have the color I want), even with outer arms removed! ... check
you even have the 73 westy cabinet that I am after next on my list! It's like a preview!
I have the wood floor and westy windows... just about a year ahead of you in getting mine.
The CE club is growing, the funky buses are coming out of the woodwork!
Awesome!
_________________ Champagne Edition Roadtrip monster "Juakali"
~"Paintedbus" Ken~
The Mobile Muralist
WWW.PAINTEDBUSART.COM |
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phoneguy Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2008 Posts: 187 Location: Long Island
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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 3:56 am Post subject: |
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thewalrus wrote: |
Looks like there was an AC Condenser installed at one point. If you don't install another condenser, you'll need a donor bus to chop out that corner and re-weld it in or you'll have overheating problems in no time. You might need a donor bus anyways for that rear corner
Nice find though! Wish we had busses lying around in that good of condition in New England |
My bus also has that corner hacked out and it did have AC , please tell me VW didn't do that from the factory . _________________ "When my ship comes in I'll be at the airport"
1971 Supervert
1977 Westfalia |
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secretsubmariner Champagne Wrangler
Joined: January 08, 2011 Posts: 3104 Location: Tulsa, OK
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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 5:04 am Post subject: |
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Phoneguy- Hellllllll no- it was a dealership thing I think.
Ken- your woman from this angle looks kinda like the April O'Neal from the first live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies. Idk if you've ever seen it, but it's rich with of-era hip-hop and hilarity. Aaaaaand April O'Neal drives a bus...a white splitty. I haven't had my coffee...please forgive me buddy. _________________ -Tony
ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ
1978 Champagne Edition Bus FI
1970 Auto Fastback FI |
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Kirk Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2003 Posts: 5487 Location: North Texas
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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 5:59 am Post subject: |
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ken mitchell wrote: |
Uberslow's Dopplgenger!
78 champagne edition... check
74 Rear camper interior w/ full width bed and cabinet... check
Vanagon captain's chairs, (though you have the color I want), even with outer arms removed! ... check
you even have the 73 westy cabinet that I am after next on my list! It's like a preview!
I have the wood floor and westy windows... just about a year ahead of you in getting mine.
The CE club is growing, the funky buses are coming out of the woodwork!
Awesome! |
That is funny. To bad you arent closer, I'd swap you chairs. I have a feeling these will get covered in brown plaid along with the bed by an upholstery friend of mine. Which 73 Westy cabinet? That fridge one? Again, wish you were closer. I have a jump seat for that area. Yay Champagnes! _________________ MAKE FORUMS GREAT AGAIN
Bear
Coble
Super
Oppenheim |
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jmstu76 Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 1227 Location: Edmond Oklahoma
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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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I believe that is "the bear". Busboyjake rescued it. When I drove it, it didn't have the caved in rear passenger corner. He took care of it and brought it back online. It was a smooth bus at one time. Here is a pick of her in Bartlesville. He drove that bus everywhere.
_________________ James
'76 Deluxe Sage Green Westy
2258 cc GD case 78mm CW crank, 2.0 H-beam rods 5,325” 22mm pin, JE forged pistons with 15cc dish, JE rings, type 11 clearanced oil pump, CB Eagle 2205 Type-2 “Torque Special” hydraulic cam with matched lifters fed by CB Dual Weber 40 IDF MX with 6” foam air filters, currently 55 idle, 130 main, 200 air correction, 32 mm venturis. 27in General Grabber AT2 All Terrains, Berg Shifter, stock '76 exhaust HPC Ceramic Coated. 11/18/2020 |
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okartguy Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2004 Posts: 165 Location: Tulsa, OK
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