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The Pilch Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2013 Posts: 628 Location: Utah
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 7:52 pm Post subject: I found my first Bus! These are my project updates... |
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Hi everyone! I'm a bus noob! I've been reading this site for many years but now it's time to post. I hope you enjoy my VW adventure.
Anyways, after my Bug was sold, I began looking for my first Bus. I've always wanted a Bay Window bus so I focussed on those. After much searching I decided that, within my budget, I was only going to be able to afford a project, maybe one pulled out of a ditch, or one with much rust and lacking motor/trans....demoralized I almost gave up looking. Until 29th August 2015, when after a particularly awful morning at some local yard sales, my VW radar clicked on and I slammed on the brakes to look at a Bus wedged up against a fence in Mapleton, Utah.
I knocked on the door of the house and talked to the owner, who said it was not for sale, but it only took another minute before he was telling me all about the bus..how his son bought it and drove it back to Utah from Idaho......he said he would sell it to me, and I jumped at the chance. It was such a good deal that even my wife couldn't believe it. The owner went to a football game, I went to the bank, and four hours later I drove it home!
Last edited by The Pilch on Sun Nov 29, 2015 10:00 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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The Pilch Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2013 Posts: 628 Location: Utah
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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Upon arrival at home (only about 6 miles from the PO's house) I had some oily smoke coming through the vents. I disconnected the heater bellows and I'm now burning off oil from the heater boxes. Anyways, still shivering with excitement, I got to dig around in the bus.
She is wonderfully solid, with barely any rust. In fact, I am absolutely blown away as to how solid she is. Her battery tray is toast, and there's a small rust hole behind the rear bumper, and of course the standard "parking lot dings" and the occasional scratch/rub.
The most irritating thing is the jalousie window on this side "fell out" after a "prank" played on the PO....I cannot fathom what/who that could have been funny to...but anyways, the wood panel is there, I have the frame to the jalousie, but two panes of glass are broken.
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The Pilch Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2013 Posts: 628 Location: Utah
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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It amazes me (and I really do feel so very lucky) that everything except the horn works on this bus. All lights, turns, wipers, even those Bosch spotlights work, it's fantastic!
Digging around in the Westfalia interior was great! She has the mustard colored seats which personally I do not like the color of, but that's ok. Inside the "closet" I found the cot!
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The Pilch Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2013 Posts: 628 Location: Utah
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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Here's my Westfalia interior, which my dawgs immediately enjoyed!
Still buzzing from the days excellence, I took the bus for a spin around the neighborhood. She drives great, no clutch judder, and she doesn't wander around the road. The steering is a little clunky (drag link?) and the brakes could be better, but this is a project, and I am excited to find out more about these awesome little machines! I parked her up in the garage...welcome to the family.
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The Pilch Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2013 Posts: 628 Location: Utah
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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A quick tidy-up ensued. We've all done this, vacuum cleaner, back to black, windex.....it's so exciting going through a new old vehicle.
My first job was to tidy these up - four weathered old stock rims....
That's much better! Amazing what a little time/elbow grease and some Rustoleum can do. I am on a budget, but despite that, I do want stuff to look nice.
I went to the junk yard and after some fabricating for the seat frames, I rid the cab of one trashed low back seat, and one possible Vanagon seat, and replaced them with these!
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The Pilch Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2013 Posts: 628 Location: Utah
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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My rear lights are disgusting, so I went to Bobs VW Parts in West Valley, and treated her to some new lenses..
...and also some new front lowlights..
It was then, that I got "medieval" on the paint, and with the help of some rubbing compound and a lot of effort, I brought the paint up pretty nice!
I have some great friends in the VW scene and one of them donated a window to replace the "wood window", while I figure out how to redo the broken jalousie!
Last of all a little fun window graphic made by me
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Tcash Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011 Posts: 12844 Location: San Jose, California, USA
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The Pilch Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2013 Posts: 628 Location: Utah
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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I went on a little picnic/drive, just locally. She drives nice but of course there's always new things that pop up to fix. During the drive to Canyon View Park, I found shifting a bit of a pain, so I decided to change out the shifter bushings once I ordered the parts. She's idling a little high too, so the twin carbs need adjustment, and she definitely needs a brake job, full or just a dial-in remains to be seen. For now, though, I thoroughly enjoyed the drive, and counted my lucky stars that I found her when I did.
I couldn't help myself, I had to drive her more! So I did! I went right across town, loving the ride (I was used to a 2" narrowed/1 rear click 67 Bug boneshaker) and of course, jumped out for another pic!
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The Pilch Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2013 Posts: 628 Location: Utah
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you thank you, it's a pleasure to be here and in a Bay finally! |
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The Pilch Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2013 Posts: 628 Location: Utah
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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So, first bit of real work on the bus, is to weld in this hole in the rear floor. I guess this is from the sink unit that is not present.
I then sanded the excellent floor, with my welded patch, and POR15'd it, then primered it.
...and then with much dicking about, and some prints from my work (I work in vehicle wraps), I managed to have this cool looking interior!
I went to the local skate shop, and bought some Jessops Griptape, to put on the lip of the door frame for better grippyness. I'm not sure if I'm going to keep the "landscape" prints, this was purely a trial run to see if I like it. As of now, I'm undecided. |
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richparker Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011 Posts: 6932 Location: Durango, CO
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The Pilch Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2013 Posts: 628 Location: Utah
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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richparker wrote: |
Nice score, I'm stoked for you. Enjoy, tin top westys rule! |
Thank you so much! I must admit, I am loving the tin top. If I'd found a pop top Westy, it wouldn't fit in my garage!
So, work begins, I switched out just one of my shifter bushings (the very front one) and oh-my-god it's now shifting like silk!
Then I had to tackle the worst part of the bus - the rear quarter on the passenger side
Now, I can hear some of the purists groaning at my attempts at bodywork and I agree, but I live in Utah and if I don't just dive in and get on with it (after much reading and video-watching) it'll never get done. I'm learning as I go! |
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Lucho Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2015 Posts: 28 Location: Fort walton beach
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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Nice Score, it makes me want to go knock on a few houses with Buses ive seen around the city! |
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The Pilch Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2013 Posts: 628 Location: Utah
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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As I said before, my battery tray was toast...
...so I made a new one, complete with bolts that hold the battery in place.
I painted it after this, but I don't have a pic right now. It looked great! |
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The Pilch Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2013 Posts: 628 Location: Utah
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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Lucho wrote: |
Nice Score, it makes me want to go knock on a few houses with Buses ive seen around the city! |
Do it! This bus was not advertised for sale, and the guy was not a hardcore VW guy, which I believe is the only way now, to find a vehicle without paying the recent ridiculous prices thanks to Barrett Jackson et al. |
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The Pilch Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2013 Posts: 628 Location: Utah
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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The next thing for the bus was a new battery, and some extra length battery cables - PO had cables too short and were stretched to fit.
...then, I cut this terrible repair out of the front floor and rewelded a new piece in
...one more fun graphic for the bus...
and it was all just in time to go to the Utah VW Classic show in Riverton, Utah! A great great day!! I ad a fantastic early cruise with some of my friends and many more, and a full day hanging out with over 250 VW's!
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wcfvw69 Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004 Posts: 13382 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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Nice bus and welcome to bays! They are addicting. _________________ Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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The Pilch Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2013 Posts: 628 Location: Utah
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:57 pm Post subject: |
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wcfvw69 wrote: |
Nice bus and welcome to bays! They are addicting. |
Thank you so much! Yes they are, and I hate to say it, my Type 3 project has been put to the back of the class for a little while....for me, a bay window bus was/is a dream car!! |
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Wasted youth Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2012 Posts: 5134 Location: California's Hot and Smoggy Central Valley
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 10:53 pm Post subject: |
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wcfvw69 wrote: |
Nice bus and welcome to bays! They are addicting. |
Yes... yeeessss thay are...
Left unchecked, they will breed like cockroaches.
Welcome! You have done a great amount of work! Looks like you are really getting into this. |
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Brian Samba Moderator
Joined: May 28, 2012 Posts: 8340 Location: Oceanside
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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had to do a double take, thought that was asiab3's bus
Are those wheels powder coated or rattle can? Either way, wax them like no tomorrow man.
But holy cow, looks great so far! _________________ Wash your hands
'69 Bug
'68 Baja Truck
'71 Bug
'68 Camper
Only losers litter |
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