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sblu Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2019 Posts: 209 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Sun May 08, 2022 6:53 am Post subject: Re: eche_bus: 1976 Westfalia Deluxe Camper |
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JPSummers PM’ed you _________________ 1978 Westfalia Champagne Edition Project |
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JPSummers Samba Member

Joined: July 22, 2012 Posts: 62 Location: NE OHIO
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2022 7:06 pm Post subject: Re: eche_bus: 1976 Westfalia Deluxe Camper |
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REFRIGERATOR CONTROL PANELS
My apologies for not responding to anyone yet. I just now received notification from The Samba that anyone had replied to the thread.
I'd be happy to help out with restoring the refrigerator panels. I made a Screen Printing Screen to print them and I can do more. It's NOT perfect, but it's better than most that are scratched, faded and in poor condition. So it is what it is. Look at the photos I posted earlier in the thread.
Mine was literally a "Hot Mess", the P.O. set it on fire. It came out pretty ok.
PM me if you want yours done. You'll need to send the panel to me. I'll do what I can to restore it. I'd prefer to not do any wiring. I also don't have the Voltmeter for checking the battery. We'd need to use your existing one. I can get that to come clear again too.
So you'd need to send the panel, switches, knobs everything except the harness. I'll strip it, clean it, repaint it, reprint it and clean up the attached hardware as best I can. I have no idea what to charge but it took me a few hours over the course of a few days to do mine. Disassemble, Strip, Prime, Paint, Print, Clear Coat. Clean up the hardware, Etc. waiting for paint to dry and redoing anything that didn't work out the first time is time consuming. I'm guessing $100 each.
I hope this helps.[/b] _________________ 78 Westfalia Campmobile Deluxe
As long as I have my Bus, I have a home. |
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sblu Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2019 Posts: 209 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2022 4:00 pm Post subject: Re: eche_bus: 1976 Westfalia Deluxe Camper |
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need my fridge panel restored - anyone doing this? _________________ 1978 Westfalia Champagne Edition Project |
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tommu  Samba Member

Joined: November 15, 2011 Posts: 661 Location: L.A.
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Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2021 9:29 pm Post subject: Re: eche_bus: 1976 Westfalia Deluxe Camper |
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notchboy wrote: |
eche_bus has tapped out of the scene. He restored an absolutely amazing example of a bus, sold it and hasn't looked back AFAIK.
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Partially restored..  _________________
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Jetfxr69 Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2018 Posts: 1293 Location: White mtns nh
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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2021 1:38 pm Post subject: Re: eche_bus: 1976 Westfalia Deluxe Camper |
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JP _________________ You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. Zappa
‘77 westy Seamus
‘76 tintop Crusher
‘77 westy The Judge
‘72 tintop bastard westy Hudson |
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notchboy Samba Member

Joined: April 27, 2002 Posts: 22659 Location: Escondido CA
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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2021 6:30 am Post subject: Re: eche_bus: 1976 Westfalia Deluxe Camper |
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eche_bus has tapped out of the scene. He restored an absolutely amazing example of a bus, sold it and hasn't looked back AFAIK.
Or we talking about JPSummers offer to help?  _________________
t3kg wrote: |
OK, this thread is over. You win. |
Jason "notchboy" Weigel
1964 1500 S
1964 T34 S Convertible
1977 Westfalia Camper pop-top |
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Jetfxr69 Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2018 Posts: 1293 Location: White mtns nh
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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2021 6:10 am Post subject: Re: eche_bus: 1976 Westfalia Deluxe Camper |
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mr matt wrote: |
Just following up on this, been quite a long while..... |
same here. i got no response either _________________ You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. Zappa
‘77 westy Seamus
‘76 tintop Crusher
‘77 westy The Judge
‘72 tintop bastard westy Hudson |
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mr matt Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 971 Location: southeast Pa
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Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 5:35 pm Post subject: Re: eche_bus: 1976 Westfalia Deluxe Camper |
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Just following up on this, been quite a long while..... _________________ 1955 3-fold semaphore Oval beetle
1971 Convertible beetle
1977 Westfalia, FI, Berlin interior |
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mr matt Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 971 Location: southeast Pa
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2021 6:13 pm Post subject: Re: eche_bus: 1976 Westfalia Deluxe Camper |
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Absolutely would like to have mine redone also... _________________ 1955 3-fold semaphore Oval beetle
1971 Convertible beetle
1977 Westfalia, FI, Berlin interior |
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Jetfxr69 Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2018 Posts: 1293 Location: White mtns nh
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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 3:48 am Post subject: Re: eche_bus: 1976 Westfalia Deluxe Camper |
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JPSummers wrote: |
eche_bus wrote: |
To all:
Reading your outpouring of support, encouragement, and appreciation has been a emotional experience. Just ... wow ... thank you so much! Knowing I'd made such a positive difference by sharing this restoration work with you means a great deal, and takes quite a bit of the sting out of having to part with this bus.
I do encourage everyone reading this to continue to try to improve the quality of your VW restorations any way you can. Your continued enjoyment critically depends on the availability of parts, and demanding quality and striving to "do it once, do it right" is the only way that can improve.
Bye for now, but hope to "see you around"!  |
You've been a Great Help in restoring ours. Cherry Bomb's far from done but she's coming along. Your insight and sharing information on the Electrical Control Panel was very needed and extremely appreciated. I got the screen set so if others want their done, I can assist. It's not 100% Accurate, it's not 100% perfect but it's a damned sight better than the faded, chipped, burned condition it was in before. Godspeed, Best Wishes and may the journey be interesting.
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JP, that looks great! When you say you “got the screen set” what do you mean? Did you make a screen to print these like a screen for tshirts? Mine is a mess as well and I would love $$ to have it redone. Is it a big decal that goes on or would I send my panel to you. Be ready for an onslaught of requests for this nifty repair. Jay _________________ You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. Zappa
‘77 westy Seamus
‘76 tintop Crusher
‘77 westy The Judge
‘72 tintop bastard westy Hudson |
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JPSummers Samba Member

Joined: July 22, 2012 Posts: 62 Location: NE OHIO
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Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2021 10:08 pm Post subject: Re: eche_bus: 1976 Westfalia Deluxe Camper |
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eche_bus wrote: |
To all:
Reading your outpouring of support, encouragement, and appreciation has been a emotional experience. Just ... wow ... thank you so much! Knowing I'd made such a positive difference by sharing this restoration work with you means a great deal, and takes quite a bit of the sting out of having to part with this bus.
I do encourage everyone reading this to continue to try to improve the quality of your VW restorations any way you can. Your continued enjoyment critically depends on the availability of parts, and demanding quality and striving to "do it once, do it right" is the only way that can improve.
Bye for now, but hope to "see you around"!  |
You've been a Great Help in restoring ours. Cherry Bomb's far from done but she's coming along. Your insight and sharing information on the Electrical Control Panel was very needed and extremely appreciated. I got the screen set so if others want their done, I can assist. It's not 100% Accurate, it's not 100% perfect but it's a damned sight better than the faded, chipped, burned condition it was in before. Godspeed, Best Wishes and may the journey be interesting.
_________________ 78 Westfalia Campmobile Deluxe
As long as I have my Bus, I have a home. |
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poleksiej Samba Member
Joined: September 14, 2020 Posts: 2 Location: France
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Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 6:07 am Post subject: Re: eche_bus: 1976 Westfalia Deluxe Camper |
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eche_bus wrote: |
The End of the Road
This was a damn hard decision to make.
Thank you, Samba Community.
Jon E. - aka 'eche_bus'
P.S. 'eche' is my wife's initials |
As a New member of the VW and Westy world, I first would like to thank you for sharing all of your work with such a great quality presentation and explanation.
As a new owner of a 77 Berlin model, I feel more confident of going through repairs with the help of your posts. I can't even imagine how hard it might be to sell a so beautiful camper, and after so much work.
You, sir, have all my respect and admiration. |
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WarryBhite Samba Member

Joined: May 24, 2018 Posts: 21 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2020 12:21 am Post subject: |
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Filip_VW wrote: |
eche_bus wrote: |
On to the front seats.
Oh yeah, that missing driver side seatbelt latch cover - replaced. It makes it much easier to find the release without looking. |
Hey, we have just bought about the same bus as yours. It's a 1976 with more work on the outside! The latch cover of the driver side seatbelt is also missing. Where did you find a new one? (We are not situated in the VS.) |
Are you talking about this?
https://bus-ok.nl/T2-T3-scharnierkapje-rechts-874-792-251881478-01C |
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Filip_VW Samba Member

Joined: July 27, 2020 Posts: 1 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2020 11:43 pm Post subject: |
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eche_bus wrote: |
On to the front seats.
Oh yeah, that missing driver side seatbelt latch cover - replaced. It makes it much easier to find the release without looking. |
Hey, we have just bought about the same bus as yours. It's a 1976 with more work on the outside! The latch cover of the driver side seatbelt is also missing. Where did you find a new one? (We are not situated in the VS.) |
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vwwestyman Samba Member

Joined: April 24, 2004 Posts: 5824 Location: Wamego, Kansas, USA
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 5:33 am Post subject: Re: eche_bus: 1976 Westfalia Deluxe Camper |
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Hoody wrote: |
I think he is referring to making a hinge set available for Late Bays so that you can sit up in the rear bed section and stare out the back of the Bus through the rear hatch. |
Yes. I emailed syncrogreg about this the other day, and because my bus is a storage shed for my fiancee's stuff at the moment I sent him a link to a pic that had been posted in this thread of the latch to compare.
So I think we're going to try out a set and I will report back if it works on a Bay! _________________ Dave Cook
President, Wild Westerner Club
1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing |
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MorkC68 Samba Member

Joined: December 23, 2015 Posts: 621 Location: Nottingham, England
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 11:28 pm Post subject: Re: eche_bus: 1976 Westfalia Deluxe Camper |
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What a brilliant & inspiring thread, wonderful reference source too.
Thank you 😊 _________________ Major; 1977 Westfalia Campmobile
- Subaru EJ20
- Koni Classic adjustable dampers & Empi Heavy Duty Anti Roll Bar
- 180W Solar System
www.markcheluphotography.com
My photography work : https://lencilcreations.picfair.com/ |
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Hoody Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2007 Posts: 1948
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 11:07 pm Post subject: Re: eche_bus: 1976 Westfalia Deluxe Camper |
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I think he is referring to making a hinge set available for Late Bays so that you can sit up in the rear bed section and stare out the back of the Bus through the rear hatch. |
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tommu  Samba Member

Joined: November 15, 2011 Posts: 661 Location: L.A.
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 8:04 pm Post subject: Re: eche_bus: 1976 Westfalia Deluxe Camper |
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What kit are you referring to? I had a look and couldn’t see anything specific to Bays.. _________________
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syncrogreg Samba Member

Joined: November 08, 2009 Posts: 743 Location: USA (Nashville TN)
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stevespeirs Samba Member

Joined: June 10, 2008 Posts: 310 Location: Virginia Beach, VA
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 11:26 am Post subject: Re: Sliding Door Interior Overhaul Part III |
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eche_bus wrote: |
Sliding Door Interior Overhaul Part III - insulation, reassembly, adjustment, and done!
Bentley's Sin of Omission
Have your attention? I hope so.
I'd now reached the point where the Remote Lock's adjustment procedure could be performed, starting with sticking an appropriate sized tool into a small opening in the Center Lock. Seemed easy enough, according to what I read in the Big Green Book.
Trouble is, the procedure documented there is nothing like what you need to actually do to make this adjustment on a late bay. Although it has a separate late bay section for this, it's not correct for at least 1976 and beyond. As (barely) described, it simply won't work.
Think otherwise? Go ahead, try sticking a small tool in the hole following those instructions. Goes right in the outer hole, but doesn't actually engage anything inside, so what's the point!?! Try it door open, try it closed. How ya doin'? Frustrated yet?
Here's how to actually do it (and how I figured it out):
To remove tension from the Center Lock mechanism, I disengaged the Remote Control Lock adjuster, and the coil spring (never shown or referred to in the Bentley anyway). Now I tried closing the Center Lock's latch to see if that made a difference. It felt different now, like I could actually move the arm enough to make a difference. Still, couldn't actually see or feel anything inside move into position!
It was only once I pulled up on the arm, levering it to compress the rubber stop inside, that the small hole in the lever inside could be moved into position, allowing the alignment tool to engage and hold it there.
Simply - the latch needs to be closed (like when the door is shut) and the arm levered upward fairly hard in order for you to insert an alignment tool into the inside hole. This, or a simpler version of it really needs to be posted somewhere! Here is what it looks like in practice.
In five minutes, the door was adjusted and the coil spring returned to normal operation. |
Brilliant! Thanks for posting about the mysterious hole on the center lock. I must have read the Bentley instructions several times, but couldn't figure out the hole location. It's easy now - latch closed, arm levered upwards and there's the hole.
Now for the adjustment part - is it as simple as undoing the locknut, then tightening/loosening the cable adjusting nut? At the moment I need to lower the outside handle almost through 90° to open the door. Bentley states at least 40mm, but no more than 50mm. I have a ways to go to get back to 50mm.
Love this thread - so much great info and attention to detail. _________________ 1979 Microbus |
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