SA Double-Bubble

[Turk.380]

Hey there. Long time Samba member, maybe my 1st time ever being in the bay window forum.

I been prowling for a Bay Window DCAB for years and the dream finally came true this past weekend, so I thought I'd do a little show-n-tell.

Months back, on the Facespace in one of the VW groups, I happened to see a post from a non-ACVW guy who had just bought and imported a late DCAB from South Africa. He mentioned that he usually only keeps cars that he buys around for a few months and then passes them on, so I posed the obligatory "wHeN yOuRe ReAdY sElL iT tO Me" post.. and much to my surprise he PM'ed me right away.
Over the next few months we stayed in touch.. calls and texts with help & advise while he sorted through some issues with the bus.

Then, about a month back, right around the time we'd also just bought a '70 Ghia coupe.. he says he's ready to move along already and interested in selling! YIKES!
uh, ok.. so luckily here I won the gorram lottery in the spouse department.. and a few weeks later this babydoll was rolling off a trailer at the shop!

It was about 150*F here in STL Mizzery yesterday, so I haven't gone over it in great detail yet, but we did go around the block a few times at least. Needs some tweaking and the gorram Beetle muffler with no pea shooters replaced with a bus exhaust.. but otherwise I'm pretty pleased. I'm SURE the shiny new paint is hiding some sins, especially around the windshield.. but our intent is to actually use it as a shop truck, and the price was extremely reasonable so I'm OK with any shenanigans I've seen so far.

Plus the spouse is absolutely enamored with it being RHD.. probably even more excited for this than the Ghia! so what more could you ask for?

Now, some pictures!

Build plate:

Things are getting pretty tight at das Bushaus... anyone want to buy a 1956 Studebaker 3/4 ton pickup??

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Brian W
St. Louis, MO
'64 SO-33 Hatch Top Westy | '74 RHD DoubleCab | '87 Syncro Westy: Subaru EZ30D powered | 2002 VW Winnebago Vista
'70 Karmann Ghia AutoStick coupe.

[busdaddy]

Cool!

What's the whitish colored knee basher box under the steering column for?
_________________
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Слава Україні!

[Turk.380]

[Shonandb]

[busdaddy]

[Shonandb]

[Turk.380]

[airschooled]

You'd be surprised how many places can stash a .38 Special, especially if you have a camper.
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[Wildthings]

It's for medical supplies for when you bash your knees

[dbldriver]

What a beauty! I've always thought it would be cool to graft a 3rd door from one of these onto my '68.
Congrats on your find.

[Turk.380]

speaking of 3rd doors.. There's no door seals at all on this bus and I'd like to rectify that. The front doors are readily available, but I haven't found anywhere listing a bay window dcab 3rd door seal.. much less a RHD one. It looks like it *might* just be plain square seal like a splitty, but I haven't seen another one to compare it to yet.

anyone got a lead?
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Brian W
St. Louis, MO
'64 SO-33 Hatch Top Westy | '74 RHD DoubleCab | '87 Syncro Westy: Subaru EZ30D powered | 2002 VW Winnebago Vista
'70 Karmann Ghia AutoStick coupe.

[ALLWAGONS]

That is a super cool double cab! I acquired a 1971 last November. My wife loved it. I think it’s super cool and get the job done. Anywhere from flowers and plants to lumber and concrete. As far as door seals, mine was decent on top, but the bottom was crappy. I had a spare passenger door and used the straight part on the bottom. Maybe you can use split bus cargo doors and trim to fit, as it is just a rectangle.

Martin
Allwagons
_________________
I'd be UNSTOPPABLE if not for Law Enforcement and PHYSICS.

I recycle old cars and parts, other than when I rot, that's as Green as I am going to get.

Thanks to my Tesla driving neighbors, I feel more relaxed driving my SUBURBAN and old VW's.

Everything sounds good on paper!

[Xevin]

[Turk.380]

Now that I've wrapped up work on the '70 Autostick Ghia we picked up earlier this summer, I can finally turn my attention to the DCAB

1st order of business was to jettison the Beetle exhaust and J-tubes. Everything came off easily, but now I'm starting to find all the bullshit.

early clutch adjuster - no bueno. installed a later wing-nut last night
fuel line routed through the frame and between the engine tin & bay.. double no bueno. I started last night on re-routing the fuel line and installing a new metal line from the pump to the front tin.. and holy hell why is this line so damned stiff..??? Then I see the stamping on the hose... "COMPRESSED AIR" holy hell man! So, now I guess I'm replacing all the "fuel line" back to the tank And I'm out of fuel line in the shop... uhhggg..

I removed the distributor for easier access to the fuel pump and clamps.. let's have a look at this oddball electronic ignition..
1st, the cap and rotor fit seems really sloppy.
Distributor code: S211006
anyone know about it? All I can say is that it kinda looks like the units on MexiBeetles.
and what's that little box connected to the dizzy & coil?

plug wires are not VW ... so that's on my list now too.

and lastly.. a parting shot of the engine case #

_________________
Brian W
St. Louis, MO
'64 SO-33 Hatch Top Westy | '74 RHD DoubleCab | '87 Syncro Westy: Subaru EZ30D powered | 2002 VW Winnebago Vista
'70 Karmann Ghia AutoStick coupe.

[Xevin]

Looks Vanagon style. Read this.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=790113
_________________
Keep on Busin'

[Turk.380]

[Xevin]

Probably right. Mexican style late type 1. See if this helps

https://en.hoffmann-speedster.com/distributor-tsz-h-mexico-beetle-8.87-7.92
_________________
Keep on Busin'

[Wildthings]

Your ignition just looks like the Hall ignition used on later VWAC engines and many other products. I would be concerned about the condition of the wiring harness for it because of all the tape as the tiny wires break easily. Numbers off the distributor would identify what you have. Your timing range is likely 28-32° BTDC at 3800+ rpms, hoses removed and plug during testing and adjustment. You might run the timing at the retarded end of the range during the summer and the more advanced end during the cooler months.

[aeromech]

I’m arriving late but do enjoy the firearm conversation. Here’s a story.

One of our good members that lives in Kentucky retired from his civil service job there and decided to drive his bus to California where I met him in person. Great guy.

So he parks across the street from my house and after some pleasantries we walked over to his camper. He’s sitting in the drivers seat. Then he tells me that driving through Colorado he stopped to visit his Dad. He gifted my friend several long guns and he told me they were stashed in a few places inside the bus. Once he realized that I’m also a gun guy he shows me “the judge” parked behind the drivers seat. The judge is total illegal in California and I told him to keep his mouth shut if he gets pulled over. Then he reaches down by the drivers left knee and comes up with another pistol. Guys, this was a bit over the top but very cool in my book but not something I do.

My friend left and as far as I know made it back to Kentucky without any incidents. Most of the USA think California is full of scary people. Sometimes for good reason.
_________________
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[NASkeet]