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karlonwheels Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2014 Posts: 128 Location: new yorkish
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 4:29 pm Post subject: "Stella," 69 Westy project. |
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I've wanted a Westy since 3 secs after I sold my last one, 15ish years ago. Stella was found in the wilds of Hartford. She runs and stops, but hosted a shit ton of rust.
The floors had to go.
Inner and outer rockers too, and a nose panel.
The seats were ugly, we'll probably put in a couple of Vanagon seats, if we can find them cheap, and leave restoring the originals for a wealthier time. I came up with, seriously, $450 bucks just for materials to rehab them.
And that's progress so far.
Windshield wanted a little love. (Still looking to buy one.)
Dashboard doesn't want to stick together anymore. Looking for a miracle there.
I was planning at first to keep this old paint job and just drive it super rust free and sound and looking tired, but I'm not sure if I can stand the nose anymore. Especially now, with all the glass out, I'll admit, I'm trying to invent a way to print money.
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Bala Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2003 Posts: 2613 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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Nice progress, keep at it! _________________ 1976 Westy
1966 Beetle |
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Bala Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2003 Posts: 2613 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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**edit, duplicate post** _________________ 1976 Westy
1966 Beetle
Last edited by Bala on Thu May 01, 2014 7:57 am; edited 1 time in total |
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karlonwheels Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2014 Posts: 128 Location: new yorkish
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Posted: Thu May 01, 2014 7:46 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, Bala. This bus came with a long "to do" list. |
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karlonwheels Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2014 Posts: 128 Location: new yorkish
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 11:42 am Post subject: |
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Nose job.
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karlonwheels Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2014 Posts: 128 Location: new yorkish
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Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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Looking for hints and tips on getting the nose straight.
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1967250s Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2007 Posts: 2137
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 12:30 am Post subject: |
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Instead of trying to pull the nose downwards which will distort roof and whole front nose with rotten rockers and A and B pillars, first fix pillars, doglegs and rockers. Then pull the nose forwards if you have to, then weld it in proper position lower nose. REmember that it is all sheetmetal and pulling on one section pulls on all the stuff attached. You really need to read more of the body work threads. More pics of the nose and under the chassis would help. The Bus design all depends on interlocking welded parts supporting each other. Find the thread that has the new Haynes body work book. |
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karlonwheels Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2014 Posts: 128 Location: new yorkish
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 10:05 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for this heads up, 67. On Busdaddys's prompting, we tried jacking up under the front frame. It worked a treat, and if my untrained eye is correct, no damage ensued. |
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karlonwheels Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2014 Posts: 128 Location: new yorkish
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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Floors and nose photo updates. She looks not entirely unstraight.
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karlonwheels Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2014 Posts: 128 Location: new yorkish
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 3:26 pm Post subject: |
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We will be working on the flor behind the seats next, and sadly, it looks like she'll need root canal. And perspective and advice is most welcome.
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xoo00oox Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2010 Posts: 2672 Location: East Nassau, NY
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1967250s Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2007 Posts: 2137
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Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 12:17 am Post subject: |
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And it was just getting good, too bad. Should keep going. |
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Bala Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2003 Posts: 2613 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 7:45 am Post subject: |
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1967250s wrote: |
And it was just getting good, too bad. Should keep going. |
I agree, he's already $12k in, so why stop now? _________________ 1976 Westy
1966 Beetle |
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karlonwheels Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2014 Posts: 128 Location: new yorkish
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Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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I would describe the danger of selling Stella in her current condition as zero.
I would applaud your "interesting" discovery, except she's been on sale here at the Samba too, for awhile, with a higher asking price and funnier (I think) description.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1654054
The likely case is that this is a pause, not a stop, and the familiar ritual of waiting for it to rain money is what is next, possibly followed by picking up the grinder and getting under there again. Who knows, but having not had a single inquiry on either ad or an online auction makes me think she's pretty safe for the time being.
While I would love to see this completed, the damn thing is just a little too daunting right now. Work will resume, if it does, in September. |
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Pinetops Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2007 Posts: 2987
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2015 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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Any updates? _________________ "A rolling bus gathers no rust." |
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karlonwheels Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2014 Posts: 128 Location: new yorkish
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Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 7:56 pm Post subject: Re: "Stella," 69 Westy project. |
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Stella will be looked after this June by a very good VW man, with an eye toward getting her rolling again. _________________ 73 daily bus: "Betty June"
69 Westy Project: "Stella." |
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