Wild Westerner Club

[Clementine79]

Local shop is remaking Expo 74 stickers!
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1979 VW BUS
Riviera Penthouse Model

[Bill Sullivan]

We are on the countdown to Spokane May 1, 2023.
While the virus continues to disrupt social life this is a good time to get your Wild Westerners ready to go.
For you turtle top owners I have a couple of sets of Whelen Sirens and Light bars that would work for great an Ambulance or beach patrol . A regular cab Wild Westerner would work for a Police Car and the Wild Westerner still at Lake Eliisor salvage yard would be great as a Firetruck.

The Green Wave is Coming !

This will be a great time to meet the owners and contributors that helped save the Wild Westerners. So don't moss this event.

All Wild Westerner owners blow your horns at Midnight...

Happy New Year to all

Peace Out.
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VW Its a family thing !!!

2002 Snap Orange Turbo Beetle (Daughter)
1973 Wild Westerner (Son) Vin #2232203230... Production Date Monday May 14, 1973 *** Destination Portland, Or.

Card Carrying Member of the International Wild Westerner Club
America (65) - Austria (1) -Canada (1)- Denmark (1) - France (1)- Germany (5) - Mexico (4) - The Netherlands (2) Portugal (1) - United Kingdom (3)

[VWRESTOMODMAN]

Hey Guys, Well I worked on the roof the past couple days and have managed to get some good progress. As much as I hated to have to cut the upper portion of the rear window frame in the end there was no way around it. The structure in that area was damaged to the extent I could not repair it. There is a Double Box section that makes up that upper frame, and all of the metal in that area was compressed flat/crushed.

I performed two pulls on the frame section before I sectioned it out to get the window frame lined up as close as could. I actually cut two slices in the roof skin just above that damaged area to allow the metal to move as the roof skin was under so much tension the frame would just spring back after trying to straighten in. I then sectioned out the bad metal and then performed one final pull on both sections to get them lined up and true.

Over the next week or so I plan to clean up the rough cuts I made on the roof skin and layout the cut lines on the donor roof and then cut that skin and fit it onto the Westener.

More to follow, but so far so good, I think it's going to come out good when finished. I've also been taking video and once I get the roof done I'll edit and post it on youtube for those who want to see the transformation.

[Alan Brase]

[VWRESTOMODMAN]

Hi Alan, I used my portable lift to make the pulls. I rigged it up such that I held the bus down strapping it to the base of the lift. Then I used a tow strap and ratchet to make the pulls upward and ourward, which was the direction I needed to move the metal.

Moving the window frame was easy, but as I stated I had to cut/slice the roof skin as it kept pulling the window frame back where it was, I was really surprised at how much that skin was affecting the spring back of the frame. I suppose I could have pulled the frame farther to compensate for the spring back but didn't want to take a chance on over pulling it, so I just cut the skin to allow the metal to move easier. Since I had to replace the entire rear roof skin section up to the mid point it didn't really matter if I cut the roof skin, so that's what I did.

Hope this helps you with your repair plans. For me using my lift was the easiest solution as apposed of fabricating some special fixturing.

[Alan Brase]

I repaired some front end collision damage to a front engine US car a few years back. Did some rigging on that one and used a cheap harbor Freight battery powered Winch to pull the front radiator support straight enough to make stuff fit. Family friend, no insurance, got the car on the road for another 4 years for $1000. That cable winch with push button remote actually worked quite well.
NOT NEARLY TO MY STANDARDS FOR VINTAGE PORSCHE OR VW WORK!
I really relish straightening stuff. I try to get it to metal finished quality. Just practising to build skill to do the 67 Porsche Targa.
I really need to find a Celette factory bench to get the Porsche straight. Old US built Blackhawk is the same as Celette, I hear.
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Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home

[vwwestyman]

After my 2002 Golf was rear-ended a few years ago, I hooked a chain to the rear valance where the hatch latched, and hooked the other end of the chain to the hitch on my 4-Runner and gave it a few yanks.

Before that, my dad had an accident in his Ford Escort Wagon. Hooked some straps to the radiator support, wrapped them around a telephone pole and threw it in reverse a couple times.

Hope these tips help others!!


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Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing

[VWRESTOMODMAN]

Well I tell ya, what ever works, tree's, winches, straps, poles, other cars yanking etc., if it gets the job done then its all good. Investing in a professional style bench is always the way to go, but to justify the expense (and the space it takes up) you have to more less commit to doing chassis work for some time to recover the costs of the bench and all the tooling to go with it.

I too enjoy working with metal, it's an art, but you have to move it slow and be strategic in where and how you move it or you can make things worse. I've done a lot of metal straightening on Porsche's over the years, and including some of the newer aluminum stuff, hate the aluminum, much rather move steel.

I recently bought a Vanagon and the driver side rear wheel arch was pushed flat against the rear quarter panel, in fact it was actually rolled inward a bit. I just finished repairing that over the past couple days, I got it back 95% to orginal, but it took 3-4 hours of slowly moving the metal to avoid tearing and cracking due to the contours.

Anyway, this roof is a bit of a challenge but I'm really glad I have started the project. This bus has been under the cover for a little over six years, so it was time to pull it out and get on it.

I'd like to see your progress Alan as you start working your project, I'm sure you will nail it, it's such a statisfying feeling when you step back and see the end product. I'm hoping to be able to do that myself with this roof in a couple more weeks.

Take care guys, have a good weekend!

[VWRESTOMODMAN]

Well guys it's been a crazy couple of weeks, but the roof is 90% repaired, just have to finish up the welds along the periphery. This turned out to be an adventure for sure, but one I would gladly do again to save one of these rare buses.

Now pulling some of the dents on the body, which is in remarkably pretty good condition considering it was left for dead and had a Bettle sitting on the roof. After I pull dents and finish the welding it's off to the sand blaster to remove everything down below, engine compartment, and up to the drip rail.

I did take a fair amount of video but some I just couldn't do only having two hands and the bus being up pretty high in the air while working on it. I'll edit it up when I get time and post it.

I think the worst is now behind me, and as I always say while I'm working on my projects,

It's All Down Hill From Here!

[Bill Sullivan]

Incredible !

Standing in my shoes it is awesome to see the amount of work you are willing to do to save yet another Wild Westerner,

You sir are a true master rebuilder. and again we blessed that you have taking a liking to the Wild Westerner.

I would never have attempted what you are doing, I would have looked at beefing up the rear suspension and dropping a hot tub thru the roof.

Thanks again for sharing your rebuild, I believe you can hear a heartbeat now coming from your Wild Westerner,

You are a True Inspiration.

Thank you Sir.
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VW Its a family thing !!!

2002 Snap Orange Turbo Beetle (Daughter)
1973 Wild Westerner (Son) Vin #2232203230... Production Date Monday May 14, 1973 *** Destination Portland, Or.

Card Carrying Member of the International Wild Westerner Club
America (65) - Austria (1) -Canada (1)- Denmark (1) - France (1)- Germany (5) - Mexico (4) - The Netherlands (2) Portugal (1) - United Kingdom (3)

[VWRESTOMODMAN]

Thanks Bill, apricate the kudos. Ya, a hot tube would have been an easy install with that big hole in the roof, I'm thinking a four person hot tube easy!

I like a good challenge and this project delivered, I think that's why I ended up buying thing when I found it, and after all it is a Wild Westerner which was a no brainer, it just needed to be saved.

Over the next several months it will slowly come together in between my other projects. It will get a good fresh coating of Epoxy Sealer on the bare metal when it comes back from sand blasting in a couple weeks. Then the task of body work and paint prep will be the focus. I'll keep posting photos as it moves along in the process.

[VWRESTOMODMAN]

Well it's pretty much down to the bare bones now, so time to load it up and take it to sand blasting next week. Cleaned up pretty well, just a couple small rust areas to deal with, driver side floor pan, battery tray, and right rear body panel near the engine bay junction, all easy fixes.

When it comes back from powder coat I'll address those rust areas, then spray all the bare metal with a coat of epoxy sealer. Next phase will be to fine tune the body, fix the bent drip rail at the rear, and then just work on getting the body ready for paint, which is several weeks of pure elbow grease with sanding blocks etc.

Thats it for now folks!

[jtauxe]

Are you doing the undercarriage, too?
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John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD

[VWRESTOMODMAN]

Hi, I'll be doing a partial sand blast on the underside. The forward cab section back to the wheel wells, and rear section up to the torsion bar/transmission mount cross tube. I'm leaving the center section as all the original undercoating is still good in that area.

I'll respray the original color in the sand blasted areas underneath, followed by a fresh coat of black undercoating in the wheel wells. I actually use spray in bed liner material, it's way better than single stage air dry undercoat.

[Dzrice]

Hi! I just bought 2232206718. How do I get on the registry, and how can I score one of the club stickers?

She turned 80k miles on the 400 mile drive home. My wife has wanted a bus forever, so I tracked one down for her. Turns out I’m loving it as well (I’ve always been a muscle car guy myself). This will be a fun project!

I’m located in eastern Montana, USA.

[Bill Sullivan]

Fantastic... A New Find!
You must tell us where you found it !
Slide the drivers seat forward and take a picture of the metal plate that is riveted to the short metal wall. It is about the size of a credit card and has all the vital information we need to register it. Then post the picture here. Then Mr. President will send you a Private Message to get your address for the decals.

Looks to be in excellent condition.
Congratulations
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VW Its a family thing !!!

2002 Snap Orange Turbo Beetle (Daughter)
1973 Wild Westerner (Son) Vin #2232203230... Production Date Monday May 14, 1973 *** Destination Portland, Or.

Card Carrying Member of the International Wild Westerner Club
America (65) - Austria (1) -Canada (1)- Denmark (1) - France (1)- Germany (5) - Mexico (4) - The Netherlands (2) Portugal (1) - United Kingdom (3)

[Dzrice]

Bill - here is the info plate!

[Dzrice]

Bill - I’m too new on the forum to email or PM you. My email is [email protected] if you can drop me an email. Thanks!

[Dzrice]

Details on my bus:

I bought the bus which was posted a few pages back, that was on eBay. It was in Great Falls, MT. The bus was purchased new in Great Falls. There is an Air Force base there. A pilot owned the bus, and stored it at his hangar in Polson MT on Flathead Lake, where he had a lake house. The bus was used to run around the lake area when the family flew in from Great Falls. The bus ended up sitting for some years, and it was sold to a family friend who fixed it up and got it back on the road. That is who we bought it from. It’s mostly original, has had some paint repairs here and there. It has plenty of dings and chips in the paint, but is in great shape overall. It turned 80k miles when I drove it home. Interior is a bit tired, so I ordered upholstery, seat belts, and carpet for it. I need to find a middle seat, as ours is missing. It has a single carb, recently installed - I’m told I need to go back to dual carbs. Stereo is disconnected, so I’ll work on that. And my blinkers quit working out of the blue - I need to trouble shoot it. Heater hoses are not present, and I need to decide if we want to hook them back up or not. Should be a fun project.

[airschooled]

Congrats on the new bus!

Obligatory post: closely inspect your fuel lines and replace any that don't seem to be new. Check the brake fluid level. Don't over-tighten the oil $trainer bolt.

Welcome to TheSamba, glad we haven't scared you away yet.
Robbie
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