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78 One-Owner Westy
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type2rescuemaine
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PostPosted: Sat May 06, 2017 6:33 pm    Post subject: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

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:


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(In our garage)
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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.
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type2rescuemaine
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PostPosted: Sat May 06, 2017 6:37 pm    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

Also, please post a reply if you want. I'm always up for 'Volkswagen talk.' Very Happy
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KentABQ Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sun May 07, 2017 7:28 am    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

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!
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Randy in Maine
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PostPosted: Sun May 07, 2017 9:21 am    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

Let me know if you need something, but I am down here in OOB.
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type2rescuemaine
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PostPosted: Wed May 10, 2017 7:45 am    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

KentPS-

Haha, I wish. This bus too nice for me though. Very Happy

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.
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Globespotter
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PostPosted: Wed May 10, 2017 9:47 am    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

If that is all original, it's a 79.
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1977 Westfalia - October 2015 - Current
1971 Super Beetle - May 2012 - Current
1979 Westfalia - 1986-1991
1971 Super Beetle - 1977-1980

1971 SB Survivor Story: https://globespotter.com/
Road Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=511800&highlight=
My 77 Westy Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647114&highlight=

http://vw-mplate.com/mcode.php?lang=EN&id=30990
https://vw-type2-id.xyz/mplate/72067382
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type2rescuemaine
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PostPosted: Wed May 10, 2017 3:53 pm    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

Globespotter,
It's a July 1978 bus... does that make it 1979 model year?
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busdaddy
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PostPosted: Wed May 10, 2017 6:04 pm    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

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.
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Globespotter
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PostPosted: Thu May 11, 2017 8:49 am    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

I know the Westfalia sticker was only originally on 79's. Maybe on late 78's?
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1977 Westfalia - October 2015 - Current
1971 Super Beetle - May 2012 - Current
1979 Westfalia - 1986-1991
1971 Super Beetle - 1977-1980

1971 SB Survivor Story: https://globespotter.com/
Road Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=511800&highlight=
My 77 Westy Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647114&highlight=

http://vw-mplate.com/mcode.php?lang=EN&id=30990
https://vw-type2-id.xyz/mplate/72067382
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Vw.espa
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PostPosted: Thu May 11, 2017 11:04 am    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

Great bus you two found!!!
Looking forward to seeing the progres and touches Smile 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
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type2rescuemaine
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PostPosted: Mon May 22, 2017 3:40 am    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

I finally took some decent pictures of the bus:

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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!!
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type2rescuemaine
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 03, 2017 4:28 pm    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

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:

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Next, the rear bumper:

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After removing the rear bumper, a bit of rust (which will soon be repaired) was revealed:


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I also removed the front headliner and cleared the interior:

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We also popped the top, and in doing so the top was ripped (we had already bought one, thankfully):

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Burlyhammer
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 03, 2017 5:28 pm    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

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:
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After:
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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.

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The spare tire carrier was put on at the dealer. The galvanized coating is still shiny, and you can still read the sticker:
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I removed the front bumper, and the bolts still had the zinc on them. I do not believe the bumper has ever been off.

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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:

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I finally got them all moving:

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With the help of a little:

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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.
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Burlyhammer
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 2:58 am    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

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:
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rusty busty
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:05 am    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

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 Wink
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Burlyhammer
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:11 am    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

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
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Burlyhammer
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 5:05 pm    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

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.
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We removed the rear reflectors and uncovered a couple more rusty areas
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No worries.
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Burlyhammer
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 7:00 am    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

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:
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67ctbug
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 7:33 am    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

Looks good, however I would advise against pressure washing the top. I read somewhere it messes with the fiberglass.
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...or the PO envied the terrorists' bus in "Back to the Future". Laughing

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Burlyhammer
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 7:37 am    Post subject: Re: 78 One-Owner Westy Reply with quote

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
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