79 Daily Driver Westy

[type2rescuemaine]

Hi all, time for another thread on yet another bay window westfalia. This time, it happens to be covering the family bus, our 1979 sage green westfalia camper. This thread will be more tracking our adventures than repairs (hopefully )

This bus has been through a lot in a very short period of time. Here's the story:

This bus had been sitting at a repair shop about 20 minutes from our house for a number of years. One day in 2010, my dad (having never owned a bay window bus, and after not owning any sort of bus for over five years) stopped and looked at the bus. At the time, we owned a 1983 Ford Bronco, and my dad asked the owner if he was interested in doing the trade. He was indeed, and we got the camper.

The bus sat at our house for about 5 years, being moved from place around the yard but having nothing really actually done to it. But in 2015, when our garage was completed, we decided it was time to get the bus going. Throughout the winter of 2015-2016, the bus was completely gone-over. Some of the things that were done to it include:
- New top, blasted and sanded
- New seals all-around
- Partial engine rebuild
- Extreme interior and exterior cleanse
- Brake work
- Exterior 'accessorization' (painted bumpers and wheels, stickers, custom handmade tire cover, etc)

Since getting the bus on the road in mid-2016, it has been to countless shows and countless places. It has been to nine states and camped in three. Its longest trip was 1700+ miles round-trip, and it has only been towed home twice. Impressive.

More pics to come!!

[Cap10323]

Great bus! Love the color and the stripe package.
_________________
-Ian

'77 Westfalia - 2.0 F.I

[type2rescuemaine]

[67ctbug]

Saw your guys' bus at the spring dust off down here. Love that tire cover and stripes, great looking bus!
_________________
'67 Beetle L41
'74 Westfalia
'69 Plymouth "Adam-12"
'63 Ragtop
'73 914
'72 Dodge Wrecker
Go Cubs!
World Series Champions 2016

[type2rescuemaine]

[Burlyhammer]

This is the pilot of that bus. To clarify, we were only towed home once. The first time we went camping (lovely 4th of July last year)

We got a good spot for the parade:

And as the photo shows, it was driven home:

Trailer Queen
The first official "professional" towing was as a result of a failed clutch cable link to the pedal. We were on the way to Lee, NH to the VVA luncheon and the link broke. We were only 188 miles from home. Our USAa insurance has roadside protection but for some reason the bus was not covered (it is now, 8 bucks every 6 months). We borrowed AAA from one of our club members and wee towed home. We drove it to Easter dinner at my parents house the next day.

[Burlyhammer]

Lots of photos

First trip on the interstate (the speed limit is 70 in Maine)

First trip to school

Top before and after:

[cmonSTART]

Wow, that top cleaned up better than I would have expected!
_________________
'78 Bus 2.0FI
de K1IGS

[Burlyhammer]

cmonSTART,

We pressure washed it with cold water and used vinyl siding cleaner and a stiff brush. We actually switched tops with another bus I had. Both tops cleaned up equally well, and started out in the same mossy/mildewy state. I switched them because the original one had a crack and I did not want to take the time to fix it then.

[type2rescuemaine]

Burlyhammer (dad),
Now that I think about it, the bus looked much less tacky without those tape stripes on the bumpers.

[Burlyhammer]

Do the sweet custom tape stripes need to come off?

I found out this weekend that I put our canvas incorrectly. We are going to put a new canvas on the 78 One-Owner Westy properly.

[Randy in Maine]

Question...what was the error in installing the canvas? Please describe so we don't make it also.

[type2rescuemaine]

[Abscate]

[type2rescuemaine]

[Pinetops]

Glad to see a thread on this westy. I'm looking forward to your progess. I hope to pick up a late bay camper myself one of these days.
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"A rolling bus gathers no rust."

[Burlyhammer]

It has been a lot of fun. We have already driven it as much this year as we did last year. The only thing it needs is a craftmatic adjustable drivers seat. My aunt saw it and felt sorry for my family. She did not notice the big smiles on our faces. Good times. My barber/friend has a similar SO42 as yours and also a 73 Westy. The bay is in the driveway. Here is a pic of his SO42 with us and another friend last year on a foliage cruise.

Thanks,
Dave

[Pinetops]

Nice!
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"A rolling bus gathers no rust."

[Burlyhammer]

First recorded photo:

Second recorded photo:

First fall foliage cruise in our bus with friends:

[Burlyhammer]

We are getting ready to drive to VT for the Bald Mountain Campout. Formally WestRiverWesties. This will be our first time going as well as the first time taking the bus to VT.
We just picked up this trailer. As soon as it is ready we will be able to bring it around. I posted some info on it in the All State trailer forum. It is wicked cool.