1978 Champagne first bus

[secretsubmariner]

[secretsubmariner]

So I FINALLY finished waxing the entire bus. A few nights ago I cracked my toes on the door jamb of my bathroom. It felt like the door cleaved my fucking foot in twain Turns out it was just disclocated and cracked, I'm on the mend! But I did manage to wrap up the wax job after resting for a day or two.

Here's an in-progress shot, I waxed until the sunset. By the time it was all done there was no light left for pics. Pretty much the entire bus had to get waxed twice. It just soaked that shit up. It STILL needs more touch ups but it's doing its job for sure.

I just realized this is a dogshit photo. I will take some better pics in the sun where I'm flipping you guys off in the reflection, etc. this weekend.

I am going to ramble a bit here on few different subjects. Feel free to chime in, lurk, or ignore me. I just need to log some activity so I don't forget.

120 miles after cam break-in.

Starting: Bus doesn't start as strong as it used to, and the idle is slightly erratic right when it starts up. It levels out after a minute, I assume that's the AAR doing its job. I need to keep an ear and an eye to that system. I have to hit the gas pedal a couple times, and the idiot lights will go off pretty quickly.

Oil: The oil in the case is still CLEAN. Golden. I can't find any leaks whatsoever except a small dabble of oil (maybe 1 or 2 drops that have spread around) around the base of the oil pressure switch. I'm going to keep an eye on that area, but for now I'm not going to do anything.

Battery: I may get a longer negative cable and move my starting battery to the driver's side. I already have a 6 foot positive cable, and holes already drilled from the dealer installed AC I removed. My regular battery tray isn't look great and this will save some original paint for a little bit longer. I can't see a problem with this idea for now. Eventually I will get a new battery tray.

Body: Slider door and rear PS window still have their original seals. I replaced the DS seals and the hatch seal like, 39 pages ago. I need to replace these seals and treat the sills for rust while they're out. I did them first so I could pop the dent out some before reinstalling.

it actually doesn't look that bad. I hope the other side is still in decent shape under the seals


Roof: My roof has surface rust that has slowly grown over my time as curator. The rain gutters are in really good shape, but they are starting to accumulate surface rust, too. The bad part is, the surface rust is speckled across the entire roof. There are only small areas where the surface rust has not spread. I need to take some time to grind this down, use some rust converter, lay down like 3 coats of primer and then a few coats of this: https://www.paintscratch.com/touch_up_paint/Volkswagen/1978-Volkswagen-Bus-Fox-Red-LH3A.html and then a few coats of clear coat.

It's not like the bus is a trailer queen or something.

New things: I have some SACHS front shocks coming, and retractable seatbelts, too. Then I want to get some seat pedestal rubber for the tops, not the surrounds. Still looking for the right product.
_________________
-Tony
ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ
1978 Champagne Edition Bus FI
1970 Auto Fastback FI

[vwwestyman]

What seat belts did you go with?

Years ago I installed some that were recommended here, but they are really too short.
_________________
Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

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

[secretsubmariner]

I decided to go with some new universal Hum-Vee seatbelts on ebay. I pickup up the "L" brackets and a seat belt hardward kit from cip1 or busdepot...I did a lot of "window shopping"...I don't recall right now which place I went with.

I hope the seat belts are pretty straight forward to install. I read a thread a long time ago on here that someone bought similar Hum-Vee seatbelts on ebay for the same price I just got these, and they said they were a good length.

We'll see, I guess! I don't know how I'm gonna hook them all up yet but that's part of the fun.
_________________
-Tony
ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ
1978 Champagne Edition Bus FI
1970 Auto Fastback FI

[vwwestyman]

Well darn it! It was the Hum-Vee belts I ordered...
_________________
Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

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

[secretsubmariner]

Oh for real? That sucks...I hope mine are long enough! Lol. I am getting real tired of my dusty crusty floppy gigantic belts. So much maintenance.

Belts will be here by friday, I don't know when the brackets or hardware will arrive. I'll have some fun stuff to do this weekend though for sure.
_________________
-Tony
ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ
1978 Champagne Edition Bus FI
1970 Auto Fastback FI

[secretsubmariner]

I started to fit the retractable hum-vee belts I got from ebay. These were cheapies, like $15 each and $13.50 shipping or something. It is still tornado season so I cut my time short.

I definitely got what I paid for, and I'm okay with that. I want to enjoy this bus NOW, after nearly ten years of slowly fixing stuff and growing up and all that shit. Plus, I will definitely buy another bus at some point, so when I replace these with something nicer, I'll have backups for my future bus.

A few things: The top bolt of the seat belt hangs at an awful angle because of the lip that runs vertically on the B-pillar. This means that to pull the belt out and secure it, one must pull directly upward, lest the belt wrap around itself on the up. Sucky. The pic I uploaded of this did not work. I am too lazy to reload.

The belts themselves are quality material. Much nicer than my OG belts.

I might be able to get this to all fit better, I was just kinda doing a dry run experiment. The retractable part of the belt is bulky, I would not be able to slide my seat all the way back if I wanted to. Not that I do, if I sat any farther back I'd always be folded in half trying to reach the shifter.

I was dicking around with the receiver, too. This gigantic washer that came in my kit is probably not meant for this, but I thought it was funny so:

I still gotta pick up a few things for these to be officially called "done", but it's nice to get it started.

I wonder if my new front shocks will arrive today?
_________________
-Tony
ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ
1978 Champagne Edition Bus FI
1970 Auto Fastback FI

[wagohn]

Nice - how much belt is available on the reel, approx? I'm a "portly fellow" and the stock belts on my 76 are about 8" too short. Did these belts give you a lot more wiggle room?
Thanks!

[secretsubmariner]

Hey wagohn, happy to help:

Here are some numbers for you, hope it helps! At some point today or this weekend I can get a real measurement for you.

I'm 6'1" at 175 lbs, 34" penis..I mean waist...

As I sit in the seat with the seat belt secured, if I grab the shoulder belt and pull, I probably have 8" or less of wiggle room.

I think they'd be uncomfortably snug if a person much bigger than my dimensions were to use them. I'll definitely be measuring the clicky part of the belt and getting a seatbelt extender for comfort.
_________________
-Tony
ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ
1978 Champagne Edition Bus FI
1970 Auto Fastback FI

[wagohn]

[secretsubmariner]

No prob, good luck man! The belts by wolfsburg west or similar that are made specifically for buses will probably be worth the money??
_________________
-Tony
ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ
1978 Champagne Edition Bus FI
1970 Auto Fastback FI

[wagohn]

[Brian]

[vwwestyman]

As I told SS the other day, I don't recommend the HumVee belts. I too bought them due to being recommended here.

But they are really just a little too short. I am in no way portly and have neither a 34 inch waist or penis, but they don't really allow a lot of extra wiggle room for reaching over to the other side (glovebox, etc), or can be a bit short if the seat is scooted forward a bit, or you do have a "portly" passenger ever.

I wish I could figure out what I bought for the other Bus, because they are quite long enough. But unfortunately the numbers on the tag are worn off so I can't tell for sure.
_________________
Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

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

[orwell84]

[secretsubmariner]

[Alan Brase]

Pretty sure the actual microfiche parts book shows retractable seat belts apparently used in markets other than the US/ North America.
Not sure how close they are to Vanagon units.
Somebody from Europe or Australia care to address this?
It's been 30 years since I thought about this much, but I still have a bay in mothballs that I hope to drive someday and the US seatbelts are very difficult to use as a daily driver.
_________________
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

[secretsubmariner]

[secretsubmariner]

I ordered some new sachs oil filled front shocks and they arrived today.

I haven't really looked at the front end lately so I got up under there for a general inspection before I install the shocks tomorrow.

It's actually in pretty good condition. I was thinking of replacing a bunch of crap under there but I may wait.
At least half of my ball joint boots aren't cracking or anything. I only checked one side lol. The tie rods probably need to replaced, the boots are split.

More dogshit from photos from the turd king, sorry guys.

Steering box is way clean, some of the boxes I've seen on here have fared far worse. With my 3-4 inches of steering slop, I'll definitely be following some adjustment procedures.

Took the nose emblem off to wax, broke all 3 clips LOL

It needs another wax and treatment. But look! You can see my street in the reflection on the side!
_________________
-Tony
ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ
1978 Champagne Edition Bus FI
1970 Auto Fastback FI

[notchboy]

Hey, in the end, a driving functional bus on the road is worth a million. Turd Polish or not.

Keep up the good work brother.
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