My texas '64 kombi - "Dee-Dee"

[zozo]

Scored this a few weeks ago for my Texas bus

[nomis]

Love those licence plate frames / plaques - will have to keep a look out for something similar when (if?) we next get to visit the states ....


Been getting on with work on the bus over the last few weeks, although winter weather and getting my bay window sold has slowed progress a bit.

A quick refurb / repaint of the steering wheel:

DSC_0236 by simon mace, on Flickr

I used the little pink blowtorch to heat up the hub - the wheel then came off without having to use a puller

Some sanding and epoxy filler took care of the worst cracks & chips, and a few coats of rustoleum white (and clear) brightens up the cab:

DSC_0236_1601409423222 by simon mace, on Flickr

I also made up a quick cover plate to hide the hacked dash hole:

DSC_0220_1601113598462 by simon mace, on Flickr

This big frito-lay sticker on the airbox is odd (but wierd I am keeping it):

DSC_0219_1601113599806 by simon mace, on Flickr

[nomis]

One of the cargo door panels was covered in random stickers (half of which were peeling off already), so i removed the rest:

_20201001_172118 by simon mace, on Flickr

And cut up an old copy of the idiot's guide to get my favourite peter aschwanden drawings:

_20201001_172101 by simon mace, on Flickr

Each drawing is pasted on, with a few coats of clear laquer over everything to seal.

I like it - and it will give "visitors" something to read

The other door has a collage of vintage surf images (that the previous owner did):

DSC_0236_1601911295077 by simon mace, on Flickr

Sorry about the dark images - need to install better lighting in the garage...

[vwuberalles]

Love the cargo doors, that's a cool idea!
_________________
1973 Superbeetle: 1st car, owned since age 12. Update thread --> https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9919140#9919140
1967 Kombi: Owned since age 17, Dad's retirement project.
1966 Beetle: My new project. (SOLD) Build thread--> https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=678040

[Thompson2]

[nomis]

Good to know - thanks!

It seems hard to believe that the bus spent most of its life on the roads of sunny texas as I drive it around green & leafy cornwall. Little reminders like that sticker help to tell its story

Unfortunatly I couldn't live with the shiny dove blue on one side and "distressed" mural on the other (plus I was not sure how waterproof the mural was...).

A quick rustoleum job has tidied things up, and weatherproofed that rust-free metal.
I am glad to have a garage to work in, but things are pretty tight:

DSC_0238 by simon mace, on Flickr

DSC_0237 by simon mace, on Flickr

[nomis]

The colour is "gemini blue" (nothing like the VW colour of the same name though).

I am really happy with the look:

DSC_0236_1602251798439 by simon mace, on Flickr

DSC_0236_1602176567509 by simon mace, on Flickr

Some autumn colours (this pic was taken on the road right outside our house )

received_1691396701020334 by simon mace, on Flickr

[nomis]

I finally got the engine swap video done - not too scientific, but it shows what a difference the bigger engine makes

https://youtu.be/Hbyo9m1QzIE


Link

[nomis]

Just realised how long it has been since I updated this (I feel a bit bad as I really enjoy reading everone else's threads...).

So;

More cleaning and polishing; really pleased to take the drivers rear corner back to original paint

Before:

DSC_0240_1604147544965 by simon mace, on Flickr

After:

DSC_0242_1604163193071 by simon mace, on Flickr

Unfortunatley, I can't do this all the way around the bus as large sections (passenger side rear corners and cargo doors) have been replaced

[nomis]

Had a new 3/4 length rack built by rackshack here in the UK - ordered it in extra low format in the hope that the bus would squeeze into the garage with it fitted.

I painted it ivory to match the top half of the bus, really pleased with the look, and (suprisingly) doesn't seem to have added any wind noise

The plan is to use it for transporting kayaks, and maybe to carry a modern roof box for camping trips.

DSC_0281 by simon mace, on Flickr

DSC_0273 by simon mace, on Flickr

It fits!
(Just - had to modify the door mechanism a bit to gain an extra inch. There is exactly 2m clearance under the door....)

DSC_0279_1612018802938 by simon mace, on Flickr

[nomis]

Rattle can repaint on the passenger rear quarter:

DSC_0254_1606075886374 by simon mace, on Flickr

It's rustoleum ivory - not perfect, but better that the flat white (primer?) that was on there before, and that was already showing surface rust....

A good waxing with collinite has helped to blend it all together.

[nomis]

Turns out the safaris were the older (glued) creative engineering type.

I found this out when one failed:

DSC_0278 by simon mace, on Flickr

Had them repaired (welded) by creative. Pretty good service, you dismantle the frames yourself and just post them the top halves - they weld on a new hinge and send them back (for a small fee). The whole process took about 3 weeks as they had some workshop access issues at the time.

DSC_0263_1613212862542 by simon mace, on Flickr

All fixed!

Now we are into spring, I have been doing a bit of open safari driving....

It's good fun, but I don't really like going above about 35mph with them open (had the tailgate fly open when I tried pushing it up to about 55 - instant wind tunnel!).

As most of the roads around me are a 60mph limit, I probably wont use them that much (although should be nice when camping). How fast do you guys drive with the safaris open?

[Mr Margaret Scratcher]

[SplitBusVanatic]

Great thread.
I’m a rustoleum fan myself.
It’s the way I roll.

[nomis]

[nomis]

Some other things:

Made some levelling ramps for camping:

2kUvfne]

[/url]DSC_0279_1616183212566 by simon mace, on Flickr

And have got the interior layout pretty much how I want it:

DSC_0249_1607286165611 by simon mace, on Flickr

I have built a storage box in the back to carry essential maintenance stuff:

DSC_0250 by simon mace, on Flickr

[nomis]

And carpeted:

DSC_0308_1619382540177 by simon mace, on Flickr

The box is multi-purpose; as well as carrying oil, a blanket, and a few other things, it also has a book / magazine rack, charging sockets (connected to the leisure battery in the engine compartment below), and it carries a re-purposed reversing light (which is now fitted with a red LED bulb, and wired in as a high level brake light);

DSC_0309 by simon mace, on Flickr

DSC_0262 by simon mace, on Flickr

[nomis]

Due to covid we haven't been able to do any camping trips yet this year, but the bus did get used for a family breakfast trip to a nearby lake.

I really like these pics - a bus doing what it was built for:

received_503432734222406 by simon mace, on Flickr

received_185376676735242 by simon mace, on Flickr

received_799595787658276 by simon mace, on Flickr

It also has to do some work sometimes (like carrying 200kg of garden topsoil):

DSC_0300 by simon mace, on Flickr

[Mr Margaret Scratcher]

[Two Glove Boxes]

Very cool best looking thing at a camp site!
_________________
1951 Split Standard Hoffman Build

1960 Dove Blue Double Cab Patina Build

Two Glove Boxes

DLK