Author |
Message |
type2rescuemaine Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2016 Posts: 336 Location: Maine
|
Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 6:33 pm Post subject: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
Hi all. My dad and I have recently taken on yet another project (as if we didn't already have enough). This time, it happens to be a 1978 Westfalia.
Throughout the past several years, this bus had been sitting at an auto repair shop about an hour from my house looking very sad and lonely. We stopped and asked if it was for sale once or twice, and we were met with the answer that it was a customer's bus and was not for sale.
Within the past year, the bus showed up in another location: a house closer to ours. My dad stopped at the house with our bus (a similar looking '79 Westy) and asked the couple that answered the door what was up with the bus in their driveway. They said they were the original owners; they had owned it since the 70's. It looked very good for an original bus:
(In our garage)
My dad asked the owners what their plans were with the bus, and they said they were looking for someone to do some repairs on the bus and get it to 100% so they could drive it again. My dad offered to give them an estimate on what these repairs would cost, and they agreed that that sounded good.
We ended up being too late getting around to it last fall, and by the time snow came we said we'd have to get around to it the following spring (right about now). As soon as we were able, we went and collected the bus and brought it back home. We came up with an estimate as to how much everything would cost the owners, and they agreed to have it done.
This will be a good little summer project for my dad and I; we plan on having it done by the time the big Maine VW car show rolls around. The work that needs to be done on it includes (but is not limited to):
- New tent
- Pop top and window Seals
- Engine work
- Minor rust/body work
- Re-do rims
- Minor interior replacements/touches
P.S. I apologize for the solitary two pictures, many more are on the way. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
type2rescuemaine Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2016 Posts: 336 Location: Maine
|
Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 6:37 pm Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
Also, please post a reply if you want. I'm always up for 'Volkswagen talk.' |
|
Back to top |
|
|
KentABQ Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2016 Posts: 2406 Location: Albuquerque NM
|
Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 7:28 am Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
When I first started reading your latest thread, my first thought was "that lucky little SOB got another one already???" Lol!
It's great you and your father are helping to get this Westy back on the road. Keep up the good work! _________________ -Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"
"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea
Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Randy in Maine Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003 Posts: 34890 Location: The Beach
|
Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 9:21 am Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
Let me know if you need something, but I am down here in OOB. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
type2rescuemaine Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2016 Posts: 336 Location: Maine
|
Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 7:45 am Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
KentPS-
Haha, I wish. This bus too nice for me though.
Randy in Maine-
Thanks. It is very possible that we will need some parts in the future. I'll send you a PM or email if I think of something. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Globespotter Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2012 Posts: 1765 Location: Newmarket, ON
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
type2rescuemaine Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2016 Posts: 336 Location: Maine
|
Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 3:53 pm Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
Globespotter,
It's a July 1978 bus... does that make it 1979 model year? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51057 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
|
Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 6:04 pm Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
type2rescuemaine wrote: |
Globespotter,
It's a July 1978 bus... does that make it 1979 model year? |
Nope, but it's a very late 78, lots of 79 features on those. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Globespotter Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2012 Posts: 1765 Location: Newmarket, ON
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Vw.espa Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2014 Posts: 61 Location: Slovenia
|
Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 11:04 am Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
Great bus you two found!!!
Looking forward to seeing the progres and touches l m also become a happy owner of Helsinki 78 for one week or so..enoying it every second restoring it back to original but not many i formations found on net for really specific details.. this about stickers is one of the questions..
Whats the story with stickers and t2 westfalias?and roof top window..bumper rubber..diferent (big)table model..etc
About stickers...I don't find any on mine..78 year...SO 73/7 Helsinki
Thanks in advance |
|
Back to top |
|
|
type2rescuemaine Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2016 Posts: 336 Location: Maine
|
Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 3:40 am Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
I finally took some decent pictures of the bus:
Well, our trip to the Bug-Out in Virginia is next weekend; lots to be done. Hopefully our 79 Westy (not this bus) can take it. Wish us luck!! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
type2rescuemaine Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2016 Posts: 336 Location: Maine
|
Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2017 4:28 pm Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
We finally got the bus into the garage to do some light work and create a bit more solid plan.
First, we got the front bumper and spare tire off of the nose:
Next, the rear bumper:
After removing the rear bumper, a bit of rust (which will soon be repaired) was revealed:
I also removed the front headliner and cleared the interior:
We also popped the top, and in doing so the top was ripped (we had already bought one, thankfully):
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Burlyhammer Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1693 Location: Great north woods Maine
|
Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2017 5:28 pm Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
We have made some progress on the Westy. The bumpers are off in order to clean up or paint. We have some metal work to do in the back end. The rear valance and the battery tray will be repaired. The first thing this bus needed was the Chrysler hub cap removed.
Before:
After:
The front of the bus is in great shape. There are alot of paint chips, but no rust or dents. Probably just some paint touching up.
The spare tire carrier was put on at the dealer. The galvanized coating is still shiny, and you can still read the sticker:
I removed the front bumper, and the bolts still had the zinc on them. I do not believe the bumper has ever been off.
The bus has just over 100,000 miles, and I am told that the engine has never been rebuilt. The valve train was noisy when running, so I planned to adjust the valves to see if I could get it to sound a little better. I was unable to loosen the adjuster screws with the rocker arms still bolted to the heads, so I removed them. I am not sure when the last time these moved, but it has been a while. The adjuster ends were worn from the valve stems:
I finally got them all moving:
With the help of a little:
I also found four of the lifters to be stuck. I am going to replace all 8 so there will be no further issue. While we wait for the lifters to get here, we are going to get the top off so the canvas can be replaced.
It is really cool working on this bus. When I first saw it I thought it was a nice straight bus. It was amazing to find out that the owners bought it new. Our bus is the same color, and has the same interior. I always wondered what the draw was when someone saw these at the dealer back in the day. I love the way these buses look, but they are definitely funky looking. I asked the owner what made them want to buy the bus and was told that their family had been on a 4 day camping trip in a tent and it rained the whole time. After they came back from their trip, they went to the VW dealer and traded in their Rabbit towards the camper. "It was either the green one, or the brown one. The green one won." The owners of this bus are looking for some photos with the bus. We are hoping to post them if they are able to find some. More to follow. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Burlyhammer Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1693 Location: Great north woods Maine
|
Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 2:58 am Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
More progress: we replaced the lifters and the engine now sounds like a sewing machine. I was extremely pleased with that. We are now getting to the top and some rusty areas:
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
rusty busty Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2015 Posts: 310 Location: Vancouver BC
|
Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:05 am Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
Burlyhammer wrote: |
"It was either the green one, or the brown one. The green one won." |
Interesting. Maybe the brown one was a champagne edition bus.
Nice bus even if it's not the brown one _________________ 1978 CEII Get-away hightop |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Burlyhammer Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1693 Location: Great north woods Maine
|
Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:11 am Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
RB,
It's crazy how complete it is. All of the rims have 5/78 stamped on them. All of the curtains have the plastic tie downs, the front curtain is there. It is a fun one to work on.
Thanks |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Burlyhammer Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1693 Location: Great north woods Maine
|
Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 5:05 pm Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
We now have the canvas removed and the top off. We are going to get the top cleaned up. It looks better now that it is off. I was not sure if it would need to be re-gel coated. It looks like it will clean up pretty well. The roof area that was covered by the top looks good mostly. Once we wash it we will see.
We removed the rear reflectors and uncovered a couple more rusty areas
No worries. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Burlyhammer Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1693 Location: Great north woods Maine
|
Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 7:00 am Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
More progress: Thorin removed the aluminum strips that were holding down the canvas and got the roof cleaned up. It will need to be wiped down again, and possibly touched up a little. We got the top cleaned off. We used a combination of Simple Green, and siding cleaner along with pressure washing. It is looking pretty good. We also wet sanded the rust streaks on the top left by the mounting haedware with 240 then 400 grit paper. There is one crack in the top right above the rearmost inside wood tack strip. I think I will fill it with some chopped fiberglass and resin or gel coat. I will post some pictures of that process. Here is where we are now:
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
67ctbug Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2016 Posts: 3619 Location: CT
|
Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 7:33 am Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
Looks good, however I would advise against pressure washing the top. I read somewhere it messes with the fiberglass. _________________ '67 Beetle L41
'74 Westfalia
'69 Plymouth "Adam-12"
'63 Ragtop
'73 914
'73 Dodge W200
'72 Dodge Wrecker
Go Cubs!
World Series Champions 2016
KentPS wrote: |
...or the PO envied the terrorists' bus in "Back to the Future". |
mukluk wrote: |
He's fine, just waiting for the dragon in winklepickers to move out of his lane. |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Burlyhammer Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1693 Location: Great north woods Maine
|
Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 7:37 am Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy |
|
|
67ctbug,
I have also heard that. I made sure to keep a good distance from the top when I was pressure washing. I did mine last year the same way with no problems.
Thanks |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|