Forest Find 1961 Mouse Grey 11-Window Standard

[Longmont1302]

I’m belatedly starting a thread on this bus:

The floors are rusty, it has no glass, and it’s been painted with a broom (by children) several times. They even painted the engine:

It lived its entire life at a children’s camp in Minnesota, where my dad works summers as a handyman. The camp’s owners bought it new in Germany and had it shipped to the states. I believe it was last licensed in 1998. When my dad mentioned I was interested in the bus, the owner generously gave it to him as a gift. My only problem is that I live 1000 miles away in Colorado.

One of my coworkers, Corinna, owns a 1960 Beetle. When I mentioned to her I could own a 1961 11-window standard if I could only find a way to drag it home, she said she and her partner had a truck and trailer and they’d be glad to help. I thought she was joking, but she wasn’t. We left on Friday afternoon and arrived at lunchtime on Saturday. My dad and his friend helped us out. They had moved the bus a little and replaced two tires, but couldn’t get it out of gear: the cabin floor is so rusty there’s nothing to bolt the shifter on. Nevertheless, in short time we got it on the trailer and headed west.

In hindsight, I should have removed the battery, as it bounced its way through some rust on the way. We received a lot of attention on the trip, mostly by Batman fans. I also wish we’d had time to go through a car wash (particularly to spray some gunk on the engine), but we made it home safe and sound by dinner time Sunday.

I have begun the process of taking the house paint off. Underneath I found the original mouse grey. So far one of my favorite methods is Citristrip Gel, towels, and a plastic scraper. Before it got too cold I got most of the aftermarket paint of the rear and much of the passenger side. It’s still a work in progress: the last bits of paint are the trickiest to remove without taking the OG paint, too.

I’m hoping to perfect my paint removal technique before I attempt the nose. With some Samba help, I also managed to bust the shift coupler apart so I could hope to turn the engine.

During a December visit, my dad and I set a goal to start the engine (likely for the first time since the late 1990s). To prep, I replaced the plugs, wires, coil, and distributor cap, and did my best to rebuild the carburetor and fuel pump. When the fuel pump didn’t work, we just ran the hose to a gas can positioned above the carburetor. With a little help from my neighbor Bill, we made it happen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip_vM_8qaR4&feature=youtu.be

Since then I’ve got the fuel pump working (finally had to spend the big bucks on a WW diaphragm) and set the valves. This weekend I tested the compression: #1: 95 lbs, #2: 95, #3: 85, and #4: 90. Given that we're at 5,000 feet and the battery was nearly dead, I figure this is better than I could have hoped for after sitting in a field for 20+ years.

My goal is to get the aftermarket paint off, replace or clean the gas tank, replace crucial sheet metal (engine compartment, cabin floor), do the brakes, possibly replace the wiring harness, and otherwise do the absolute minimum necessary to drive the thing around the block with these guys. Repeatedly.

My next step is to pull the engine. While I have a Bentley manual, if anyone could point me to more detailed split bus engine removal instructions (suitable for a for a first-timer) I’d be grateful.

[Lind]

how does the M-code plate read on this bus?

1961 Mouse grey buses are something special.
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Wanted:
Idaho VW license plate frames or other dealership items.
VWoA literature and early dealership or distributor literature/pictures/information
.

[Longmont1302]

[Lind]

[AC Mack]

Interesting M -Code 156 indicates ----- Second rear view mirror / Also used on Tourist Delivery Program.
I realize this is probably in reference to a outside passenger side mirror.
Is that a mirror above the passengers head ?

_________________
1959 Model M1: 118
1964 Model 265
1965 Model 251 Deluxe walk thru
1966 Westfalia so42 Schiebedach fabrik 4864
1967 Model 231 EZ Kamper # 1940
1978 Westfalia P 31 / 1987 Westfalia Wolfram Grau
Split Bus Club / Lost Coast Bays / North Coast Vans
Long may that Split Bus run!
Always and Everywhere Volkswagen

[Burlyhammer]

Awesome bus. Looks like you’re on the right track and well on your way.

[obus]

cool bus. Mouse grey is a great color
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July 1959 Mango Standard Bus aka Obus L346 L347 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=256592&highlight=
June 1973 Pumpkin Orange Thing aka Othing L30H
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=711775&highlight=
1960 Paprika Red Karmann Ghia Convertible aka Schatze L452 built 5/20/60
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight=
66 21 window bus built 8/31/65 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=777273

[Lind]

[Clara]

[Longmont1302]

Thanks to all for the encouraging words.

[Longmont1302]

[Manfred58sc]

Cool Bus, and great story!
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Fat chick owner/operator

[BarryL]

Your kid's faces is the best picture I've seen in awhile. That inside mirror looks like an original VW bus outside mirror.

[TDCTDI]

Car quest carb cleaner worked great for removing house paint from a car that I had once without attacking the original paint. Acetone worked great on getting a repaint off of the original without attacking the original on my bus. Try in an inconspicuous spot first.
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[AC Mack]

Cool Bus !!! Could you possibly post a pict of the dash ? Thanks
_________________
1959 Model M1: 118
1964 Model 265
1965 Model 251 Deluxe walk thru
1966 Westfalia so42 Schiebedach fabrik 4864
1967 Model 231 EZ Kamper # 1940
1978 Westfalia P 31 / 1987 Westfalia Wolfram Grau
Split Bus Club / Lost Coast Bays / North Coast Vans
Long may that Split Bus run!
Always and Everywhere Volkswagen

[srfndoc]

[Eric&Barb]

[Longmont1302]

[Longmont1302]

[Longmont1302]