I introduce you to Hobobus, an orange 73 Campmobile

[HoboBus]

Hey all,
First time owner, long time wanter of a Bus, and an ocean-oriented camping Hobo.

I found this 73 in Vermont a few months ago, after looking at a number of $2000-$2500 basket cases. This bus runs and drives, not overly rotted, full camper interior, a tintop which is what I wanted, and sub-$5,000.

After a long talk about the bus on the phone, I loaded up the trailer and gear and made the 4 hour trek north. Most everything works, it was registered and inspected, etc., etc. A far cry from the $2500 buses I was looking at.

I figured I'd be time and money ahead spending a bit more than my $2500 I was thinking I would, and I'd sell most of the camper interior and chrome bumpers, as I wish to have an open floorplan to keep the bicycles inside, and older early-bay bumpers.

Anyway, that's the plan. It's going pretty well so far.
So on to some pics

Here is the bus with the PO. He was a nice guy. (I'm on the right) We took a ride in the bus around his town, agreed on a price, and loaded it up on my trailer for the ride home.

Getting it home was cleaning it all up. Removing the old stickers, etc.

Painted the wheels white and got some new Thunderer tires, based on the reviews here on the Samba.

Got some older early bay bumpers, painted those white, and mounted them up. Is just what I wanted.

Mechanically I've rebuilt the twin weber 34 ICTs, new fuel lines, filter, etc. Still playing with it - it's got a 009 non-vac advance distributor and it seems t stumble off idle. I may go vac advance dizzy. We'll see.

I have new half-shafts to put in, only because a few boots are torn under the bus and new shafts are only $45 each from Rock Auto.

I'll post more pics and update my progress as I go.
Hobo
_________________
Salt air it ain't thin, it'll stick right to your skin,
it'll make you feel fine. Makes you feel fine.
And I wanna be there. -- Jimmy Buffett

Just a beach-oriented camping Hobo with a bus.

[wcfvw69]

Welcome to The Samba and the bus madness! Your bus looks pretty darn clean for a east coast bus! Enjoy!
_________________
Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc

Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.

**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours**

[Abscate]

Welcome Hobo

Save those original half shafts because there are a lot of bad aftermarket ones out there. If they aren't making noise the just need a clean and lube and new boots.

Don't trade them in as cores! Pay the core charge
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.ssS!

[TDCTDI]

Welcome to The samba! It's kinda cool that you got a tag with some sort of VW designation.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[curtp07]

Watch out for Chinese parts.
_________________
Subaru

[Tcash]

Welcome to TheSamba, Bay Window Bus Forum!

73-79 NEWBIE

[HoboBus]

Hey thanks all.

I definitely thought it was cool to get a "VW" in the
tag. Was purely random.

I will surely keep the existing halfshafts as spares.

Thanks for the Newbie content -- I do have a lot to learn
about vws. I'm no stranger to a wrench, and I got two
manuals with the bus also, but not that familiar with the
motor or overall design of the bus. I'm sure I'll have plenty
of questions moving forward.

Thanks for the welcome!

Hobo.
_________________
Salt air it ain't thin, it'll stick right to your skin,
it'll make you feel fine. Makes you feel fine.
And I wanna be there. -- Jimmy Buffett

Just a beach-oriented camping Hobo with a bus.

[Tcash]

Link

[Abscate]

Cue the bears...

If you can do British cars, yourBus will be a breeze....
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.ssS!

[zoobum]

Congrats. I really dig the color. Can’t wait to see you driving it!
_________________
-Zach
1979 CA Riviera 2.0L FI

[MorkC68]

nice looking bus, good luck with your travels!
_________________
Major; 1977 Westfalia Campmobile
- Subaru EJ20
- Koni Classic adjustable dampers & Empi Heavy Duty Anti Roll Bar
- 180W Solar System

My blog: https://twolatebays.wordpress.com/

[HoboBus]

Hey thanks everyone! Love the bears.

So here's the important photo -- Hobobus has passed inspection.

I drove it quite a bit, ran mostly quite well, then had trouble revving up. I was thinking perhaps fuel pump, but then saw that the left carb was leaking from the accelerator pump housing.

I had rebuilt both carbs, maybe I mucked the acc pump diaphragm install. I need to pull the left carb and see. Anyone have any problems with poor quality diaphragms? I bought rebuild kits in orig Weber packaging.

But once warm it ran great otherwise, before the acc pump issue, no real hesitation off idle, and I think the setup should be ok.

Thanks a lot for everyone's help.
Hobo.

_________________
Salt air it ain't thin, it'll stick right to your skin,
it'll make you feel fine. Makes you feel fine.
And I wanna be there. -- Jimmy Buffett

Just a beach-oriented camping Hobo with a bus.

[MorkC68]

Good news on your cool VW Van ...... BUS
_________________
Major; 1977 Westfalia Campmobile
- Subaru EJ20
- Koni Classic adjustable dampers & Empi Heavy Duty Anti Roll Bar
- 180W Solar System

My blog: https://twolatebays.wordpress.com/

[orangebug60guy]

Nice hard top camper. What part of mass are you from? I live in Dudley about 20 minutes south of Worcester. The orange paint is really nice. If you have any problems or need parts let me know.

Congrats on the new bus. Drive it a lot before the snow starts to fall.

Why did you ditch the chrome bumpers? I have a set of late bay white bumpers I’d be willing to trade.
_________________
Arachibutyrophobia- Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.
Coprastasophobia- Fear of constipation.

[curtp07]

May be the pics, but get on that window seal...only gets worse.
_________________
Subaru

[williamM]

[williamM]

[SamboSamba22]

Bays are meant to be Brilliant Orange. I'd say for the price paid, running and mostly complete, you have done well sir. Enjoy yourself, be safe, and go on adventures.

Welcome to the Samba.
_________________
The Bus Barn Ltd. Co.

Oct. ’67 Double Cab (’68 Crew Cab)
[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-44412.png]Click to view image[/URL]
March '69 Delivery (Panel Bus)
[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-44414.png]Click to view image[/URL]

[HoboBus]

Thanks guys. Yeah the windshield seal is split in a few places, and my windshield has a wiper scrape and some white clouding on the edges. Its not too bad, but a new windshield is probably in my future. Won't be till the Spring. I used black rtv and filled in the cracks of the seal, sealed the edges best I could, etc. Rust doesnt look too bad, from what i can see, but ill deal with whatever's under there next Spring. I'm no pro, but I've got a mig welder and not afraid of patch panels if required.

Orangebugguy, I just wasn't into the chrome bumpers. I wanted white painted bumpers and I like the early bay bumper rounded shape. Found some used, and those turned out just how I wanted them.

Never did get to pull that left carb this weekend - had some family obligations. But new acc pump diaphragm is on the way so maybe next weekend.

Hobo.
_________________
Salt air it ain't thin, it'll stick right to your skin,
it'll make you feel fine. Makes you feel fine.
And I wanna be there. -- Jimmy Buffett

Just a beach-oriented camping Hobo with a bus.

[Abscate]

Let's make a date sometime I'm cruising through

I drive by every Tuesday during academic year, from Albany to Boston
_________________
.ssS!