Area 67 58 Kombi adventure and 59 SC Iowa Drive out convoy!!

[tyzel]

This is a cool thread, thanks for sharing with everyone!

[cdennisg]

[Manfred58sc]

Yes there is a bit of a Sam Elliot resemblance now that you mention it. I had never met a professional tractor mower, an amazing career, he drives town to town field to field at 18mph, stays in many motels and is rarely home. He had been doing it for 24 years! He was super curious about AC and often compared them to Chevy 350's he worked on. We get an early start in the am, nice and cool with a breeze. The "keys" have had it so time for a jumper set up. 2 shots of starting fluid and 2 cranks...Starts right up! Wait, it is in gear and I am driving already (without brakes). Foot on the clutch and still moving forward, shifter feels strange...to loose. Power off and a check underneath, coupler is broken and has been for a long time, this is not good. I put heavy vise grips on the trans shift rod and try like hell to get it into another gear. No go..it is demonically locked in first. Clutch cable is good and properly adjusted but still locked in first. I had hoped the engine died long ago and the trans was good, however it appears that the trans locked into first, the PO tried to force it out of gear, sheered the coupler and then probably cooked the engine trying to get it home. This driveout is canceled. Now we need a close storage area as we can only tow at 10mph so we don't hurt the 40h.p. We have become idle news in Osceola so the locals are drifting by to check out the "hippy Bus's"..
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Fat chick owner/operator

[joe cool]

I've never done this but couldn't you figure a way to take out crown gears or redux gears on axle ends and then you could tow at speed?

[Manfred58sc]

Yes, that could be done, but we were under a schedule to drive the 800 miles home and the clock is ticking. Also there is the 58 which we have already tow dolled 1000 miles.... We have 2 non running splits and no longer have a room at the super 8...we are pushing our welcome using the parking lot as a garage. A few calls and we find a great storage area, the owner is a an AC fan and insists on inside storage in his personal locker. A reduced rate and waived deposits get the SC indoors, now that's midwest hospitality! Using the tow dolly on the 58 for an 1800 mile trip considering its condition has been stressful. We can't get the SC home and I would be really sad if the Kombi develops any rolling issues, then I remember Doug's healing touch and trip blessing...we will be fine!
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Fat chick owner/operator

[Manfred58sc]

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Fat chick owner/operator

[Culito]

The SC was south of Des Moines, then? I'm from SE Iowa.
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Copyright CJ Industries, Inc.
'64 standard w/2.0L type 4
'62 bug

[Manfred58sc]

Yes, that is correct, it was outside of Osceola on hwy69. Trip update, we are back at Area 67! 1800 miles tow dolly adventure on an unknown trans mission and rusty body. Right inside of Colorado at our last gas up I noticed the grease cap and spindle nut were gone off the passenger wheel on the Kombi!!! Luckily the tow dolly strap held the tire in place, but it would have been disaster if that had "popped" off. SO now time for a road side repair with what is on hand....soda can bottom makes a large washer,hose clamp for a "nut" on the spindle and some plumbers tape/baling wire as keeper for the whole mess. I will have pics by Monday. What a journey!
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Fat chick owner/operator

[Manfred58sc]

A few pics to wrap up the trip, first back on the road with the SC in storage...then the pop can bearing cap, and back at Area 67!!
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Fat chick owner/operator

[Manfred58sc]

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Fat chick owner/operator

[Manfred58sc]

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Fat chick owner/operator

[Manfred58sc]

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Fat chick owner/operator

[Manfred58sc]

Iowa SC cab finally made it to the garage, trans is almost totally locked up..here are some pics and a little help from the Bay Window ( A famous Taos Bus!!)
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Fat chick owner/operator

[Manfred58sc]

1300 cc to the rescue!

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Fat chick owner/operator

[Manfred58sc]

A long journey, now the work starts.

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Fat chick owner/operator

[Manfred58sc]

O.K. The SC is going to a new home and the 58 Kombi is getting some repair and attention! Here is the plan, frame is rock solid with plenty of rust through's and rust outs else where. We are going to use lots of parts on hand , get it structurally sound and safe. The Budget is tight so no Gerson panels, but honestly this rig is not a good candidate for restoration. We may put a bit of a lift on it and head into "Mountain Bus" territory. Lets see how far we can go before we run out of cash and parts...No, that shit on the pedal will not buff out! (now that's out of the way.....)

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Fat chick owner/operator

[Manfred58sc]

One jack leg survived, most the outriggers are o.k., one will be patched from a donor Bay we have in the yard (that is some tedious extraction). The old floor was full of rust outs so I cut out the rot between the rails and then carefully cut each "peak" left on the outrigger with a grinder. I then chiseled out the "tab" held on by the stitch weld. This method did not hurt the outriggers, and took about 9 hrs.

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Fat chick owner/operator

[Manfred58sc]

The ends of the outriggers were cleaned up to accept our modified inner rocker..

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Fat chick owner/operator

[Manfred58sc]

First cut of the rusty outer rocker, not too bad, will get a straight cut on the next pass. The 1/8th inch plate floor will extend right to the edge and help provide a perch for the new outer rocker

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Fat chick owner/operator

[Manfred58sc]

1/2 way done, 2" by 1" rectangular tubing creates a good,sturdy border for the floor and the rail for the outer rocker.

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Fat chick owner/operator