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Dubskii
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010
Posts: 385
Location: So Cal
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 Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2017 10:06 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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My boys and I attended Wolfsburg West's 2017 Spring Fling in Corona, Ca for the second straight year. Great show, great time!
Bus definitely looks differently then last year!
_________________
69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia |
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mandraks
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2004
Posts: 7047
Location: Lawrenceville, Ga
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| Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 6:40 am Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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pressed bumpers are nice. love the early buses. what size are your (tiny looking) tires? even with a straight axle conversion this must be screaming at interstate speeds?
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regards
Uli
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'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue, looking for a narrow hatch panel |
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Dubskii
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010
Posts: 385
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2017 3:19 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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| mandraks wrote: |
| pressed bumpers are nice. love the early buses. what size are your (tiny looking) tires? even with a straight axle conversion this must be screaming at interstate speeds? |
Thanks! As for the tires, I am running 195/60/R15 (Rear) and 185/55/R15 (Front). Looking at all of the "Lowered Threads" this is apretty common setup. Maybe a little on the "bigger" size in the front. At highway speeds they handle and sound fine. Much quieter than when I was running small nut RGBs and regular tires.
_________________
69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia |
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cdennisg
Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004
Posts: 20263
Location: Sandpoint, ID
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| Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2017 4:54 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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| Dubskii wrote: |
| mandraks wrote: |
| pressed bumpers are nice. love the early buses. what size are your (tiny looking) tires? even with a straight axle conversion this must be screaming at interstate speeds? |
Thanks! As for the tires, I am running 195/60/R15 (Rear) and 185/55/R15 (Front). Looking at all of the "Lowered Threads" this is apretty common setup. Maybe a little on the "bigger" size in the front. At highway speeds they handle and sound fine. Much quieter than when I was running small nut RGBs and regular tires. |
I am guessing he was asking if the engine RPM's are really high because of the perceived small diameter tires and their effect on overall gearing.
With a stock type 1 trans from 1960 to 1968 or so, and those tires, a 60-65 MPH cruise speed is just about perfect for power and RPM in a lowered bus.
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Dubskii
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010
Posts: 385
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 10:46 am Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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| cdennisg wrote: |
| Dubskii wrote: |
| mandraks wrote: |
| pressed bumpers are nice. love the early buses. what size are your (tiny looking) tires? even with a straight axle conversion this must be screaming at interstate speeds? |
Thanks! As for the tires, I am running 195/60/R15 (Rear) and 185/55/R15 (Front). Looking at all of the "Lowered Threads" this is apretty common setup. Maybe a little on the "bigger" size in the front. At highway speeds they handle and sound fine. Much quieter than when I was running small nut RGBs and regular tires. |
I am guessing he was asking if the engine RPM's are really high because of the perceived small diameter tires and their effect on overall gearing.
With a stock type 1 trans from 1960 to 1968 or so, and those tires, a 60-65 MPH cruise speed is just about perfect for power and RPM in a lowered bus. |
Thank you for clarifying. That is what I was trying to relay in my response.
_________________
69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia |
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mandraks
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2004
Posts: 7047
Location: Lawrenceville, Ga
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| Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 12:23 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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gotcha, i thought the tires were smaller. but with roughly beetle diameter tires and a beetle transmission, gearing is fine, obviously.
_________________
regards
Uli
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'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue, looking for a narrow hatch panel |
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Dubskii
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010
Posts: 385
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 10:54 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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I have noted in previous posts the disappearing body lines, incorrect wheel wells and thick bondo patches on my bus.
I know TheSamba community loves its bus porn so here goes a little driver's side strip tease.
Tack welds with bondo. Par for the course.
Peekaboo...
Swiss cheese
Ill-fitting, thin gauged, incorrect wheel wells, gone!
Temporarily covered raw metal with dove grey spray paint.
Can't wait to check her out when she fully disrobes!!! This will be fun...
_________________
69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia |
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Dubskii
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010
Posts: 385
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 11:01 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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Picked up some new WW metal...
and got to stripping. I outlined with the replacement panels and cut the rotten metal short of those guidelines. My goal was to remove as little OG metal as possible.
Drilled out the some spot welds and wedged the chisel in there. I soon realized it was easier to wiggle the rusted metal back and forth a few times to get the weld to pop off. It was difficult to access the spot welds on the wheel well/rear corner and the dog leg/rocker seam. So once the bulk of the metal was removed next to the seam, I gave a few stiff blows with the chisel to pull the remaining metal away. Then used a Dremel to cut the welds.
Ancient critters and earth hiding.
Cargo Shot.
As she stands now.
Lots of rust damage that couldn't be seen from the outside. More then I wanted will need to be removed. The neighbors are starting to hate me but there is more to do!
_________________
69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia |
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Dubskii
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010
Posts: 385
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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Damage assessed. Outer cargo floor, inner rocker, B, C and D pillars, portion of the bulkhead and a portion of a cross member need to be replaced.
Weld location for B, C and D pillars. Also, 90deg tabs were on each side of the pillars. Is this OG or some PO stuff?
Floor pitting.
B Pillar and bulkhead.
C and D Pillar.
Cargo floor removal. Ground spot welds on floor and drill them out on the wheel well.
Silly me. Thought the previous metal purchase was all I would need. New metal.
and more
and more but I fabbed my own cross member section.
Scrap heap.
Current state.
_________________
69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia |
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Major Woody
Samba Enigma
Joined: December 04, 2002
Posts: 9010
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 12:13 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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I bet you wish you could go back in time to when all that nasty bodywork was done and kick the guy in the sack.
You're attacking this right. Good work! |
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Ran When Parked
Samba Member
Joined: September 26, 2013
Posts: 781
Location: Birmingham, AL
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| Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 1:47 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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I really enjoyed the "Ancient critters and earth hiding" photos. The critter mod photos always make me laugh and are so interesting.
Looking Good! |
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Dubskii
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010
Posts: 385
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Fri May 12, 2017 1:27 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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| Major Woody wrote: |
I bet you wish you could go back in time to when all that nasty bodywork was done and kick the guy in the sack.
You're attacking this right. Good work! |
The kick would be well deserved! No excuse for that BS. Thanks! It will feel good to replace all that rotted stuff.
| Ran When Parked wrote: |
I really enjoyed the "Ancient critters and earth hiding" photos. The critter mod photos always make me laugh and are so interesting.
Looking Good! |
I was a little taken back when I cut that open. Funny thing is when I thought I had it cleared out another chunk fell out while welding. After that, I took a rubber mallet and hit it a few more times to clear it out.
Should be finished with this metal work soon. Will post when completed.
_________________
69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia |
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brettsvw
Samba Member
Joined: November 22, 2007
Posts: 2145
Location: Florida
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Bendango
Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2005
Posts: 593
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| Posted: Sat May 13, 2017 8:31 am Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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Keep going man she already looks better!
_________________
I want a real garage.
WANTED - [WTB] 55-62 Bus Thin Lip Package Tray SWR
Getting Used - SWR 60 westy copy built by vw ( apparently  )
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=320866
| Braukuche wrote: |
| Where did you find the elephant dick? |
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Dubskii
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010
Posts: 385
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 10:03 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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| brettsvw wrote: |
| Dubskii wrote: |
Scrap heap.
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Your are digging in now.
You have a sweet kombi well worth the effort. |
Tell my wife that. She affectionately refers to my bus as "That POS" no matter how much I work on it. BTW I enjoyed your 59 Kombi thread too!
| burwin wrote: |
| Keep going man she already looks better! |
Thanks! All the work done has been personally, very rewarding and I hope people enjoy the thread.
_________________
69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia |
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brettsvw
Samba Member
Joined: November 22, 2007
Posts: 2145
Location: Florida
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Don66bus
Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2006
Posts: 402
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 4:08 am Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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In defence of shoddy workmanship ...
It is possible that those tack welds and Bondo were applied in the days when that was a $200 vehicle and no one was supplying fresh metal. I did enough of that in the seventies and eighties to get past a safety check which didn't allow open rust holes. I was not going to spend thousands of dollars or weeks of rebuilding time on what was a disposable piece of junk that I wanted to nurse through a couple of more years. If it didn't pass the safety, it was going to the wrecker to be crushed anyway.
Now these vehicles are worth the effort and many people, like yourself, have the time and money to do the job right. That's great. If we knew back then that buses were going to appreciate so much, we would have been buying them in bulk for nothing and storing them - unmolested - in barns. But they were just trucks, things to carry people and stuff, and you did what you did to keep them running and licensed.
Don't kick me in the sack. It was a different time. |
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cdennisg
Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004
Posts: 20263
Location: Sandpoint, ID
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 6:44 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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^^^ Don is 100% correct. Even in the late 80's when I started to buy and build VW's, they were just dirt cheap transportation. I did a few ugly patches to my first two bugs that I am no longer proud of. I would do it differently today.
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Dubskii
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010
Posts: 385
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 9:39 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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| cdennisg wrote: |
| ^^^ Don is 100% correct. Even in the late 80's when I started to buy and build VW's, they were just dirt cheap transportation. I did a few ugly patches to my first two bugs that I am no longer proud of. I would do it differently today. |
Agreed. Never thought about it that way. Just glad to be removing that old patch work and rusted metal in favor of the new.
_________________
69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia |
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Wade
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2007
Posts: 125
Location: NorCal
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 9:39 pm Post subject: Re: My 57 Dove Blue Kombi |
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Man, I did exactly that type of crappy bodywork on my first two busses back in the mid '80s. Cut out the rocker rust, bend a crease in the sheetmetal and then just fiberglass a new rocker in place. Slather a quart of bondo over everything and you're good to go. For an 18 year old with a limited budget and no experience, it got the job done, and actually looked pretty OK. Funny to look back on it and realize how different I'd do it now.
I'm sure my old busses are still driving around. I wonder if anyone's done an excavation like you're doing. I hope not. 
Good luck with your work. I love your bus and can't wait to see it all buttoned up.
-Greg |
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