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vws-microcars4jim Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2005 Posts: 337 Location: Chicago
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Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 11:02 pm Post subject: 58 Westy Restoration |
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I'd value your opinion of this rust-belt bus. I picked it up for a grand (circa 1993) and drove it for a few years, but eventually deemed it too dangerous to drive. Its been parked in the garage since, like so many large-scale projects you have likely seen. Well, I'm trying to get something going. I've got a birth certificate coming which hopefully clears up what this bus is or isn't. Whatever the case, my main question is how much green should I expect to sink into the funky green needed to repair this once-green bus?
P.S. For all you lind dudes out there I'm going for stock, not interested in lowering or any modifications that would cause the purist's woody to go flaccid. I will admit to driving this bus with red shag carpeting, 13" front wheels and a Kraco tape deck when I was younger (PO's mods). NOT going back to that...
My list of metal, add / correct as you see fit:
lower nose/entire nose?
inner nose/bumper support
front floor
dash (or fix what's there?)
A-pillars? (where front doors mount)
dog legs (inner/outer), left and right.
B-pillars left and right
front seat mounts?
bulkhead
cargo floor (whole or sections?)
cargo door bottoms (1 or 2)
outriggers
jack points
short side rocker panel
short side rocker panel support
long side rocker panel
long side rocker panel support
rear apron
rear corners
engine lid
pop-out window openings (2-3)
front and rear (pressed?) bumpers, rear mounts
Thanks to EB for this venue and all TS members' restoration photos (stall 20 / npbusguy / robert davis, etc.), for the inspiration to get off my ass and do something with this!
Jim |
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sventinker Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2009 Posts: 1481 Location: the sandbox
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Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 11:18 pm Post subject: |
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Whatever you spend it is worth it . Nice bus! _________________ April 3rd 62 standard mgr/pw
374 North American equipment
Includes 6 popouts
025 Safety belts
195 Adjustable bench seat/backrest (until 1963)
dawerks wrote: |
Perfection only comes with delusion. |
http://www.oacdp.org/ |
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Nor_AL_67 Samba Member
Joined: December 18, 2007 Posts: 663 Location: Huntsville,Alabama
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Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 11:30 pm Post subject: |
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I'd estimate at least $1500 probably more. Rather than purchasing all the Gerson parts at once, buy a corner and try fixing it, then go to another piece. It took me over a year with a similarly rusted bus; that was my strategy. _________________ 63 Sedan
61 Rag
67 Type 1 Sedan
63 Type 2 Standard Walk-thru
69 Ghia
68 912
Amateur Versus Rusty Bus! |
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danxthexman Samba Member
Joined: September 18, 2007 Posts: 254 Location: Las Vegas, NV
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 12:03 am Post subject: |
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Once you get those jackpoints and outriggers off you will likely notice that you will have to replace sections of your top-hats as well. But I agree with Nor-all. I dont know you skill level, but dont overwhelm yourself
Kick-ass bus by the way! 58 PGSG just like mine. |
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williamblanda Don't Disgrace The Eddy!
Joined: September 09, 2008 Posts: 1380 Location: Buffalo, NY
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 6:20 am Post subject: |
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Oh my god, easy off candidate! |
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npbusguy Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2006 Posts: 1658 Location: Budapest, Hungary
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 6:57 am Post subject: |
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It looks good from the pix but an up close personal visit would be better. I am also West of Chicago so PM me if you are interested in a visit.
Neil |
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DanM Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2002 Posts: 1330 Location: Falls Church, VA
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 8:20 am Post subject: |
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This bus should have the '58 interior, not the so-23 kit. You even have the exhaust vent in the roof for the propane fridge (that's stock, not a hack so DON'T "FIX" IT!). I say sell the so-23 kit (it looks very nice!) to fund the body restoration, and start looking for the right camper kit once the body is solid.
Your bus should look like this: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=812384 _________________ drive it. break it. fix it. repeat. |
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Vintage Auto Werks1 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2002 Posts: 453
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 8:34 am Post subject: |
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so-23 wrote: |
This bus should have the '58 interior, not the so-23 kit. You even have the exhaust vent in the roof for the propane fridge (that's stock, not a hack so DON'T "FIX" IT!). I say sell the so-23 kit (it looks very nice!) to fund the body restoration, and start looking for the right camper kit once the body is solid.
Your bus should look like this: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=812384 |
I personally think it would be best to NOT sell off the interior that is in it to fund the project. With that interior he can at least enjoy the bus and if he finds a correct interior at a later date he could then make the choice. |
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Braukuche Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004 Posts: 10998
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 8:35 am Post subject: |
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williamblanda wrote: |
Oh my god, easy off candidate! |
I thought that too, but that one close up shop of the B pillar what's with that really uneven paint line? |
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Clara Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2003 Posts: 12399
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 8:43 am Post subject: |
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Vintage Auto Werks1 wrote: |
so-23 wrote: |
This bus should have the '58 interior, not the so-23 kit. You even have the exhaust vent in the roof for the propane fridge (that's stock, not a hack so DON'T "FIX" IT!). I say sell the so-23 kit (it looks very nice!) to fund the body restoration, and start looking for the right camper kit once the body is solid.
Your bus should look like this: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=812384 |
I personally think it would be best to NOT sell off the interior that is in it to fund the project. With that interior he can at least enjoy the bus and if he finds a correct interior at a later date he could then make the choice. |
x2
Actually I was wondering if it was a 58. What is the VIN? does it have an m-code plate? _________________ The Obsolete Air-Cooled Documentation Project http://oacdp.org/ |
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vws-microcars4jim Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2005 Posts: 337 Location: Chicago
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 8:43 am Post subject: |
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^^^I think that it was hit and repaired in the RF earlier than the real hackage occured. The pass. door is dove blue on the inside, but PGSG on the outside (under the awful red). Really don't know! |
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vws-microcars4jim Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2005 Posts: 337 Location: Chicago
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 8:48 am Post subject: |
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Clara wrote: |
Vintage Auto Werks1 wrote: |
so-23 wrote: |
This bus should have the '58 interior, not the so-23 kit. You even have the exhaust vent in the roof for the propane fridge (that's stock, not a hack so DON'T "FIX" IT!). I say sell the so-23 kit (it looks very nice!) to fund the body restoration, and start looking for the right camper kit once the body is solid.
Your bus should look like this: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=812384 |
I personally think it would be best to NOT sell off the interior that is in it to fund the project. With that interior he can at least enjoy the bus and if he finds a correct interior at a later date he could then make the choice. |
x2
Actually I was wondering if it was a 58. What is the VIN? does it have an m-code plate? |
Sorry, no m-code plate on the mangled bulkhead.
[/img] |
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Vintage Auto Werks1 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2002 Posts: 453
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 8:53 am Post subject: |
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There would be no M-Code plate. The plate started in 59. So your not missing it no worries. |
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campingbox Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2000 Posts: 10196 Location: Petaluma, CA
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:58 am Post subject: |
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That looks like a February '58 subhatch Westy.
It appears to be a Westfalia painted bus, and when new the paint color would look something like this:
The birth certificate likely won't reveal much, but will probably tell you that the bus was delivered in primer.
The interior is out of a later bus. I would suggest hanging onto it because the '58 interior is very hard to find.
That body can be saved and the correct interior can be fabricated.
Save it! |
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vws-microcars4jim Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2005 Posts: 337 Location: Chicago
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 10:21 am Post subject: |
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Thanks all for the input!
So the birth certificate won't reveal options such as how many popouts/colors/westfalia origin/ambulance fans?
I'm up for a fabricated kit when the time comes, am I correct to say the 58 kit would be a bit more squared-off than an SO-23? Not many to compare/measure. Probably should get the body together first. |
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bushaus Samba Member
Joined: November 18, 2007 Posts: 809 Location: Long Beach, Calif
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 11:44 am Post subject: |
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cool bus, props for wanting to save it and restore it, and good luck! _________________ 1967 13 window walkthru bus
1965 Karmann Kabriolett beetle
hitest wrote: |
Even if completed, the abarth's gonna belch spluey all over your Eriba. |
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npbusguy Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2006 Posts: 1658 Location: Budapest, Hungary
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 11:58 am Post subject: |
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vws-microcars4jim wrote: |
Thanks all for the input!
So the birth certificate won't reveal options such as how many popouts/colors/westfalia origin/ambulance fans?
I'm up for a fabricated kit when the time comes, am I correct to say the 58 kit would be a bit more squared-off than an SO-23? Not many to compare/measure. Probably should get the body together first. |
Jim,
I have pix of a 58 camper interior and will bring them on a disc for you next weekend when I roll down to check out the bus.
It looks like a January of 58 or earlier build due to the three groves on the overhead fresh air duct. I didn't look up the production date of vin number. The bulk head panel has been fixed with a later version that has the spare tire holding bracket.
Neil |
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KWZ Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2004 Posts: 1341 Location: St. Louis, Missouri
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:48 am Post subject: |
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That is a super nice bus, especially for the upper midwest. Glad you're saving it. If you want the correct bulkhead section there are a couple '58s in a junkyard 50 miles outside of St. Louis. _________________ '57 sunroof Standard
'63 15 window
'65 Westy SO44 |
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npbusguy Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2006 Posts: 1658 Location: Budapest, Hungary
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Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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OK, so after some coaxing, Jim has made some serious headway on his February 58 sand green/palm green westy. Check out the pix of the work done today. It had a cobbled up bulkhead in it due to a crazy previous owner.....
Buzz the bus cat checking out the work we did today.....
Bulkhead temped in. Don't worry, we will eliminate the grab handle bumps and will add the original body number back to the new bulkhead
More pix tomorrow
Gerson.... expect a phone call |
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Kommercial Samba Moderator
Joined: December 28, 2000 Posts: 1154 Location: San Tan Valley, Arizona
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Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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Man I love seeing bulkheads replaced, keep up the good work! |
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