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eddieskustom Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Cheltenham, England
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 9:08 am Post subject: Söderfors forestry bus |
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Hi everyone, my name is Pete and having spent over 25years messing around with old VW's I'm just starting on my biggest project ever.
This bus is known by some people and I have seen a few pictures of it on this site before. It's a '54 LHD kombi with left hand cargo doors that we believe belonged to a logging company. The bus appears to have been scrapped in the early sixties but has survived in remarkably complete condition, unfortunately the same can't be said about the amount of rust!!!
My first task is to build a jig to support the very flimsy remains of the buses structure and in this I'm looking for some help.
I have replicated the beam location and am starting to look at jigging the rear, however I'm struggling to find any information regarding the relative height of the front beam to the rear torsion bar covers when viewed from the side. Does anyone have any measurements for this?
I will be adding more pictures and info as I go, including images of the jig.
Last edited by eddieskustom on Thu Jun 30, 2016 9:25 am; edited 1 time in total |
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newa Samba Member
Joined: June 27, 2008 Posts: 13 Location: Portsmouth, UK
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 1:57 pm Post subject: Re: '54 Swedish kombi |
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Nice, you've got a job there! Got any more pics? Do you have any details on the logos?
Is that a leftie with left loading doors or double door?
I can have a look at the measurements you are after, mine is not on a jig but I can probably work it out. There was a thread with reman/nos chassis rails somewhere that may have covered it.
What about this one http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=624923
Alex _________________ Buying Barndoor parts & panels, RHD 54 Kombi in resto. |
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eddieskustom Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Cheltenham, England
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 3:15 pm Post subject: Re: '54 Swedish kombi |
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Hi Alex
Thanks for the reply and link. Some useful info in that thread, but still not giving me the measurements I'm looking for.
I've got loads more pictures of the bus and some more of the logo which I will post up soon.
It is a lefty with a left hand only cargo door. Did consider right hand conversation, but am planning to leave it as is. |
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eddieskustom Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Cheltenham, England
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 3:23 pm Post subject: Re: '54 Swedish kombi |
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Here are some pictures of logo and also of original owners fleet plaque on dash rail
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Franz Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005 Posts: 345 Location: Grand Junction
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 9:14 pm Post subject: Re: '54 Swedish kombi |
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Delivered in primer? |
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eddieskustom Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Cheltenham, England
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 11:34 pm Post subject: Re: '54 Swedish kombi |
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Franz wrote: |
Delivered in primer? |
The bus is definitely a factory grey. Whether that is primer I'm not sure, I will be applying for the birth certificate which will hopefully tell us. |
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dmuis Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2004 Posts: 381 Location: Sunny Alberta, Wild Rose Country.
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newa Samba Member
Joined: June 27, 2008 Posts: 13 Location: Portsmouth, UK
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 1:56 pm Post subject: Re: '54 Swedish kombi |
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Have a look at this thread, they use a jig and must have figured this out already:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=644090
I just had a look at mine, rough with a tape measure it looks like the lowest front beam bolt center is 45mm higher than the bottom edge of the rear torsion tube, with the chassis rail lower as the horizontal ref plane.
I'll see if I can get a more accurate measurement off both sides and compare _________________ Buying Barndoor parts & panels, RHD 54 Kombi in resto. |
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Air Kraft Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2008 Posts: 62
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 9:34 am Post subject: Re: '54 Swedish kombi |
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Hi Pete! Nice to meet you guys today!
Cheers, Matt _________________ www.air-kraft.com |
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Bala Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2003 Posts: 2613 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 9:45 am Post subject: Re: '54 Swedish kombi |
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Have you been able to work out the name of the logging company? My family owned a logging company in Sweden that I think would align time wise with this bus. I have a family history book I'll have to flip through this evening. Probably not related, but still very interesting to me. _________________ 1976 Westy
1966 Beetle |
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56samba Samba Member
Joined: June 25, 2015 Posts: 262 Location: Germany
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 1:05 pm Post subject: Re: '54 Swedish kombi |
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Hi,
That's Dave's bus, or did he sold because of his other projects?
Looks like there's a lot of work waiting for you, we all hope you'll get it done well and fast
I don't know exactly when Sweden switched to LHD, but was that already in 1954? If they changed it later, why is this bus a lefty? Was the bus his whole life in Sweden?
Good luck, Jan |
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mandraks Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2004 Posts: 7050 Location: Lawrenceville, Ga
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 2:15 pm Post subject: Re: '54 Swedish kombi |
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56samba wrote: |
Hi,
That's Dave's bus, or did he sold because of his other projects?
Looks like there's a lot of work waiting for you, we all hope you'll get it done well and fast
I don't know exactly when Sweden switched to LHD, but was that already in 1954? If they changed it later, why is this bus a lefty? Was the bus his whole life in Sweden?
Good luck, Jan |
in sweden most all cars were LHD, even though they did drive on the left hand side. (presumably to better see what is going on on the side of the road). They switched September 3rd 1967
_________________ regards
Uli
----------------------------------------
'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue, looking for a narrow hatch panel |
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56samba Samba Member
Joined: June 25, 2015 Posts: 262 Location: Germany
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 2:22 pm Post subject: Re: '54 Swedish kombi |
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Thanks Uli,
I was quite sure the most were RHD. There are so many right hand drive barndoors from Sweden...
Cheers Jan |
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eddieskustom Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Cheltenham, England
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 8:16 am Post subject: Re: '54 Swedish kombi |
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Air Kraft wrote: |
Hi Pete! Nice to meet you guys today!
Cheers, Matt |
Hi Matt, really great to meet you too. Thanks for sorting out my cylinderhead, much appreciated 👍 |
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eddieskustom Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Cheltenham, England
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 8:20 am Post subject: Re: '54 Swedish kombi |
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Bala wrote: |
Have you been able to work out the name of the logging company? My family owned a logging company in Sweden that I think would align time wise with this bus. I have a family history book I'll have to flip through this evening. Probably not related, but still very interesting to me. |
Hi Bala
That would be amazing if you could check your records, I'd love to find some history for the bus. I currently do not have the company name, but my be able to find it out. |
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eddieskustom Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Cheltenham, England
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 8:27 am Post subject: Re: '54 Swedish kombi |
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56samba wrote: |
Hi,
That's Dave's bus, or did he sold because of his other projects?
Looks like there's a lot of work waiting for you, we all hope you'll get it done well and fast
I don't know exactly when Sweden switched to LHD, but was that already in 1954? If they changed it later, why is this bus a lefty? Was the bus his whole life in Sweden?
Good luck, Jan |
Hi Jan
Yes bus did belong to Dave, I have bought it from him so he concentrate on his other projects.
As far as I know it is was always a Swedish bus. I'm not to sure on when they changed over.
As to the amount of work, you are not wrong and it's a lot. I will only ever do the best job I can and certainly not going to bodge it up, however quick I don't think it will be. |
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eddieskustom Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Cheltenham, England
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 10:08 am Post subject: Re: '54 Swedish kombi |
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eddieskustom wrote: |
Bala wrote: |
Have you been able to work out the name of the logging company? My family owned a logging company in Sweden that I think would align time wise with this bus. I have a family history book I'll have to flip through this evening. Probably not related, but still very interesting to me. |
Hi Bala
That would be amazing if you could check your records, I'd love to find some history for the bus. I currently do not have the company name, but my be able to find it out. |
The logo appears to say
SODERFORS SKOGSFORVALTING
If you or anyone else can help translate or give a clue to its meaning I'd be very grateful 👍 |
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Wiggy Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2003 Posts: 6601 Location: Downingtown, PA
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jcwelding Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2016 Posts: 74 Location: LEICESTER, ENGLAND
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Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:48 am Post subject: Re: Söderfors forestry bus |
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Hi all,
I've been commissioned to do the welding work on this bus so I'll throw a few progress pictures up as I go along if I get time.
Cheers
Jeff.
The bus is pretty bent and twisted so first job was to mount it onto the body jig to make sure the chassis is straight.
Pete had made a start on it so the rails and cross members are already welded in position. It bolted straight on mm perfect..... well done Pete (not sure he actually needs my help )
Off with the body so I can finish the chassis. _________________ http://jcweldingservices.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/JcWeldingServices/
https://www.instagram.com/jcwelding/?hl=en |
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johnny d Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2004 Posts: 2204 Location: where it all came from. ;)
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Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 1:41 am Post subject: Re: Söderfors forestry bus |
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and here we go again...
the bus will look pretty cool, once it finished! i guess its in good hands.. _________________ GermanRestoKommando
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Der Barndoor Führers - Slamm Society
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VWKernzentrale since 2007 |
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