Hell In A Bucket! WildIdea's 1977 Sage Green Westy

[WildIdea]

[WildIdea]

[MorkC68]

Brilliant:)

I like the photo of them side by side in the garage!

Even though you may only get an hour here or there, it’s sometimes a rewarding hour, little jobs ticked off the list.

The splittie looks nice and tidy and, if the Westie is anything to go by, that will be a good bus too by the time you have done.

Looking forward to more
_________________
Major; 1977 Westfalia Campmobile
- Subaru EJ20
- Koni Classic adjustable dampers & Empi Heavy Duty Anti Roll Bar
- 180W Solar System

My blog: https://twolatebays.wordpress.com/

[Buggeee]

Right on Man! Your Ties are the best I've seen at any show! Sunshine Daydream Walkin' with the Tall Trees!
_________________
1966 Sportsmobile Camper https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
72 Super Duper http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=672387
(adopted out) 61 Turkis Pile https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728764

[WildIdea]

[WildIdea]

Merry Christmas everybody. I haven't been posting much but I've been reading yours believe me. I had a lot going on lately like everyone else I'm sure. For one I had to report for Jury Duty in November so I didn't book and work appointments during the week just in case I was called in. Turns out I only had to go in one day and wasn't selected so I basically had a whole month to work on the bus, make tie dyes and rock hunt. I call it Light Jury Duty now. The weather was great and several days over 60 degrees so I was able to crush a few projects on the split. In fact, the weather has been pretty mild lately other than a few high wind days.

I've been all over the underside of the 65 getting to everything I could before I welded in the cargo floor for good.

Just as a precaution, I tossed in the seats to see how everything was going to look and work and I quickly found out the middle seat mounts were in the wrong place for my ⅔ bench. I'm grateful I had them on hand to take practical measurements and be able to change things before I got to far with the install and paint.

Once all the welding and drilling was done I painted the underside grey on a warm day and even took the pieces out back to bake in the sun and they got hot to the touch and baked really nice. Stoked, I went ahead and pressed on a few days later. I used panel adhesive along my long wall to minimize paint loss and warping and rosette welded the rest of the floor in.

A few days of grinding and prepping for paint and low and behold, another warm day on the forecast to target. I pressed hard for that day and caught it. I shot the primer and a few hours later the paint. Flashed out fine but still took a finger print 6 hours later. Nervously, I re read the stat sheet and it said give it 10 hours, then a week to use and 3 weeks for final cure. I relaxed and after that timeframe, it's tough as stone, which is nice being its the floor and all.

So now I have the front floor still to do. The piece this project started with! It's all good though as I've learned a lot since I first pulled the rusty remnants out that are gonna make it go smother going back in. One of the best investments I've made lately was wheel dollies. I can now swing the bus around for that extra few feet and I'm really gonna need that to crouch down in that front floor area. I'm also planning on reworking another transaxle with RGBs and will be able to now with the extra 4-5 feel I can now access in my garage.

Enough about Red in my Sage Westy thread. None of that work would be as enjoyable if we didn't have a bus to drive around.

Typical South Dakota weather to get snowed on in September and be dry as a bone Dec 24th. I was pretty stoked to be able to get the bus out for a little fluid circulation and keep the hibernation effect from kicking in. We all piled into the bus this morning and headed over to a great friends Christmas waffle bar gathering. Always nice to see friends we don't get to see often. Of coarse we got to talk buses and choppers.

We couldn't stay forever as we had to get home and prep for another gathering to my parents. My Dads birthday today so we always get to go there and celebrate both that and Christmas. They go all out and my kids love my older brother "Uncle Christmas" we call him and his family. Picture a metal head dude in a ugly sweater. So before we start heading back home we take the long way and pop into a few photo ops for the murals thread and just have a blast messing around. Getting waved at and stopped by a off duty cop I work on for some friendly jabs for pulling on the wrong side of the street. Several thumbs ups and waves. I call them Analog Likes and those are worth ten digital ones to me.

We have this thing called Art Alley downtown that is designed to keep the graffiti to one area of town. Seems to work if you don't count train box cars. Pieces get painted over all the time and gets refreshed pretty often. There were some cool ones out today.

We were having a blast and said "You can't put this in a box and wrap it".

I really like this Native Lakota one of the medicine wheel with eagle and pipe.

Wow, my bus looks extra long in this picture.

Just a few more pics before we bail on the Ally. All the arial wiring is neat yet weirdly distracting. Like veins of an organism. Bio mechanical. My Chopper buddies love to hide wiring, cables and oil lines, but I kind of like them as I think they have their place on a machine if they are organized.

Next is getting this rear sway bar installed. If this weather stays over 45 degrees, I'll open the garage door and install it. Reading up a bit and checking the Ratwell site. Thanks everybody for all that makes the Samba such a great place. I can't thank you folks enough. Wishing a solid and healthy New Year to everybody on the forums. Peace!

[yellowCOwesty]

What made you decide on the rear sway bar?

Great PCs!
_________________
_______________________

'78 Westy
Currently yellow and white "Sunny"
A few other air cooled VW and Porsches over the years

[WildIdea]

[WildIdea]

We had such a good time yesterday we decided to get the bus out again while we could before some expected snow tonight. We headed up to the Hills for a hike. Never got over 30 degrees so that was a bit chilly but it made it kind of fun at the same time.

South Seas climbing area just behind the monument has some really nice walking paths. Followed by some hot chocolate and warm ups back at the bus.

Pretty cool Christmas day drive and a welcome break from all the normal holiday activities. Snow tonight maybe, so we were trying to impress the idea of going outside while the opportunity presented itself and hunkering down with the new gifts when the snow falls.

[WildIdea]

Woke up to this, so really happy we had a few clear days AND the time to take advantage of them.

Notice what gets to park inside. I promised Cat I'd dust off and start her car all season. Decent trade off. Actually, her wet car driving into the garage has its own mess to clean. Someday a shop, but dusting off a two cars a few dozen times a year isn't that terrible.

[KentABQ]

You've been mighty quiet for a few weeks, WildIdea.
Has the winter been freezing you out of the garage?
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM

[WildIdea]

[WildIdea]

I have everyone in my life primmed to know I’m gonna disappear out of the blue when Brian phones that it’s time for the Westy. We’ve been talking, so I decided to back the bus out and dust her off a little. Clean her up and organize the tool chest, detach battery tender, check the oil, tire pressure, etc. the easy stuff from setting 3 months in the garage (we did get her out twice over Christmas) and organize all the break parts and whatnot we’ll be installing next week. Still stick tree season and sand on the roads around here, but dry. Winter finally loosening her grip.

We hopped in for a spin to a place in town for dinner, kicking off the 1st run of 2019. started right up and handled well. High hopes for the season and getting situated for a real trip this summer.

_________________
1977 Sage Green Westy
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=691987
1965 SWR Walk-Through Standard
1960 211 Panel American Camper Conversion

[notchboy]

May the wind always be at your back and the rest stops plentiful!
_________________

[WildIdea]

It’s always good when Brian reaches out and says its time to bring the Westy over. We arranged a night for me to come over with it and have him drive be back home. One morning he power washed the underside of the engine and let dry. You see, whe have been fighting dripping pushrod tubes. We have a three point project list with a break job, finish gauge install, and try to get my pushrod tubes dryer.

We needed a one inch drive for the rear axle nut and socket, so we just decided to jump on the push rod tubes. We’ve been after these tubes a few time now, with the last one being sympathetic help from one of Brian’s buddies who tossed him some stash OG seals. Thinking that would do it, and it helped, but in the end still leaked. Now I think I’m pretty realistic about a small leak here and there (not like my brother who’s a total freak and prob has a piece of folded paper in his wallet within a pea sized dot on it to show his mechanic) especially on my vintage machines. A drop on my headers smells but it’s nothing to get super upset about, but I’ve learned that on a type 4 a bit of oil can track to the cooling fan and broadcast a mist all over the heads, which I don’t like.

Brian mentioned that he saw a tool on the homemade tool thread that spread out and trued up the ends of the tubes and so he reached out to the member whip618 and he shared the measurements, thanks! Then Brian made the tool at some point and has been ready for this session of maintenance.

Brian takes the lead on the disassembly of the rocker arms walking me through the process. What a big help. I’m is such debt to this guy. I can keep my eye on the ball mostly, but I didn’t really realize until I stuck my head in there that the O ring traveled with heat expansion inside a barrel in the head. Pretty neat. A little trick with a socket helps wiggle them out.

With the tool in a vice and a little grease, we get the tube placed and the new diameter is created. We measure a .006 to .008 increase.

They clean up with a quick wire wheel spin and new OG seals go back on the tubes.

We find the fit much more snug, but no incredible force needed to get then to seat back inside the housing holes. We’re pretty pleased so far and decide to forgo any additional sealants at this point hoping this rubber seal alone will do the job this time. The tubes are my original pieces with OG seals on aftermarket heads, so we’re thinking this is just the nudge they need to seal up, anyway, we’re pretty hopeful.

The rocker arms go back on and I get yet another rundown on the setting and adjustments for these, which never hurts if your me. I have to thank Brian, Brian’s friend for sharing the seals, and the member here who helped with the tool measurements. I really appreciate it and couldn’t do it without you guys.

We called it a night at this point as it was getting late-ish and we both had other things to attend to, so the other side should go faster now we’ve done it. I’ll report back if it did the trick or not.
_________________
1977 Sage Green Westy
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=691987
1965 SWR Walk-Through Standard
1960 211 Panel American Camper Conversion

[KentABQ]

Very nice!
I think someone should make and sell that pushrod tube tool. And sell me the first one!
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM

[RalphWiggam]

I believe you should have washers on either side of those solid rocker spacers.

[WildIdea]

Thanks for the comments notch, Kent, and Ralph

Last night we did the drivers side push rod tubes. It would have gone quicker accept it was my turn to get under the bus, which makes it go slower because I’m still green in this area, but what a great session and lessons. We usually start kinda late after our day jobs are buttoned up and family is settling so we don’t push it too late and try to squeak in a couple hours on the project, but it was 11pm when I jumped in my truck to head home. Stoked to get back into the bus routine after a momentum stalling winter season.

I picked up the proper socket extension for the rear wheel nut socket, so all set to disassemble the rears and get the drums out to get inspected and turned.
_________________
1977 Sage Green Westy
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=691987
1965 SWR Walk-Through Standard
1960 211 Panel American Camper Conversion

[WildIdea]

Quick update on the progress. The last few days were solid for bus work. Now that the Westy is at Brian’s, I was able to get after the splits front floor again and spread out in the area the Westy was occupying. The cargo area has been doing a bunch of parts storage this winter and it’s nice to haul it all out and display it on a table and remember what I have. On the splits front floor metal, I’m down to the final fitment and hole drilling on that before I paint the underside and burn it in. I feel that once that is done all the other parts I have prepped aught to bolt in pretty smoothly. Getting excited about that.

I was even lucky enough to get over to Brian’s shop last night and disassemble my breaks and have a look at what my situation is. Brian let me do most of it, which I appreciate, with his commentary. I said your just keeping my Bently clean cause I’m not paging through it with break grease on my hands. He was glad his hands weren’t in it! Nothing hung us up and they came off with some average effort and off the get resurfaced today. I picked up a few new seals at a supply house my brother works at, was nice to see him.

And although we’re totally thawed out around here we are expecting yet another whopper winter blast tonight and the next few days. I scrambled to get the seals in case the town shuts down and we can still get some work in on the Bay. Will be too cold to paint for another week or so at a min. I’m always stoked to make any progress.
_________________
1977 Sage Green Westy
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=691987
1965 SWR Walk-Through Standard
1960 211 Panel American Camper Conversion

[WildIdea]

We'll we had a another epic snow blast that landed us around 14 inches of snow as a system rolled in and just parked on us for 2 some days. No travel, no work, just hang out and do projects that naturally get put off and that desperately need it, stuff like closet organizing and cleaning but truthfully, a bunch of relaxing and movie watching until the dig out begins. I was able to really arrange my garages and get things in there sorted out and that always helps me enjoy them more and not feel like my shop sucks so much. Get back to being grateful for my space and look at its positives and that's easier if it's not all stacked up with overflow junk from months of winter. 60s and 70s forecasted and were looking ahead at some gorgeous weather, finally.

With the Westy at Brian's I'm taking advantage of the space and plugging away on some Split odds and ends. He's a busy guy and had asked to stand off on the brake job a min until he finished a final assembly on an engine until it's block was buttoned up, so no errant brake bits didn't land within. He must have late night crushed it because he asked if I could come over Sunday and do some on my rig. I try to never bug him about it but simply let him know I'm committed to the project as long as my bus is at his house, otherwise, I have plenty to do on my end. I know bugging a bro to hurry is never cool. I just thought, gee, I better clean up those dust covers before I go over there.

When we last met we had pulled the drums and rotors off and Brian had those cleaned up and I went after new bearing seals. I pulled the dust covers because they were a bit crusty and I just cant stand to work around loose crusty oil and dirt conglomerates. I like the feel of clean parts going together opposed to the dirty, rusty, sandy crunching. I'm sure you do too. This looks like a bit of wheel bearing grease mixed with road grime. I go with a basic hot water and Dawn mix and a light brush and slowly move to a blue soft touch scotch bright pad. As a point of method, when it comes to cleaning, I always start with the least invasive products, like basic water first, then move up from there. So far, I've learned that a coating of oil laced dirt on a VW part has like been protecting it and if I clean it, it ill rust overnight. Still, I appreciate a freshly sandblasted and re painted part too, but I always opt for an original paint piece even with blemishes, because the older paint seems to be more durable. Thats what goes through my head when I'm considering what to do with a parts finish.

Brian is like why did you bring a bumper? I was saying I realize my front bumper has been in my way and there is no reason I can't toss it back on the Split where it will be out of the way, accept there is a broken bolt in the drivers side slash mount. I had it drilled already and I knew he has some hardcore square easy outs. He was frowning about the prospects but we put some heat on it and it came out! Heck yeah! I said that's a good omen for the days session.

We decide to tackle the fronts and start degreasing and looking at the bearings. A few look pretty munched. Luckily, Brian has some new ones on hand and we press on.

He shows me this cool bearing packer and lets me have at it. I remembered gloves this time, thankfully, and we settle into a two man team consisting of a dirty guy and a clean guy. I stayed greasy and he touched the parts when they needed to stay clean. On my own I would have cross contaminated everything along the way for sure.

I learn how to replace races and install the seals and pack the grease.

Dust covers go back on and we slide the rotors on and bolt them up.

We think about stopping there for the day but press on a little more. I have my new soft lines on hand and we swap those out, bolt up brake calipers and insert the new pads. The first one kinda had me struggling until I figured out the sequence. Then the drivers side went on slick.

Thinking back, I always had brakes working on this bus and have gone after many many refreshes before this, which I know is out of order. Maybe next time I will start here. We had some crusty soft lines, a rough bearing and some minimal life on the pads. I'm glad to have some of these things finally looked at. Next up will be the rears, who knows whats lurking in those.

_________________
1977 Sage Green Westy
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=691987
1965 SWR Walk-Through Standard
1960 211 Panel American Camper Conversion