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benrusso Samba Member

Joined: November 25, 2012 Posts: 33 Location: Yellowknife, NT
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2016 10:34 am Post subject: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to introduce you to Olivia, my new 1976 Pop-Top.
STORY
I bought Amelia four years ago, and I haven't done much with her since then, sadly. Last month, with other life items more-or-less sorted, I called a trusted mechanic in town to ask if he'd work with me on some of the bigger items. He said no, he didn't want to take it on as a project and, in fact, he had a bus of his own in his backyard that he's looking to sell. I checked it out that evening. It was buried in 2 feet of snow, but we cleared enough to get into it, and to hear the engine purr for a few seconds. I was sold already. He then showed me all the parts laying in his garage. There were doors and door panels, a dashboard, camper furniture, heating ducts, gaskets, and all sorts of smaller parts. It was a mini warehouse of awesomeness.
The price was right at $2500, and I bought it on the spot with no regard for rust or any other issues. Last night (three weeks later), with the snow finally melted, I drove it home. It was loud and slow, with a very loose muffler and no turn signal switch or driver side mirror. But my goodness it felt good to sit in the driver seat of a moving bus.
Olivia is at a much more comfortable starting point for me as a fairly inexperienced tinkerer. I'm hoping to enjoy the bus this year with a couple of small trips (not too far from home). I'm also hoping to use that enjoyment/confidence with Olivia to boost my motivation for working on Amelia. I don't know the future of Amelia, but I'm not ready to abandon her just yet.
M-PLATE (fromvw-mplate.com)
Model: Type 2 (T2) mod. 231(9): VW Campmobile, Sliding door right, LHD
Chassis number: 2362048195
Serial number: 048 195
Model year: 1976
Planned production date: 29 October 1975
Number for production planning (temp serial number): 7482
Type of engine: Type 4 (GD) - 1970cc, 51 kW (70 bhp DIN)
Type of transmission: Manual 4-speed gearbox
Paint color: L63H - Sage Green
Remark: Westfalia
Interior color (door panels and seats): 34 - Camping Green Yellow Cloth
Destination: Canada, St Johns NB
CODES:
734 - 2000cc fuel-injected engine with exhaust emission control concept of the 1800cc engine (with M157 only)
D56 Collection of M-codes (231, Intern. organisation):
032 Lockable filler cap for fuel tank
074 Mudflaps rear
089 Laminated windscreen (1969-1979)
094 Lockable engine lid
101 Off-the-road radial tyres (tubeless, 185 R 14 M-profile)
103 Heavy duty shock absorbers for bad roads
121 Two electrical ventilators in fresh air system
181 Chrome hubcaps and rear view mirror outer
240 Engine with recessed crown pistons for low octane fuel
507 Vent wings in cab doors
511 Padded instrument panel (LHD only)
513 Protection runner for transmission
P31 Westfalia SO 70/2 with pop top roof (1971-1979)
I haven't had a chance to look close, but it appears to be fairly original, albeit not exactly mint condition. The front seats are harsh for damage, but the back area is in great shape. The exterior has rust on all lower edges, the engine bay and door, and "rain" on the front; the interior seems alright for rust. The carpet flooring is intact, and all camper items are there (whether they work or not is another thing).
I will post more photos & details soon. I will also run an inventory of all my spare parts once I clean out the bus and sort out the small items.
Wish me luck, again... _________________ -Ben
Olivia - 1976 Pop-Top
Last edited by benrusso on Fri May 06, 2016 11:18 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Gib_Gas Samba Member

Joined: January 12, 2014 Posts: 55 Location: NYC
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2016 10:42 am Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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With a wife and maybe one female child, I would never be able to keep all the names straight. _________________ 1979 Deluxe Westfalia 2.0 FI |
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aeromech Samba Member

Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 17656 Location: San Diego, California
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2016 2:01 pm Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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Sounds like a good deal to me. _________________ Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound |
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jtauxe  Samba Member

Joined: September 30, 2004 Posts: 5975 Location: Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2016 2:35 pm Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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aeromech wrote: |
Sounds like a good deal to me. |
At $2500? Heck, yeah! That's a great deal!
Good on you, mate!  _________________ John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD
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Bala Samba Member

Joined: December 04, 2003 Posts: 2637 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 7:59 am Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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Looks great! Can never have too many '76 Westys around!  _________________ 1976 Westy
1966 Beetle |
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benrusso Samba Member

Joined: November 25, 2012 Posts: 33 Location: Yellowknife, NT
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Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 10:09 am Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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Thanks for stopping by, Bala. I'll definitely be using your 76 thread as a guide. Kudos for being so detailed - it's a huge help to us green thumbs. _________________ -Ben
Olivia - 1976 Pop-Top |
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seventyfo Samba Member

Joined: February 13, 2007 Posts: 916 Location: Ocoee FL
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Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 2:48 pm Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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Jeez I guess I need to head up that way sounds like there's nice buses to be had for cheap laying all over the place _________________ 85 Vanagon GL Westy GW 2.2 (Rebuilt by YT)
"I don't know you well enough to care about your comments". Watkins Cravey |
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Togz Samba Member

Joined: November 09, 2015 Posts: 69 Location: Lake County, MN
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Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 3:06 pm Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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You got a great deal if I can say so!
Good score. _________________ The bus came by and I got on
That's when it all began... |
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benrusso Samba Member

Joined: November 25, 2012 Posts: 33 Location: Yellowknife, NT
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Posted: Thu May 05, 2016 6:42 pm Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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Here's a photo dump for your enjoyment!
I also took photos of all the inventory. I won't post, but it's amazing what came with this bus. I have the parts for every obvious repair I've seen, including a new (orange) engine hatch. There's even a muffler putty kit, though I think I need a little more than putty...
On with the repairs!!
[EDIT - photos are now uploaded to TheSamba's gallery per Tcash's request] _________________ -Ben
Olivia - 1976 Pop-Top
Last edited by benrusso on Fri May 06, 2016 11:17 am; edited 1 time in total |
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aeromech Samba Member

Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 17656 Location: San Diego, California
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Posted: Thu May 05, 2016 6:50 pm Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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Smoking _________________ Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound |
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benrusso Samba Member

Joined: November 25, 2012 Posts: 33 Location: Yellowknife, NT
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 2:00 pm Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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The first repairs are the obvious ones:
Driver side mirror
Easy, thanks to the replacement mirror ready-to-go. I should've saved this one for later when I was feeling defeated...
Front seats(see photos above)
They're fully worn - a lot of cushioning is lost, and the springs and hardware are biting at my ass and tearing up the upholstery. The seat covers are also fairly damaged and will only get worse under any use. While part of me wants to try to salvage as much as possible, it may be easier to order new covers and keep the old ones in storage for the next owner to cherish.
Turn signal switch
My first injury and lesson learned: use the right tool! I tried removing the steering wheel nut with an adjustable wrench and nearly ripped off my fingers. I slapped on a few bandages, cleaned up the, err, mess, and headed to the hardware store for a large ratchet and 24mm socket. Then two more problems arose: A plastic part and metal part on the new switch disagree on the location of a screw hole (so no fourth screw on the assembly), and the windshield washer hoses disintegrated on contact. Fix one thing, break another...
Muffler/Heat Exchange
The most obvious engine fix is the torn apart heat exchange unit. The previous "fix" (photo somewhere above) was a wrap of insulated foil tape and wire. A full replacement costs over $300 (!), so I'm going to figure out a band-aid for now and see if I can get the existing part repaired.
Once I was under the bus, I noticed a fair amount of oil on the underside of the engine and heat exchanger. Next is to do a full engine bay clean up and surface repair (wire organization, repositioning exhausts, etc), then seeing what's actually happening with the drive train.
Back to work... _________________ -Ben
Olivia - 1976 Pop-Top |
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Bala Samba Member

Joined: December 04, 2003 Posts: 2637 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 8:49 am Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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Very nice (other than the rust). You seem to have gotten practically every accessory with it! Anything inside that camping box between the front seats?  _________________ 1976 Westy
1966 Beetle |
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Tcash Samba Member

Joined: July 20, 2011 Posts: 12846 Location: San Jose, California, USA
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 9:42 am Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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Rust Repair |
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kerian159 Samba Member

Joined: February 24, 2008 Posts: 344 Location: Pensacola, FL
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 9:51 am Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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Is it just me or is it strange to have a refrigerator but no stove? I thought that if it was the "Green" Deluxe it would have both. Or is it a Canadian version? (Just noticed OP is in NT) _________________ 1976 Type II Westy P22
"Growing older, but not up!" |
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benrusso Samba Member

Joined: November 25, 2012 Posts: 33 Location: Yellowknife, NT
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 11:16 am Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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Bala - I need to add to that "things in my bus" thread. There was a bunch of cassettes and a couple of postcards in the stool/box. Top prizes were the fishing rod under the bench and the hatchet above the bench.
Thanks Tcash - I'm going to try CLR on the body. I've seen good results on other classics. And Yellowknife has a very dry climate and limited use of salt on roads, so rust is slow enough to manage once it's under control. The chassis and parts do need a good once-over with steel wool and undercoat. How I spent my summer...
kerian159 - My understanding is this bus is a "standard" Westfalia with an icebox, as opposed to a "deluxe" with a full fridge and stove. And yes, according to the m-plate, she originally came from New Brunswick. _________________ -Ben
Olivia - 1976 Pop-Top |
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kerian159 Samba Member

Joined: February 24, 2008 Posts: 344 Location: Pensacola, FL
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 11:23 am Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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Does the M-Plate list it as P22 or P27? _________________ 1976 Type II Westy P22
"Growing older, but not up!" |
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benrusso Samba Member

Joined: November 25, 2012 Posts: 33 Location: Yellowknife, NT
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 11:32 am Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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She's a P31: Westfalia SO 70/2 with pop top roof (1971-1979)
Amelia is also a P31, apparently, but she has a sunroof setup and was converted to a high-top in Montreal.
Is this a Canadian thing?  _________________ -Ben
Olivia - 1976 Pop-Top |
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Bala Samba Member

Joined: December 04, 2003 Posts: 2637 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 11:35 am Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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Looks like a Canadian deluxe to me.
Table brackets on the dash as well as the table (nice score!). _________________ 1976 Westy
1966 Beetle |
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curtp07 Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2007 Posts: 874 Location: Mass
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 12:07 pm Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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Rip the entire interior out, put it aside, bleach the entire inside. Replace the sub floor, carpet, clean any interior rust. Put everything back.
If you're lucky you may get away with a few mouse turds. Otherwise there's probably all sorts of funky mold under the sub floor and carpet..and all measures of dirt and gunk in every corner.
That's where I starred with both my buses. Reasoning is at least I could camp in a clean bus in my driveway, while I'm working on all the other stuff
Even replacing the top canvas I found all types of rodent turds up there...gross stuff but par for an old bus.
Oh yea when the interior is out do all the window seals as you'll have unimpeded access to every window. _________________ Subaru |
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curtp07 Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2007 Posts: 874 Location: Mass
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 12:16 pm Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper |
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_________________ Subaru |
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