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Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper
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benrusso
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PostPosted: Tue May 03, 2016 10:34 am    Post subject: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to introduce you to Olivia, my new 1976 Pop-Top.

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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...
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-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
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PostPosted: Tue May 03, 2016 10:42 am    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

With a wife and maybe one female child, I would never be able to keep all the names straight.
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aeromech
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PostPosted: Tue May 03, 2016 2:01 pm    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

Sounds like a good deal to me.
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jtauxe Premium Member
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PostPosted: Tue May 03, 2016 2:35 pm    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

aeromech wrote:
Sounds like a good deal to me.

At $2500? Heck, yeah! That's a great deal!

Good on you, mate! Cool
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"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
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PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2016 7:59 am    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

Looks great! Can never have too many '76 Westys around! Very Happy
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benrusso
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PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2016 10:09 am    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

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.
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Olivia - 1976 Pop-Top
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seventyfo
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PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2016 2:48 pm    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

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
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Togz
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PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2016 3:06 pm    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

You got a great deal if I can say so!

Good score.
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benrusso
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PostPosted: Thu May 05, 2016 6:42 pm    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

Here's a photo dump for your enjoyment!

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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]
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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
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PostPosted: Thu May 05, 2016 6:50 pm    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

Smoking
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benrusso
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PostPosted: Sat May 07, 2016 2:00 pm    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

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

    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...
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Olivia - 1976 Pop-Top
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PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2016 8:49 am    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

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? Very Happy
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PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2016 9:42 am    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

Rust Repair
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PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2016 9:51 am    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

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)
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benrusso
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PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2016 11:16 am    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

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.
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PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2016 11:23 am    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

Does the M-Plate list it as P22 or P27?
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PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2016 11:32 am    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

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? Razz
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PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2016 11:35 am    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

Looks like a Canadian deluxe to me.
Table brackets on the dash as well as the table (nice score!).
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PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2016 12:07 pm    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

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 Smile

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.
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PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2016 12:16 pm    Post subject: Re: Olivia: 1976 Pop-Top Camper Reply with quote

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