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Squilly Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2011 Posts: 158 Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
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Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 9:59 pm Post subject: 1965 SO42 Westy |
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Keeping track of my progress and getting advice/input from you samba Westfalia experts for my '65 SO42 that I found after it had been sitting for 20 years.
The history so far is that I found it over the summer in a small mining town here in Colorado. Took me a couple months to eventually track down the owner, who of course wasn't interested in selling it at first. He was heading out to do something then and I told him I'd come back another weekend when he had more time to talk. So I went back a couple weeks later with the 15 window. Didn't find him on Saturday so I stayed at a friends in Winter Park then drove back on Sunday and was able to catch him. After letting shooting shit for a while about skiing and what not I let him drive the 15 and just geek out over VWs. Couple hours later he came around to letting me take it home and we made a deal. A week later it was on a trailer home with me.
Ran through the brakes, bearings, topped up fluids, and bought a 1600 from Painters that they had pulled out of a wrecked bug. Made it a bit over 100 miles, had a starter go out, towed it, and lost the pop top. Did some bodywork during my internship with JJ at KCW.
Now its got my 2332 in it, a new top, new shocks, trans mounts, more bearings and RGB stuff, clutch cable and arm, and has been cleaned out so I could tear into the rust repair.
Unfortunately there was rust-through not only on the outside of the cargo floor near the cargo doors, but also right in the center. Of course because there was all this I had to replace a lot more than just the floors.
Cut everything out and I think it lost 20lbs worth of dirt that was hiding everywhere.
Spent my week-long spring break fitting and welding in replacement metal. All WW and KF.
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Squilly Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2011 Posts: 158 Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
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Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:09 pm Post subject: Re: 1965 SO42 Westy |
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The weekend before I started all this repair I spent cruising around the various parts of Colorado on my way to KCW and our camping trip. This bus went from snow piled higher than the roof to playing around in the sand with the baja within 24 hours and handled it all no problem. I love tall campers.
After all this I got the long rocker cut, fit, and welded in one night; definitely a late night though...
Threw the floors in in the morning to see how they would fit, and right away they were pretty close.
Those are all welded in now, pics to come later. Also dropped my sketchy steering box to be rebuilt by Wolfgang and wasted a nice KF front floor for my little rusty but in the front.
My plan from here forward is to wrap up the little bit of rust repair thats left, strip it down and bodywork it smooth, decide on a color, and figure out interior plans.
Forgot to include the M-code porn earlier too. Gibraltar delivery.
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velvetgreen Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2004 Posts: 2745 Location: Canada
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easy e Samba Member
Joined: May 28, 2008 Posts: 3931 Location: 1 hr north of Santa Barbara
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Squilly Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2011 Posts: 158 Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
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Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 9:48 am Post subject: Re: 1965 SO42 Westy |
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easy e wrote: |
Lookin' good Will!
Are those W.W. floor panels? |
They are. They fit great and are the same thickness as original.
Definitely will be careful! Especially because we're taking some busses out camping in Moab next weekend... |
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AS350driver Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2016 Posts: 1340 Location: Tucson
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Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 2:05 pm Post subject: Re: 1965 SO42 Westy |
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I wonder what the minimum speed is on Interstates in Utah ? In other states I've seen 55 as the MAX speed for vehicles with campers, trailers, etc ....especially at night. I don't see 55 as dangerously slow. Cell phone use at night at 75.....but the Utah trooper seems to place more blame on the VW driver. |
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srfndoc Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010 Posts: 3274 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:01 pm Post subject: Re: 1965 SO42 Westy |
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That's quite an mcode plate for a poptop Westy. Somebody went to the dealer and checked all the boxes. Good luck with the build. _________________ RPM=(MPH*336* (R&P*4th*1.26))/Tire Diameter in inches |
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Squilly Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2011 Posts: 158 Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 12:05 pm Post subject: Re: 1965 SO42 Westy |
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Well, lots of progress since my last update. The previous owner filled all the seams with silicone so that all had to be stripped out, which was easier with the doors off. While the doors were off I went ahead and replaced the lower door skin.
Got the new battery tray out after removing some custom "bumper brackets" the previous owner had welded on in order to clearance the beetle exhaust that was on it at some point. The new KF battery tray fit nicely with very little finessing.
Working my way around the bus I noticed that the gap between the rain gutter and the side panel widened as you moved from the rear passenger side to the front. It was noticeable from the outside but really obvious from the inside. To correct it I found the point where it looked like the welds had broken apart, hooked a portapower to the inside of the gutter, and linked it to a ring I had welded to the cargo floor on the cross member. Just a little bit of pulling and the whole passenger side panel got pulled into a better shape and make the gutter gap and the door gaps a ton nicer.
The spare tire mount on the nose was probably used as more of a bumper given how much pin and shrinking work it took to get it back into shape and stiff.
Undoing the wrapping on the heater tube revealed more rust and the rear cross member was too thin and weak for me to live with, so more replacement metal went in. Ground down all the welds to look nice and smooth too.
Then did some more finish metal work and getting every little dent pulled on the corner and nose before we started mudding on the nose.
Spent 3 days block sanding the long panel....
I didn't think it was necessary to make it so nice its going to be used and driven off road and on trails and will be scratched, but John likes to punish me for being in his way.
The paint shop was out of grey poly, so we had to do black. Just shows more imperfections so I get to make it even more perfect, and spend more time fixing every little thing! Including my handprint I put in it while it was still drying
Up next is the roof and then removables!! |
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srfndoc Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010 Posts: 3274 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 1:03 pm Post subject: Re: 1965 SO42 Westy |
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Really nice work. Since it was two-tone painted originally are you sticking with that or going a single color? The color code on this thing is really unique, never seen a poptop Westy in L680 over L289:
What does the color code sticker just below the mplate say? The paint on the bus now just looks like standard Sea Blue/Blue White. _________________ RPM=(MPH*336* (R&P*4th*1.26))/Tire Diameter in inches
Last edited by srfndoc on Thu Feb 01, 2018 2:01 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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totemwesty Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2009 Posts: 134 Location: Bend, Oregon
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 1:32 pm Post subject: Re: 1965 SO42 Westy |
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Did you have to search a lot for the replacement pop-top? _________________ "I set sail for the new world, then I burned down the mast.... It wasn't the first time, and I know it wont be the last..." Bloodkin
'67 Westy Pop Top |
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Squilly Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2011 Posts: 158 Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 1:55 pm Post subject: Re: 1965 SO42 Westy |
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srfndoc wrote: |
Really nice work. Since it was two-tone painted originally are you sticking with that or going a single color? The color code on this thing is really unique, never seen a poptop Westy in L680 over L289:
What does the color code sticker just below the mplate say? The paint on the bus now just looks like standard Sea Blue over Blue White. |
I'm going to be sticking with the original two-tone colors, Blue White over Sea Blue ,L289/L360. I was worried that combination would be too "cute" for the look I was going for, but got some pressure about it being a special ordered two-tone in a one year only combination.
Here's a photo showing the sticker in some terrible lighting from when I first came across the bus. I'll get a more clear photo of the m code and the sticker next chance I get.
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Squilly Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2011 Posts: 158 Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 1:57 pm Post subject: Re: 1965 SO42 Westy |
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totemwesty wrote: |
Did you have to search a lot for the replacement pop-top? |
Not really, just a lot filtering though classifieds on here looking for a top with the right mechanical components I needed and in a decent shape. There weren't a lot of options so I ended up paying a lot for the top, and then there was shipping... |
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srfndoc Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010 Posts: 3274 Location: SoCal
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crofty Judas of the North
Joined: August 09, 2000 Posts: 19672 Location: Land of Whine and Phonies
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 2:39 pm Post subject: Re: 1965 SO42 Westy |
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WillMoss wrote: |
I'm going to be sticking with the original two-tone colors, Blue White over Sea Blue ,L289/L360. I was worried that combination would be too "cute" for the look I was going for, but got some pressure about it being a special ordered two-tone in a one year only combination.
Here's a photo showing the sticker in some terrible lighting from when I first came across the bus. I'll get a more clear photo of the m code and the sticker next chance I get.
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What makes it a one year only combination? _________________ Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.
HamburgerBrad wrote: |
I slept on crofty's tent once. I passed out drunk from two bottles of Everett's brother's wine. |
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Squilly Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2011 Posts: 158 Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 3:53 pm Post subject: Re: 1965 SO42 Westy |
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crofty wrote: |
WillMoss wrote: |
I'm going to be sticking with the original two-tone colors, Blue White over Sea Blue ,L289/L360. I was worried that combination would be too "cute" for the look I was going for, but got some pressure about it being a special ordered two-tone in a one year only combination.
Here's a photo showing the sticker in some terrible lighting from when I first came across the bus. I'll get a more clear photo of the m code and the sticker next chance I get.
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What makes it a one year only combination? |
I was under the impression that blue white over sea blue was 1965 only before going to cumulus white. |
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crofty Judas of the North
Joined: August 09, 2000 Posts: 19672 Location: Land of Whine and Phonies
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 4:28 pm Post subject: Re: 1965 SO42 Westy |
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And so it appears to be ! Learn something new everyday. _________________ Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.
HamburgerBrad wrote: |
I slept on crofty's tent once. I passed out drunk from two bottles of Everett's brother's wine. |
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Braukuche Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004 Posts: 10998
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 6:03 pm Post subject: Re: 1965 SO42 Westy |
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It's two year, 65-66. _________________ Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now |
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Clara Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2003 Posts: 12399
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: 1965 SO42 Westy |
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WillMoss wrote: |
crofty wrote: |
WillMoss wrote: |
I'm going to be sticking with the original two-tone colors, Blue White over Sea Blue ,L289/L360. I was worried that combination would be too "cute" for the look I was going for, but got some pressure about it being a special ordered two-tone in a one year only combination.
Here's a photo showing the sticker in some terrible lighting from when I first came across the bus. I'll get a more clear photo of the m code and the sticker next chance I get.
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What makes it a one year only combination? |
I was under the impression that blue white over sea blue was 1965 only before going to cumulus white. |
Myself as well. I prefer the blue white with the seablue.
Interesting M-code plate. Generally an SO-42 with two tone and options has no portcode and no x42 or 108 code or power outlet... but yours does. Not sure I've seen that before. You got a cool one.
This is an SO-42 Dormy bus I used to have that was built later the same month. two tone no port code westy.
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hitest Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2008 Posts: 10296 Location: Prime Meridian, ID
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 9:00 pm Post subject: Re: 1965 SO42 Westy |
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Braukuche wrote: |
It's two year, 65-66. |
This suggests VW used blue/blue white AND blue/cloud white in the same year (66) on different models of bus. Are you sure? _________________
EverettB wrote: |
I wonder what the nut looks like.
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'62 L390 151, '62 L469 117, '63 L380 113, '64 L87 311, '65 L512 265, '65 L31 SO-42, '66 L360 251, '68 L30k 141, '71 L12 113, '74 ORG 181
FU#5 |
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Squilly Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2011 Posts: 158 Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
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Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 1:14 pm Post subject: Re: 1965 SO42 Westy |
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hitest wrote: |
Braukuche wrote: |
It's two year, 65-66. |
This suggests VW used blue/blue white AND blue/cloud white in the same year (66) on different models of bus. Are you sure? |
Here is a quote I found from Everett in the “Blue White/Sea Blue vs. Cumulus White/Sea Blue” thread:
EverettB wrote: |
Blue-White is 65-only with a Sea Blue bottom half.
Blue-White kicks Cumulus White's butt all over the paint charts. |
The paint and upholstery guide in the technical section also seems to support this. |
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