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19BUG70 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2006 Posts: 74 Location: Livermore, California
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 4:44 pm Post subject: My 72 Riviera Small Pop Top Camper |
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My 72 Riviera small pop top camper will be here tomorrow via Oregon. I will be the second owner and I am pretty pumped about that. The bus will arrive with new fuel lines, a new fuel pump, brakes checked and working. The valves have been adjusted, new air filters and the bus runs. The motor was replaced in the 80's and is correct for the year. The bus is really solid and dry which is awesome. There is some damage to the nose near the bumper area which is nothing major but will need to be addressed down the road. New tires will be needed soon and then well we'll just see how it goes. I will keep this short and post some more pictures tomorrow when it gets here. Since I bought this online and only through pictures I am anxious to see it in person. Hopefully it all checks out as advertised. I look forward to the help and advice from everyone.
_________________ 1970 Bug (sold 12/2014)
1972 Riviera Camper
1961 Bug (sold)
1966 Fastback TL |
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notchboy Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002 Posts: 22416 Location: Escondido CA
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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That is going to look amazing buffed out. Nice score.
Who else had that same color and buffed it all out making it look nice??? _________________
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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Pinetops Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2007 Posts: 2987
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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notchboy wrote: |
That is going to look amazing buffed out. Nice score.
Who else had that same color and buffed it all out making it look nice??? |
I think VDubTech had one very similar that he buffed out that came out nicely.
Nice bus, congratulations! |
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19BUG70 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2006 Posts: 74 Location: Livermore, California
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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 8:43 am Post subject: |
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Well I spent yesterday going through the bus and assessing what I have to work with. It is a solid bus but there will be a lot of work to be done going forward. It's mostly cosmetic and that is good however I do need to address the carbs and get the choke adjusted it seems. I am a newbie mechanically so this part will be challenging. I will spend the weekend cleaning things up and get a better idea of where to start. The ice box / faucet was in the bus but I took it out when doing some cleanup but everything appears to be there so again it's a great bus to work with.
_________________ 1970 Bug (sold 12/2014)
1972 Riviera Camper
1961 Bug (sold)
1966 Fastback TL |
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notchboy Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002 Posts: 22416 Location: Escondido CA
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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 9:55 am Post subject: |
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Looks pretty clean!
Just an informational thing for you 19BUG70 if you didnt know. Your bus started out as a standard. Ever wonder why the insides were painted that tan/grey flat color? All except the cab? Thats how VW prepped the work vehicles. That trim level of vehicle was cheaper for Riviera to make a camper out of. Very typical of Rivis seen and one of the consistencies seen from a company that would convert anything it got its hands on. Very cool to see that nice flat og paint inside there _________________
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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19BUG70 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2006 Posts: 74 Location: Livermore, California
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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 10:08 am Post subject: |
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notchboy wrote: |
Looks pretty clean!
Just an informational thing for you 19BUG70 if you didnt know. Your bus started out as a standard. Ever wonder why the insides were painted that tan/grey flat color? All except the cab? Thats how VW prepped the work vehicles. That trim level of vehicle was cheaper for Riviera to make a camper out of. Very typical of Rivis seen and one of the consistencies seen from a company that would convert anything it got its hands on. Very cool to see that nice flat og paint inside there |
Thank you - I was wondering about that _________________ 1970 Bug (sold 12/2014)
1972 Riviera Camper
1961 Bug (sold)
1966 Fastback TL |
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notchboy Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002 Posts: 22416 Location: Escondido CA
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19BUG70 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2006 Posts: 74 Location: Livermore, California
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Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2014 10:43 am Post subject: |
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The dash and area underneath are cleaning up really well. It's a good thing I have a source for Armoral and simple green cleaner!
_________________ 1970 Bug (sold 12/2014)
1972 Riviera Camper
1961 Bug (sold)
1966 Fastback TL |
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19BUG70 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2006 Posts: 74 Location: Livermore, California
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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The last couple of days I was able to get everything out of the bus, except the plywood on the floor which has some stripped screws holding into place. I want to keep the plywood in tack so I can use it as a template for the new piece if at all possible. Of course I am curious to see what it looks like underneath, so far everything else looks really good just some surface dust.
_________________ 1970 Bug (sold 12/2014)
1972 Riviera Camper
1961 Bug (sold)
1966 Fastback TL |
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19BUG70 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2006 Posts: 74 Location: Livermore, California
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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Here is the shot of the floor, pretty darn nice! I will clean it up tomorrow and take another picture.
_________________ 1970 Bug (sold 12/2014)
1972 Riviera Camper
1961 Bug (sold)
1966 Fastback TL |
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19BUG70 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2006 Posts: 74 Location: Livermore, California
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Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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I am very fortunate to not have much rust to deal with in the floor area. Here are the worst spots which are where the ice box was. There are a few similar spots where the rear seat was (behind drivers seat) - the next step will be to treat these areas.
_________________ 1970 Bug (sold 12/2014)
1972 Riviera Camper
1961 Bug (sold)
1966 Fastback TL |
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19BUG70 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2006 Posts: 74 Location: Livermore, California
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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I took the side panels off. I am getting close to having everything out of the bus. The bus sat for 18 years so it was apparent I needed to get everything out to get it cleaned up and smelling a bit better.......I am sure it will take me another week to really get her cleaned up inside and then I have to figure out the steps to get things back together. I received some air filters for the carbs today and the engine will run/idle but stalls out when putting in gear. But overall in a weeks time things are moving forward.
_________________ 1970 Bug (sold 12/2014)
1972 Riviera Camper
1961 Bug (sold)
1966 Fastback TL |
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19BUG70 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2006 Posts: 74 Location: Livermore, California
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Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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I am making some progress. Adjusted valves, cleaned the carbs and ordered some new spark plugs, wires and misc. stuff to put on to get the engine going. It idles ok but it's pretty rough driving. I can get around the block but it's not pretty.
I started to buff out a few panels today and it's making a big difference. Here is a pic, too bad the lighting wasn't great. But you can tell how nice it looks compared to the front and back which has not been touched yet.
_________________ 1970 Bug (sold 12/2014)
1972 Riviera Camper
1961 Bug (sold)
1966 Fastback TL |
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notchboy Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002 Posts: 22416 Location: Escondido CA
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72RivieraReviver Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2012 Posts: 2 Location: Boise, Idaho
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Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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Looks good! Reminds me of the '68 I had back in '72. Loved that Bus, but the bank loved their money more and me being a poor student, I had to give it back and since I had used my '66 panel as a trade in to get it, it was like loosing two buses in one! I wish I could get the dead paint on the '72 I'm trying to revive look that good! |
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notchboy Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002 Posts: 22416 Location: Escondido CA
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whatdoesthisbuttondo? Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2012 Posts: 259 Location: Victoria
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Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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Wow! also love this colour, buffing difference is incredible. _________________ Orange 1973 Campervan. Rebuilt 1700cc with dual Solex carbs. Pertronix electronic points on stock distributor. Engine rebuild in progress (fall 2023). |
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19BUG70 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2006 Posts: 74 Location: Livermore, California
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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I spent several hours over three days but it was well worth it! The next step is to get it running and to get the brakes checked out and working properly. I almost forgot to mention it fits in my garage with a few inches to spare! Hopefully next week my friend is going to stop by and give me some recommendations on fixing the front nose. That might be a while to get fixed due to funds but at least I will know the cost.
_________________ 1970 Bug (sold 12/2014)
1972 Riviera Camper
1961 Bug (sold)
1966 Fastback TL |
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Bala Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2003 Posts: 2613 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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Beautiful color, love it! _________________ 1976 Westy
1966 Beetle |
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19BUG70 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2006 Posts: 74 Location: Livermore, California
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Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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I found a local VW guy to come over and give me a basic overview of things. He adjusted the valves (showed me how to do it as well) and we got the bus running and idling pretty good. However driving it around the block was a challenge. It is very jerky to say the least. The next steps are to change the oil, plugs, wires and he recommended getting a new distributor. I currently have a 009 on there. I am thinking electronic ignition sounds good. I need to figure out which distributor to get. Any feedback is appreciated. Here are a few pictures of the engine. I have just begun cleaning it........more to do for sure.
_________________ 1970 Bug (sold 12/2014)
1972 Riviera Camper
1961 Bug (sold)
1966 Fastback TL |
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