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hugheseum
Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2004
Posts: 2690
Location: oregon
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 Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 1:38 pm Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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i have a legit made in usa set of firestones i listed the other day.....funnt i was gonna put em on this 56 springframe but i think i can sell without mounting them....the original tires do not wear like the repop tires (soft)
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Clara 
Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2003
Posts: 12401
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| Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 1:43 pm Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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Installing the splitcase tranny which got the 1.26 1963 one ton boxes installed on it:
Installed all new fuel line, popped the engine back in last night, installed the 6.40 - 15 Firestones, and it drove great!! Whew!!!!
Very quiet, too.
Well, better finish packing!
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mandraks
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2004
Posts: 7050
Location: Lawrenceville, Ga
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| Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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congratulations. I like the whole split case, later RGB, bias ply thing
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regards
Uli
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'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue, looking for a narrow hatch panel |
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campingbox
Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2000
Posts: 10196
Location: Petaluma, CA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 5:07 pm Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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| mandraks wrote: |
| congratulations. I like the whole split case, later RGB, bias ply thing |
I wasn't confident everything would work out with the splitcase/big nut combination but it all went together fine.
I also changed the fuel line and safety wired the carb.
Loaded up and ready for Kelly Park.
Oregon coast.
Camping in the rain.
Siskiyou summit - 4310 feet.
That's all I took for KP travel photos, I suspect Clara may post up some more. |
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arthurnugen
Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2005
Posts: 3081
Location: The PNW, where "going green" means rolling with moss.
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| Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 5:20 pm Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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Fantastic! Love the road trip photos. 
Arthur
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| cdennisg wrote: |
| Lawyers don't deserve buses. |
| zozo wrote: |
| Don't worry too much. You can always trust a lawyer. |
ALWAYS WEAR STEEL-TOE BOOTS IN THE GARAGE!
1965 Bus (Riviera camper)
1972 Bug 'vert
1967 Bug sunroof
1961 Ghia 'vert
1957 DKW 3=6: 3 cylinder 2 stroke! |
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Alan Brase
Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2004
Posts: 4532
Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
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| Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 8:10 pm Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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| campingbox wrote: |
| mandraks wrote: |
| congratulations. I like the whole split case, later RGB, bias ply thing |
I wasn't confident everything would work out with the splitcase/big nut combination but it all went together fine.
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Maybe I misunderstand, but aren't 63 one ton RGB's SMALL nut? 1.26/1, but small nut?
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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 |
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campingbox
Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2000
Posts: 10196
Location: Petaluma, CA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 9:11 pm Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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| 69doublecab wrote: |
| campingbox wrote: |
| mandraks wrote: |
| congratulations. I like the whole split case, later RGB, bias ply thing |
I wasn't confident everything would work out with the splitcase/big nut combination but it all went together fine.
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Maybe I misunderstand, but aren't 63 one ton RGB's SMALL nut? 1.26/1, but small nut? |
Little big nut. I think big nut would be fine too. |
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EverettB
Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000
Posts: 69827
Location: Phoenix Metro
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| Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 9:36 pm Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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| 69doublecab wrote: |
| campingbox wrote: |
| mandraks wrote: |
| congratulations. I like the whole split case, later RGB, bias ply thing |
I wasn't confident everything would work out with the splitcase/big nut combination but it all went together fine.
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Maybe I misunderstand, but aren't 63 one ton RGB's SMALL nut? 1.26/1, but small nut? |
Yes, big nut type ratio in a small nut casing.
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How to Post Photos
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My wanted ads
"Water is the only drink for a wise man" | "Communication prevents complaints"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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campingbox
Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2000
Posts: 10196
Location: Petaluma, CA
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Mr. OGPaint
Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2010
Posts: 823
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 10:24 am Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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Ha, you beat me... I just came here to post those. Greg is always one step ahead!
Gorgeous bus Greg and Clara, and it works great too. Thanks for a great journey.
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Patrick Hall |
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lo-lo55
Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2004
Posts: 61
Location: christchurch New Zealand
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| Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2017 2:22 am Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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| Great trip you guys had, been following along on insta. Out of interest what is the mango running, said 'Porsche brakes and power'. |
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campingbox
Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2000
Posts: 10196
Location: Petaluma, CA
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| Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2017 3:35 am Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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| lo-lo55 wrote: |
| Great trip you guys had, been following along on insta. Out of interest what is the mango running, said 'Porsche brakes and power'. |
I think it's a fairly stock '61 356b motor with matching brakes all around.
It belongs to this user:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=10614 |
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cdennisg
Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004
Posts: 20278
Location: Sandpoint, ID
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| Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2017 9:30 pm Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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It may just be the best non-stock mango on the road today.
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joshbuchan
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2007
Posts: 712
Location: victoria bc canada
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| Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 6:45 pm Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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| cdennisg wrote: |
It may just be the best non-stock mango on the road today. |
I think I may have to agree with you on that one..... the bus is so killer in person  that beefcakebruno guy is pretty ok to hang with too 
This westy is dream bus material, love this bus!!
What an epic trip, bunch of class act people, loads of laughs had and great memories made....can't wait to roll with you guys again! I promise next time the Canadians won't have as many roadside repairs to do  |
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Clara
Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2003
Posts: 12401
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| Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 7:57 pm Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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On the way home... In orland Noticed a leaky valve cover gasket Dont have a spare asI left the packed spare parts box at home.  Stopped at AutoZone and gooped it.
BTW. I think I can see Mt Shasta. It must be 100 miles away. There are pink and orange clouds as the sun sets
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Clara
Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2003
Posts: 12401
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| Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 8:26 pm Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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Stopped a few miles down the road and checked the leak. Might be okay.
Installed the SMV magnet
I like Everett's quick links to make posting pics easier.
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Braukuche
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004
Posts: 11005
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| Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 8:29 am Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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Curious as to how the different RGBs affected your top cruising speed. When I had mine rebuilt I considered replacing my Center section with a pre A Porsche unit I had, but it was too far gone to use. Didn't even think of us g different RGBs 
My 36hp is stroked and dual carbed and wants to go faster than 60, but the stock split case gear box has other ideas...
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Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now |
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campingbox
Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2000
Posts: 10196
Location: Petaluma, CA
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| Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 6:38 pm Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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| Braukuche wrote: |
| Curious as to how the different RGBs affected your top cruising speed. |
The gear ratio on a '56 box is 1:1.40 and the ratio on the '63 boxes is 1:1.26. This should give a 10% increase in top speed. The bus runs down the road at 60 just fine.
I think if someone was prepared to install a threaded insert into the '63 1-ton outer box half and use a shorter brake wheel cylinder mounting bolt, you could install 100% of the '63 1-ton parts but leave the early inner box halves installed. |
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Clara
Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2003
Posts: 12401
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 2:58 pm Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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| Quote: |
| Curious as to how the different RGBs affected your top cruising speed. |
We did not switch this bus from 1.40 boxes to 1.26 boxes.
We never had 1.40 boxes on it, although that would have been on it when new.
If your current cruising speed is 60 mph, and you have 1.40 boxes here is your math if you switch to 1.26 boxes:
60 mph x 1.4 / 1.26 = 66.7mph
The engine will be at the same rpm at 66.7 mph with 1.26 boxes as it is at 60mph with 1.40 boxes.
The performance may well be different with higher gearing. If you feel the current motor can push it faster with joy, taller geared boxes might be a good way to go. You don't need the 63 one ton boxes, 64-67 one ton boxes will fit the same. (I like the 63 boxes cause if I have a hubcap off no one will know it has later boxes since it still has a 36mm axle nut. Also, the bus already had them.) Or you could use taller tires.
as a reminder:
1) Mileage 00000
As of 2006 we started driving this bus. We installed a used motor and new tires.
The PO had installed the trans from his 63 parts bus using a hoopty homemade front mount thingy that worked. The trans was good, so we kept it.
1600sp motor and 205/75-15 tires with a 63 one ton trans (4.37 r/p with 1.26 boxes and .82 4th).
This is close to the 63 one ton bus gearing/tire to engine ratio and worked great. 
2) Mileage 18780
October 2009 we installed new tires. 6.70 - 15s. These are taller than the previous tires.
now: 1600 sp with 6.70 - 15 tires with 63 one ton trans (4.37 r/p with 1.26 boxes and .82 4th)
This felt a bit tall for the engine. It was less peppy than with the previous tires, even a bit sluggish. It did not accelerate or pull hills as well. It was not an improvement in driveability. 
I think these tires would have been great if it had a stock trans for a 56 and a 1600.
The look on the tires was good.
3) Mileage 23433
May 2011 When the welding on the bus was done got the front mount hack fixed, and we installed a concept one adapter for the tunnel trans in a split case bus. This pushed the trans back some.
After some thousands of miles rear tire wear was noticeable. 
4) Mileage ~38,000
summer 2016
The rear tire wear was excessive and dangerous. 
The fronts had plenty of tread left. Greg swapped out the worst one for the spare on the Alaska trip last summer, but did not write down the mileage in the log.
5) Mileage 39473
April 2017 Measured the rear toe at over 5/16" off. No wonder the tires got messed up!
now: split case tranny with the same 63 one ton boxes
now: 6.40-15 Firestone tires
now: rear toe in spec
same 1600 sp with new 6.40 - 15 tires with splitcase trans and same 63 one ton boxes (31/7 or 4.43 r/p and .82 4th with 1.26 boxes)
This is similar to what we started driving it with, it's again similar to a 63 one ton bus gearing/tire to engine ratio.
This is an improvement over the previous trans combined with the tall tires.
6) Mileage 41480 as of yesterday
Now: rear tire wear looks like front, ie minimal
We did not drive faster or slower with the different combos, but the bus was somewhat different to drive depending on the combo.
from the March 55 owners manual:
You have to consider engine size, center section and RGB gearing and tire size all together as a complete set.
I find it works best if I keep that ratio similar to what VW did, or have the engine a little stronger than VW did. If the ratio is taller on the gearing/ tire side than VW would have paired with that engine size it feels like the engine is worn out and that's not as nice to drive.
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campingbox
Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2000
Posts: 10196
Location: Petaluma, CA
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| Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2017 3:30 pm Post subject: Re: New Bus- '56 Springframe Westy! |
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I finally got around to finishing all of the snaps, straps, and fasteners for the curtains and bed cushions for this bus.
The leather straps are all cut from the same hide in the correct weight, texture, and color. All of the pieces are die cut using measurements taken from original pieces.
Each of the tables has a strap to secure it up and a strap to secure the leg.
The subhatch prop also has a strap to secure it.
The two long tent poles hang just inside the rain gutter using two straps secured to the wall.
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