Refurbishing my '77 Westy Campmobile

[Tcash]

[Cap10323]

I am more than happy to do the edit myself, if I can just get the post unlocked. However, if that's not allowable, I can do as you ask TCash.
_________________
-Ian

'77 Westfalia - 2.0 F.I

[Cap10323]

[914guy]

If your bus is roadworthy, go to Dixie bus in August. It is in Mt. Vernon at Rustic Knolls campground. About 35 buses last year. Lots of plus a big VW show (Volksfest). Lots of fun.

[Tcash]

[Cap10323]

[Cap10323]

Took the Bus to a local aircooled shop, so I could use their lift to make doing brakes easier, and to just do a general inspection of my undercarriage.

I noticed the left side of my beam looked a little bit rusty, so I started poking at it and discovered it's entirely rotted out. Fuck.

The PO said they replaced the front beam at some point, and they must've replaced it with one from a rusty bus. Since there's nowhere else on this bus with this sort of rust.


Are beam rebuilders still a thing? Or is it best to just source a good dry beam and replace all the components myself. This will be my first rodeo with torsion springs.

Attached is a photo of the rust, the dark black is POR-15 from when I coated the underbody several months ago.

_________________
-Ian

'77 Westfalia - 2.0 F.I

[Cap10323]

I should add that, while I was flipping out over this rust, the ACVW mechanic seemed rather nonplussed. he claimed it wasn't a 'structural part of the beam' and as a result I should just patch it and forget about it. He said he's seen much worse.

But that didn't rest easy with me, and I'd like to do the right thing if possible.
_________________
-Ian

'77 Westfalia - 2.0 F.I

[vwjetboat]

time to find a beam in good no rust condition.. would be the best way .. and over all cheapest and then you know.. its done right

[Abscate]

I sold a decent but rusty one here for $350 last fall, give or take, for calibration.
_________________
.ssS!

[Cap10323]

[60vwnewengland]

You need a new beam. I'd be very hesitant to drive the bus with kind of rust in the beam.

Hit the swap meets and the classifieds here. You'll find one. I dragged a bay beam to swaps for years before I finally sold it for $50 cause I was tired of loading and unloading that damn thing.
_________________
77 Westy - Cape Cod Sage
LLAP

[Cap10323]

[Cap10323]

I've purchased a complete, rust free, 1978 Beam from a local bus shop, paid a pretty penny, but it's absolutely dry as a bone, and solid as a rock. So, money well spent.

I'll be totally tearing it down, replacing all consumable parts with German OE parts (Spent 3 hours reading threads about cheap ball joints/tie rods etc. Scared straight) and finishing it all up with a good rustproofing.

The plan is to all of this over the winter, and then install the Beam in the spring and hopefully take the bus on some adventures a little further away than Cincinnati.

Pictures incoming.
_________________
-Ian

'77 Westfalia - 2.0 F.I

[Cap10323]

_________________
-Ian

'77 Westfalia - 2.0 F.I

[Abscate]

[Cap10323]

[Cap10323]

I'm not dead.

_________________
-Ian

'77 Westfalia - 2.0 F.I

[Bleyseng]

How is the center pin?
_________________
70 Ghia Black convert-9/69 build date-stock w/133k 1600 SP-barn find now with a rebuilt tranny and engine
77 Westy 2.0L w/Ljet, Camper Special engine-95hp and with LSD!(sold)
76 Porsche 914 2.1L L20c, 120hp Djet (sold)
87 Syncro Westy Titan Red 2.1L 2 knob 100k miles

[Cap10323]