Mango 1960 Walk Through

type47fan1 · Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2014 10:33 am Post subject: Mango 1960 Walk Through

Since the weather is terrible and I am stuck inside I figured I would start a build thread so I can extract the knowledge of others on the board.
I Posted in the Today in Bus Hunting thread already, but wanted to document the journey of trying to get this bus roadworthy.

Since the Westy is pretty much done and getting used I had become bored to death with no project in the wings. I bought an Alfa as a true father son project but he is in school so it will stay as it is for a while, so I was looking pretty hard for a small hatch Bullet nose bus.
I found a 59 Mango about 6 miles from my house a few months ago. I had been trying to get that bus from the owner from day one and really was getting nowhere. The owner is a cool young man and just would not part with it for cash, I had offered a solid price and parts but it never came through as he wanted to trade it for another bus.
All the while I have been gathering parts for a Mango with hopes of running one down as it and the PG/SG are my favorite early buses. I am glad I started as it makes looking at some of the flaws on this bus tolerable knowing I have replacement parts.
Now to how it arrived- sorry it is copied from the other thread.

Over the past weekend I told Grayson I was looking for a Mango and had several parts to replace with so it did not have to be a perfect bus.
While on a Conference call Tuesday Grayson texted me saying hey think I found your Mango. Since I was on the never ending call, Grayson started working the deal and started getting pics and shooting them over. Grayson said can you get it today? Seeing as I was in my company car and scheduled for meetings the next two days that was a no go so I reached out to my buddy Josh (poor Josh) and asked him what he had going on. Once Josh said he could drive up (4 hours) and grab it Grayson put me in touch with the owner and the deal was done. I was going to be stuck in Winston Salem and the seller wanted it picked up by Friday so I was only going to be able to pay for it and not help extract.
Josh went by my house and grabbed the extraction kit and some wheels and hit the road to scoop it up. Once he got there he called me and said, yep it is a project but not as bad as we have seen. I asked if it had the front seat in it and he said, no only the drivers top frame. So even though we thought it had the "front seat" it turned out to be a Walk Through so even better. Josh actually said the wheels broke loose and it rolled on it's own which is a first for me.

So I had to wait until the morning after I got home to even lay eyes on the bus since Josh took it to his house. While on the trailer I was happy to see it but did see some things the seller failed to mention such as a pretty crushed passenger corner, but all in all it was in the condition I expected.

It was built on January 5 1960 and was pulled out of the woods nearly 54 years to the date. It was delivered to Washington DC. It is MCoded for a full length middle seat and Ambulance step. The seller mentioned it had been in the same family since new.

It has one of the nicest noses I have seen on it, it had one football size dent that pushed right out once the kick panel was removed.
The speedo is in incredible shape although the dash has lost a good bit of paint.
The roof is very solid with maybe 2 dings up there.
It has an engine that turns over freely but appears to be newer than the Bus.
_________________
JLD
My 60 Mango Build
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=581699
My 66 Westy Build
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5825134#5825134

type47fan1 · Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2014 10:41 am Post subject:

And now for the pictures. The plan is to fix the rust and blend where needed. I need to research best way to protect the bare metal spots but it is unlikely I try to paint them.

This is the first picture of it its resting place since Hurricane Hugo with the patented Beetle rescue wheels mounted for trailer loading.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

The Bus was wearing about a 1/4 inch of moss and grime and looked nearly yellow. Here it is finally in the driveway.

And after a quick trip to the basement a nearly patina matched emblem.

Nose with the dent showing.

And pushed out by hand.

Drivers side before a rust mort treatment and ClR bath.

Cleaning begun on the roof.

And one full pass, will get a couple more but for now.

_________________
JLD
My 60 Mango Build
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=581699
My 66 Westy Build
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5825134#5825134

otis_bartleh · Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2014 10:44 am Post subject:

Mango walk thru, you lucky bastard! Laughing

Congrats, and looking forward to seeing this ones progress...
_________________
-Adam
'59 Mango Bus
'69 Bug

type47fan1 · Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2014 10:54 am Post subject:

The Cargo area is in much better shape than the westy so it will only need outer sections so that is a blessing. The Luggage Area is solid.

Has all the panels but can't say they are all in nice shape.

And the first order of business was this.
The passenger corner was hit twice it looks like once low once high. I have replaced a corner before and was open to doing it here but figured I would sacrifice my arms and get in there and see if I could work it out.

After several hours it is starting to resemble a corner again.

And A few more hours and now I can move to smaller hammer and do the detail dolly work.

And of course with the corner tweaked the vents were also challenged.

And a few hours later.

OG engine lid removed itself just before loading.

It will be a wall hanger and this one will take it's place on the bus.

At least this time I know what I have got myself into and since it has a solid frame I feel I can start it towards a new life. The corner was a let down but it seems like it will come around in time.
I am happy it is a walk through but my wallet will not be so happy finding replacement seats. Right now the plan is to convert to a camper since I got hooked on the SO42.
Looking forward to any advice you guys are willing to share on how to preserve the exposed metal and repairing this old thing.

Phillip
_________________
JLD
My 60 Mango Build
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=581699
My 66 Westy Build
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5825134#5825134

mandraks · Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2014 12:00 pm Post subject:

i think you finally found the right bus.

i personally think the mangos have the best looking interior colors of the narrow hatch buses, a nice wood paneled camping interior should look great as well, though

congratulations!
_________________
regards

Uli

----------------------------------------
'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue, looking for a narrow hatch panel

RPGreg2600 · Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2014 1:50 pm Post subject:

Boiled linseed oil works. You can put it over the whole bus to prtoect teh patina, it will also bring back some shine to the paint. The only downside is dust and lint can stick to it. There is a thread on here somewhere about it.

fluxcap · Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2014 7:33 pm Post subject:

Looks awesome dude. Congratulations! If we caravan anywhere though, just please drive behind me so I don't end up with the small hatch envy.
_________________
Eric - 1966 camper bus

"It's like, how much more black could this be, and the answer is none.......none more black."

zuggbug · Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 5:45 am Post subject:

Awesome bus Phillip, can't wait to see you work your magic on this one.
_________________
SOUTHERN INTEGRITY AIRCOOLERS
58 15 window
56 westy

ricekooker · Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 5:53 am Post subject:

ricekooker · Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 5:57 am Post subject:

66311 · Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 7:04 am Post subject:

Use spray bomb clear on the exposed pitted areas that you've cleaned.
On the surrounding paint you can use warm Vaseline but wax goes a long way to.
Brian

56reddy · Samba Member Joined: October 22, 2005 Posts: 774

type47fan1 · Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 4:48 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the tips. Eric trust me not much to Envy here, unless you envy rust.
I finally got all parts to open today.Drivers seat pedestal will need to be replaced or patched. Can count on full dog legs too. Rear hatch is somewhat solid except where mice stored their meal on the inside of the bottom lip and it rusted from the inside out. I may try to save every panel this time, everything needs attention.
Did 2 more CLR baths then a pass with 2K wetsanding. Have the metal order list going. Long rocker is bugging me more than anything so I want to fix it fast.

I will have to patch up the hinge carrier or replace (I actually have a new one) but I sat the replacement hatch on just to see how far the rear had come in 2 days.

This weekend was my son's last weekend before returning to Georgia Southern so I did not spend much time out there on it. Good thing is Tuition is paid so I guess I can put a few dollars into this pig.
_________________
JLD
My 60 Mango Build
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=581699
My 66 Westy Build
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5825134#5825134

type47fan1 · Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 6:46 pm Post subject:

roberto · Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 7:37 pm Post subject:

Looking good! Very Happy

Did you get my last message?

type47fan1 · Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 3:55 pm Post subject:

type47fan1 · Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 4:00 pm Post subject:

Stocknazi · Samba Member Joined: June 18, 2004 Posts: 5150

did you order a d/s seat pedistal with your metal order?

these were supposed to be in the work with gerson, curious if he has them avalable yet

lets see that rusty pedistal; you got to have a before and after shot

my pedistal has a huge hole in it and needs to be replaced too; still drives ok, just a little drafty Laughing

_________________
WANTED:
58 Westfalia cabinet knobs (3 needed), roof rack, and (7) privy tent poles (silver painted).

"When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty."
"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God."

Thomas Jefferson

type47fan1 · Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 6:27 pm Post subject:

I did not order that through him, I am hoping to use OG. I have the before pictures, I just have not posted them yet for motivation.
_________________
JLD
My 60 Mango Build
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=581699
My 66 Westy Build
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5825134#5825134

Spitty1974 · Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:46 pm Post subject:

Your Westy resurrection and your knack to bring your buses back to life have me in awe! To this day, I go back and reread sections of that thread. For a novice like me, it gives me inspiration.

I am really looking forward to reading about this project and seeing the approach you take with its challenges.

Spitty


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