1961 SWR Double Cab Field/Barn Find Rescue - Pic Heavy

[vwcollective]

Hi all - Even though this thread is long overdue, I wanted to share what I've been able to uncover for a past history on my 1961 SWR Double Cab. I have the history from when it was first found in 2009, up until I picked it up in 2013. If anyone has any history on this bus between those times, or even better, BEFORE that time, it would be great to see info and pics.

The bus was found in McCook Nebraska in November of 2009. From another thread on KCW's site, here is a quote from the guy who found it:

"We got into town halloween night, and stopped at the local wendys drivethru for a late night meal. while waiting for our food "Big Brother" pulls up right beside us and signals us.

I thought i was going to get a hard time for who knows what. But the officer said he just wanted to check out our bus. And started on talking about his VW's.

Well, its now monday, and heres the outcome of that conversation..

There was a '59 Panel on the property and the 61 DC as pictured below:

And After being pulled from the barn that had fallen on it - here is what it looked like:

I have more history on this, including the first steps in polishing it up, until when I received it and where it's at today. I will add those in coming days as I gather things together.

[Red Fau Veh]

That is a silly cool bus, rock on!
_________________
1971 Deluxe Sunroof Bay 1905 stroker, dual idf40's, 74mm Scat forged crank, engle 110 cam. CB 044 heads, AutoCraft rockers, chromoly push rods
1973 Orange transporter stock type 4 with dual 40 Dellortos and Empi single quiet pack
1969 Adventurewagen blue whale Gene Berg 1776 built by Dave Kawell dual 36 DRLA's, Vintage Speed exhaust, Bosch 019 screamer
1961 Swivel Seat camper, L345 grey

[easy e]

You're a lucky man... nice goin'!!
_________________
aka: Evan
Spreadsheet for Bus RPM, based on gearing & tire size (Excel format)
Searchable, click-navigable 1958 Bus Parts List
“They are about as worthless as the tits on the boars that live in the woods behind their junk yard.” -Weatherly

[zuggbug]

x2 - very lucky
_________________
SOUTHERN INTEGRITY AIRCOOLERS
58 15 window
56 westy

[Z]

Very cool dc...love those in swr. Can't wait to see more of your progress.

[norcalmike]

SCORE! looking forward to updates.

[kombisutra]

I thought there was already a thread on this one... I remember these pictures.

[vwcollective]

There is a thread on the KCW site - but not one that I have found on The Samba - happy to add to the other thread if there is one...

[vwcollective]

After the DC was pulled out - here are the first few steps of progress in getting it all polished out and uncovering more of what was found:

But not all that was found was awesome - there was plenty of ugly:

However - this pretty sweet mirror is still with the truck to this day:

[Mikee]

Nice crew!!
_________________

[easy e]

Ah, the 'ol farmer's version of a treasure ches... oops, I meant 'chop'

_________________
aka: Evan
Spreadsheet for Bus RPM, based on gearing & tire size (Excel format)
Searchable, click-navigable 1958 Bus Parts List
“They are about as worthless as the tits on the boars that live in the woods behind their junk yard.” -Weatherly

['64cal lookdub]

Nice! What did you polish it with?

[vwcollective]

To answer the above question - I wasn't the one that did the polishing, it was probably 2-3 owners ago... hoping to track some people down who have more info on this truck.

Anyway, here are some more pics of the progress before it got to me:

The original owner who found it in the field made a trade with a guy in San Luis AZ for a slammed '68 Ghia. Here are some pics of it going on its way.

[vwcollective]

I believe it was this next owner in San Luis that did much of the "body work" and began to irresponsibly tear things apart on the suspension of the truck to lower it.

These are some pics from the ad when I found it:

my next posts will go over what it looked like when I got it and the beginning of the repair process for the truck...

[vwcollective]

To continue the story from above... After seeing the ad on the Samba, I called the guy selling the DC to get more details. Upon confirmation that it was "solid" and there were no issues with the suspension, frame, or mechanicals. I asked for more pics to confirm the condition, but he claimed to not have the technical know-how to send me more pics (BS). In the end I figured that an OG SWR early DC doesn't come up to often and that sending a deposit was worth the risk. It was about a 14 hour drive in my truck towing a trailer the entire way.

Once I got down there, it was apparent that he was not honest in what he told me about the vehicle. It had a back-yard bagged suspension job, an engine that was on it's last leg, no shocks on the entire thing, portions of the suspension cut-out, cross members that were crumbling and outriggers that were non-existent. On top of that there were a couple spots on the frame that were concerning.

I asked for my $1000 deposit back, he refused saying what he told me was accurate - even though our phone conversations were in direct contradiction to what I was seeing in person. I tried to negotiate him down on price and he was unwilling as well - saying he put off other sellers to sell it to me. Even though I was down there within 48 hours of sending a deposit.

At that point I was $1500 into getting the vehicle between deposit, gas and rental to get down there. I should have walked away out of principle, but I didn't want to give him my deposit and get nothing in return. I should have left and battled it out on PayPal and the Samba, but in the end loaded up the DC and headed on my way feeling pretty pissed off about such a deceitful seller.

So, here are some of the pics when I first got the truck and link to a vid showing the suspension:

The video of the "awesome" bag job:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5Wk8xoZzgI

[vwcollective]

So, I decided first things first - get rid of the suspension witch involved finding new rear horns and U cradle, new front beam and welding in shock mounts on the rear.

He was running a mexi-beetle trans with disc brakes - the only problem was that it was so big, he had to cut the U cradle and hack a million things to make it work.

The front beam was garbage and was ditched as well.

Here are pics of the progress to get it back to a static suspension.

[vwcollective]

And Here is the new suspension going in 4" narrowed beam with drop spindles and rear wagens west plates (later upgraded to adjustable rear plates to help adjust ride height when towing a Puck) with new frame horns and U channel:

[aa390392]

......did you smile all the way home for being f**ked ... why do ppl lie when .. anyways good luck you look like your doing it the right way...karma will bite him.
_________________
.
getting grumpy & less tolerant!


55 ragtop
56 delux sedan
56 Kabriolet

[Red Fau Veh]

I see a Buses Only Tijuana sticker on the window, I think that might be a clue as to some of the history, maybe. Try contacting them and see what they know about it, nice folks.
_________________
1971 Deluxe Sunroof Bay 1905 stroker, dual idf40's, 74mm Scat forged crank, engle 110 cam. CB 044 heads, AutoCraft rockers, chromoly push rods
1973 Orange transporter stock type 4 with dual 40 Dellortos and Empi single quiet pack
1969 Adventurewagen blue whale Gene Berg 1776 built by Dave Kawell dual 36 DRLA's, Vintage Speed exhaust, Bosch 019 screamer
1961 Swivel Seat camper, L345 grey

[srfndoc]

I looked at the DC when it was posted as well and passed. Glad to see your taking the lemons and making lemonade!
_________________
RPM=(MPH*336* (R&P*4th*1.26))/Tire Diameter in inches