The 447th 1972 bus, A Sierra Yellow Westfalia Tin top build

[Ceckert64]

Hello all! I finally got my first bus So, a little back story, I got my first VW 5 years ago when I was 11, it was a 64 sunroof bug painted like Herbie, it was a complete Lemon, I worked on it with my dad. We got it running within the first day, but it was completely gone. There was fiberglass over the floors, bondo everywhere, long story short, I had to replace all of the lower 8 inches of the body, and it’s ending as a full Resto, almost done. One day at the junkyard getting parts for my bug, a rain storm hit and I ran into a bug but it was leaking horribly, so then I ran into a bus a went in the pop top, and I just thought that it was so cool. I had thought a split window would be cool before that but realized that they aren’t as great for use. I started researching bus more and lurking in these forums and I decided I wanted to get a Westfalia bus. Then this December, I bought a 70 Squareback that I was going to flip to get some more money to put towards a bus, but I fell in love with it, all original and lots of documentation, and a great car and I don’t have much into it (less than I paid for the bus ). So, I’m a bit of a newb to busses but have done tons of research, so bare with me on a few things

When I first started looking, I thought I wanted to have a 71 earlier since it had the older styling and had at first avoided the 72 as all the one year only parts scared me off from them at first. But I wanted disc brakes and the T4 engine and was in the mind set of doing that. But I realized I really wanted a 72+ as the styling on the later ones still looks pretty good and more they are more practical. I wanted a solid start, no rust turds again! I ideally wanted a 76+ interior with the stove fridge, all those fun things, so I figured the bus in my price range would not have an interior so I decided to snag one from the junk yard, I started a thread on it I also wanted a pop top but in my area they seemed to be rotted to nothing in my price range or very expensive projects, and just hard to find. I decided I would look more for tin top Westys and passenger busses in my search since there isn’t as much of a premium for them and possibly add a Sportsmobile top.

I had found a bus I almost got, a 75, but the title situation was sketchy and it fell through. I had seen this bus here on The Samba and it was intriguing. I had at first passed over it since it didn’t have an engine, but I thought about it more. I was able to get it for $2200, which I feel is a good price for a pretty solid bus, it has new brakes, new brake lines, new wiring harness, new tires, new windshield, new battery trays, bumpers, complete interior, and most all the parts except the engine. I put a deposit on it a few weeks back on it since I decided I was going to go for it. I had my uncle check it out that literally live 3 minutes away first.

Fast forward to yesterday, me and my dad get the uhaul and head from Midland to Indianapolis! All 5+ hours. Special thanks to my dad for going with me to get it and driving there and back and letting me get it! I bought the bus from a Samba Member Rustynugs. The bus was in Wisconsin and his friend flys planes and spotted this field of VWs. Eventually they went and knocked on the door and asked if the cars were for sale. He has gotten a few from there, this one was inside a barn. He started work on it but decided to sell one of his projects, he’s a very nice guy, he got all the parts packed in the bus for me when I got there.

I think the bus may have spent some time in the UP (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) as I found a tag on the key chain from a bar up there and there is a ton of red clay/sand stuck on the frame rails and there is some red clay in that area. The odometer read 92k miles, I belive that’s original and it was mostly a summer cruiser.

The bus is in really good shape, it’s the original color, it’s had one respray. It needs a few things though. I needs some rust repair in the front floor, and some of the front ducts. It looks like water got in the fresh air vent, rusted through that and then the floor The left rear corner needs a few spots fixed too. There are a few misc pin holes. The under coat chipped off in the wheel wells and all beautiful Sierra yellow paint

Okay, enough blabbering, picture time!

Some of the interior. The Ac unit under the buddy seat, is that dealer installed? I have only seen one picture of one and the manual for it.

Some type of toy gun in the head banger.

I have found a ~73 D-jet 411/412 motor at the junk yard, I know there are a few differences in cooling tin and did the 411/412 have domed, flat, or dished pistons. The dished pistons help keep head temps down, correct? I’m thinking maybe do FI vs the OG dual carb set up. I wouldn’t build anything extreme, I would keep the internals stock, probably 1800cc solid lifters.
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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop
1977 Peugeot 103 Variated Moped

[calvinater]

Wow you are going whole hog, type1,type3,and now type 2.
And you are not out of high-school yet.
What kind of job do you do to earn all that money?

Good luck and have fun!
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"Albatross"!

[Ceckert64]

Here are some pictures from the morning, the one really bad pic is the bus and a Carvana car vending machine in the background, the other is the nesquick bunny

I decoded the M-plate. It seems to be a very early 72, started production on it in July. What is “USA, East reserve” for destination?

More pics

It’s been raining all morning, we are roaming the bus backwards since there is no windshield installed. A lot of the car was blasted, where the primer is, and some of it’s formed rust. Some of the engine compartment was bare metal and has rusted since yesterday due to rain. I brought spray paint but forgot to put some on the bare metal

It will probably be a few weeks or month before I start working on it, as I have other projects to finish. Once I get home today I will probably clean and inventory everything.
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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop
1977 Peugeot 103 Variated Moped

[Ceckert64]

[RalphWiggam]

Looks like a good starting point. Have fun during the process.

I'd think you could turn that into a driver for around 8k if you don't care about looks.

If you do care how it looks, you better start being REAL nice to your parents.

My dad bought my bus when I was 4. I learned everything I know by watching and helping him work on it.

Closing in on 300k miles now and still running the matching engine to the bus.

Have fun working with your dad on it. I can guarantee you will look back on those times fondly one day.

[mikewire]

Really cool! 1972 is a unique year for sure. Mine was built in 10/71 so it's very close production date to yours.

Start looking for the rear bumper and bracket/supports, they are one year only. And if you decide to go FI, it's not an easy conversion, but it can be done. Ask me how I know.
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-Mike

@countdowngarage
@bigskyeuro

1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC swap
1965 VW Beetle Deluxe Bahama Blue

[wagohn]

[Ceckert64]

[wagohn]

[alman72]

is the keychain/bottle opener from The Gay Bar?
Glad you got her here with no problems.

[Ceckert64]

[Ceckert64]

What a day! I went to the junk yard and scored big time, I had gone out to look for the complete engine from the 412, all the way in the the very back corner was the bus it was in. I looked in the back and I saw a little grill cover and I thought, is there actually a gas heater back there, well, I throw open the engine hatch and the sits a complete BN4 gas heater and all the parts! I about had a heart attack out of excitement I have been wanted one if I got a bus and didn’t expect to find one, but it’s amazing. I got my stub axel, gas door, skid plate ( though I think it’s later), fresh air vent pieces, sink vent cover, water tank fill pipe and cap, a computer for my Squareback (can you have to many? ), a few other parts, and the accelerator pedal, wow, was it hard to find a decent one and bracket, most all of them were rotted out.

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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop
1977 Peugeot 103 Variated Moped

[busdaddy]

Well done!, I don't see the temp control cable for the heater, out of photo?
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!

[alman72]

how were the hornets? nice score! i saw that heater before, but my ride is a summer queen. a little fall too, but no need for a heater.

[notchboy]

Sweet score on the BN4

I know the feeling. Plans for it? Restore and run it? You know 1972 was the first year they ran this later type. Perfect for your bus.
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[Ceckert64]

[orwell84]

Finding a complete BN4 heater with all the accessories ranks among my best junk yard scores ever, especially when I found the switch with the timer that goes on the dash. It was an absolute game changer for making my bus comfortable and extending my driving season much longer than before. Once I understood how they worked, I found it easy to maintain and service. There are newer heaters available but the BN4 installed as the factory did is probably the cleanest and most efficient use of space even today.

I envy you for being able to have access to a junkyard with bus parts. Treasure hunting in junkyards is long gone where I live, at least for aircooled VW.

[Tbob]

I have one of those jump seat a/c units also. I took I out of a battered 72 Westy that I bought in Gurnee, Il, in 1985. The A/c unit only fits the Westys with that jump seat, but I am pretty sure only for the ones with the higher backed jump seat(72-73 only?). I liked it because it solves the problem of under dash access with a/c. But I think it is an inefficient use of space under the, and I think the ducting could be optimized. I have yet to complete the install of a/c in my 73, but there is a sticky here about doing so that is a must read(I think it is by Bala, and called something like" Installing DPD air conditioner in bay window bus".
All a/c s for that period were aftermarket, and there was some sort of tie in with VWOA and at least one a/c manufacturer, the afore mentioned DPD. In later years, and before factory air in about 1986 they had some sort of assembly line in fort worth where VWOA would ship the vans to have a/c added, so it was a semi factory air. Your van was much to early for that, and so it was probably dealer converted using the VWOA kit including that jump seat evaporator unit.
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1969 Deluxe, owned since 1973
1973 Westfalia, owned since 1983
1980 Westfalia, watercooled conversion
1985 Westfalia, stock!
1986 Westfakia, Audi I-4 conversion
A couple of trucks and a couple of Jeeps

[Ceckert64]

[Ceckert64]

Here are pics of the junk yard, all the car in the distance are newer. I took the pictures from on top of a dune buggy on top of a 412. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=2039138 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=2039137

I realize that I don’t have many photos of the actual bus, so here you go

I put in the bug net and childs cot from the junkyard

The interior

The frame is super clean, the scaly red stuff is actually clay, clean behind it. This was from when it was on the U haul still.

Then the tooted front floor, rusted from the inside out. And the fiberglass used in the “repair”

_________________
1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop
1977 Peugeot 103 Variated Moped