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pacrat
Samba Member
Joined: April 20, 2006
Posts: 103
Location: Jennings Lodge
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 Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 10:42 am Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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Love your bus!
I just read the entire thread and it's great to see your progress!
Good luck in the New Year! |
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bus guy
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2002
Posts: 789
Location: Southsea, UK South Coast
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| Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 1:25 pm Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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| Great job. Looks awesome! |
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oakman
Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2014
Posts: 1762
Location: Edge of the Desert, Ca
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| Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 2:01 pm Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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Glad to see the Smile Bus still smiling!
_________________
Brandon |
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'64cal lookdub
1200 Deluxe
Joined: May 29, 2004
Posts: 1725
Location: TX
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| Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 5:58 pm Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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| MicBergsma wrote: |
Awesome man!! Great bus and story 
Which scooters? Vespa? I'm scooter freak  |
They were those weird three wheeled cushmans.
| pacrat wrote: |
Love your bus!
I just read the entire thread and it's great to see your progress!
Good luck in the New Year! |
| bus guy wrote: |
| Great job. Looks awesome! |
| oakman wrote: |
| Glad to see the Smile Bus still smiling! |
Thanks, it's been fun getting it back on the road where it belongs. |
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'64cal lookdub
1200 Deluxe
Joined: May 29, 2004
Posts: 1725
Location: TX
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| Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 6:36 pm Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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A few weeks back I fixed the odd splicing and routing the PO did on the license plate light/tail lights and hooked it back up like factory. After cleaning up the connections and sockets and running a ground wire to each housing I had rear brake, running, and signals. I took it on a late night shakedown afterwards and cruised around for about 45 minutes, it was running and driving damn good.
Link
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'64cal lookdub
1200 Deluxe
Joined: May 29, 2004
Posts: 1725
Location: TX
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| Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 7:02 pm Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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I knew the bushings were pretty worn on my 28 PICT causing a slight vacuum leak and fuel seepage after shutdown. I didn't really want to wait on getting mine gone through right now, so I picked up a 28 PICT-1 that Tim at Volkzbitz had in stock. I haven't installed it yet but I'm sure it'll run as good as it looks. I went ahead and checked the fuel pressure on that Airtex I swapped springs with and it was sitting around 2.5 psi.
I didn't take any pictures but I disassembled the horn last night to clean it up and now it's functional again. I still need to get the wipers working, go through the dome lights, solder the fuse panel/headlight switch, etc.
I had a bouncy speedo needle sometimes so I pulled the cable to lube it but it seemed to be slightly bent, I have one on the way from WW. Pretty neat though, I think that is the original cable since it was stamped with the VW logo. I didn't realize the cable nuts were date stamped also.
I noticed something in the drivers door pocket and yanked these out:
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Manfred58sc
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2009
Posts: 3471
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| Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 7:18 pm Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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Oh I drank some Pearl back in the 80's, straight outta Texas in bottles!
_________________
Fat chick owner/operator |
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BavarianWrench
Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2004
Posts: 1046
Location: Oceans Edge
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| Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 7:48 pm Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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| Great story, great bus, nice work, so what happened to the girlfriend? Seems like a chapter is missing. |
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Bendango
Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2005
Posts: 603
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| Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2017 3:23 am Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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FIRST DRIVE MEMORABLE MAN!
_________________
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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'64cal lookdub
1200 Deluxe
Joined: May 29, 2004
Posts: 1725
Location: TX
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2017 10:33 pm Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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| BavarianWrench wrote: |
| Great story, great bus, nice work, so what happened to the girlfriend? Seems like a chapter is missing. |
My girlfriend at the time I bought it wasn't a fan, she isn't around anymore. 
| burwin wrote: |
| FIRST DRIVE MEMORABLE MAN! |
It was pretty wild, especially thinking back on the history. |
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'64cal lookdub
1200 Deluxe
Joined: May 29, 2004
Posts: 1725
Location: TX
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| Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 8:24 pm Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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I guess it's time for an update from the past 6 months, I'll start off from where I left off. I threw a new speedo cable in from WW and that cured the bouncy needle. I checked the accuracy with GPS and its dead on with the 205/75/15 tires.
I went ahead and started to clean up the cab and pulled the seats to see what was lurking underneath. I found a bunch of receipts from 1969, old coins, etc. I cut off the deteriorating denim seat covers to find the originals in pretty good shape. It is starting to split at the seems towards the upper drivers side corner but that should be an easy fix. I pulled the original Fulda spare tire out for some pics as well, pretty neat stuff.
Last edited by '64cal lookdub on Wed Jun 28, 2017 8:52 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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'64cal lookdub
1200 Deluxe
Joined: May 29, 2004
Posts: 1725
Location: TX
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| Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 8:30 pm Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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I put the rear bumper back on and went through the throttle linkage with a new kit from Wolfsburg West.
I had some new glass cut to fix one of the broken Hehr windows. Eventually I'm going to pull them all and install new seals, etc. I also made the front windows slide again.
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'64cal lookdub
1200 Deluxe
Joined: May 29, 2004
Posts: 1725
Location: TX
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| Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 8:45 pm Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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It's been running and driving great, I've put a little over 400 miles on it around town so far.
Few shots at a local car get together:
Last edited by '64cal lookdub on Wed Jun 28, 2017 9:20 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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'64cal lookdub
1200 Deluxe
Joined: May 29, 2004
Posts: 1725
Location: TX
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| Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 9:04 pm Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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I went through the dome lights and have them working nice and bright again, the bus is still 6 volt.
Last edited by '64cal lookdub on Wed Jun 28, 2017 9:37 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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'64cal lookdub
1200 Deluxe
Joined: May 29, 2004
Posts: 1725
Location: TX
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| Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 9:15 pm Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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I've heard about these Butty's Bits throttle kits and figured I would give one a try. They make they pedal feel pretty nice but I'm still not sure how I feel about it, I might put the factory style linkage back in.
I still need to clean up the outside, I haven't even washed the paint yet. I rubbed on a few spots with some water and with the chalky oxidation removed it looks pretty good under there. It'll be interesting to see how it looks polished and waxed. It's pretty thin in some places, but some TR3 should do the job carefully.
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EverettB 
Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000
Posts: 71948
Location: Phoenix 602
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obus
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2001
Posts: 11803
Location: just off Garden State Parkway Exit 81
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squareweave
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2004
Posts: 450
Location: British Columbia
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 7:10 am Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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| Looks really good. Thanks for the long awaited update |
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Skim
Rants Master
Joined: April 15, 2001
Posts: 17098
Location: GFK 33 Year Vet
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 7:56 am Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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Damn Jake I just read the whole thread, much props. Love these stories. Diggin the fact that you rebuilt and reused so much original stuff. Looks like this bus was dry as a bone. Keep up the good work. Cant wait to see it in person one of these days...
_________________
GFK
Samba since before the towers collapsed. Still here.
1953 Kabriolet
1959 Lowlight Ghia vert
1960 Lt Grey Double Cab SMZ LEGIT
1963 Deluxe Turkis Walk Thru 15 Window OG Paint |
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'64cal lookdub
1200 Deluxe
Joined: May 29, 2004
Posts: 1725
Location: TX
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 9:32 pm Post subject: Re: The Smile Bus - '61 SWR |
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| EverettB wrote: |
The original grey seat cover is super nice, Wow!
Nice detail pics on the Fulda spare too - it looks like it's in great shape. |
Yeah I wasn't expecting it to be that nice under those covers, pretty wild.
| obus wrote: |
| what brand 205/75/15 tires are you running? |
I think they're GT radials, they were whatever discount had in stock in that size at the time. I might put some 6.40s on it later on, I like that look on stock buses.
| Skim wrote: |
| Damn Jake I just read the whole thread, much props. Love these stories. Diggin the fact that you rebuilt and reused so much original stuff. Looks like this bus was dry as a bone. Keep up the good work. Cant wait to see it in person one of these days... |
Appreciate it Tony! |
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