Here's Sonya, a Mexican 1974 beauty

[Tom Powell]

[TitoMX]

Ok that’s funny.....I have a Mexican Bus and his name is Tito (seriously). I never expected that there was a Tita out there.

[tonysantacruz]

[tonysantacruz]

Also, I’ve seen a few fuel gauges from 73-75 and they have a vibrator, and mine doesn’t have one. Not sure if it needs it or it never had it; looks pretty smooth from the back.

[tonysantacruz]

Swung by the shop today, removed the plastic covers and took a peek: ack! Original panel floor has been replaced by sheet metal, I think. Gonna post pictures later. Looking for replacement options.

[tonysantacruz]

Here’s the engine with the new muffler. Hole has been fixed.

Here’s the below the floor tour:

[tonysantacruz]

[tonysantacruz]

[tonysantacruz]

Floor is gone, replacement is on its way and I decided to take a look under the floorboards. Lots of sanding, welding and rustproofing left to do.

And another picture of the dash. Lots of love needed there. Replacement windshield wiper lever is also under negotiations. On the dash they left the original headlight button, but they put the lighter next to it, and then they bypassed the steering column switch and put the wipers to the right, using another headlight pull-button. The hazard lights were replaced by a rectangular one, from a post 80s bus, I think. All that is getting moved to its proper position.

[tonysantacruz]

Replacement parts are stsrting to show up. I think the body work can begin in earnest as early as next week. Got the filter, door handles, sun blocking thingees, windows seals...
Incidentally, what is going on with the headlight? Needs to be tightened from the inside?

[tonysantacruz]

Oh, and someone told me that there should be a seal or some sort of plastic/rubber thing here, between the track cover and the metal from the bus. To keep it from getting water or something.
Not sure if this is true, just wanted to see if anyone has heard of it.

[Bendejo]

Yes there is rubber that goes over the vertical section of the track cover, maybe for cushion between the parts.

Installing them can be challenging. I got mine from Wolfsburg West.

[tonysantacruz]

[tonysantacruz]

Here's the fuel tank, for the "which lines come out of it" question:

[tonysantacruz]

The Thing oil bath is here.
I had some questions about what went where, but I found this thread ( https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=404060 ) for a Thing and I hope I can extrapolate the answers and put them correctly on the bus. I’ll send pictures.
Here 8t is:

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[tonysantacruz]

Body work has begun:

[busdaddy]

[tonysantacruz]

They took out the fuel tank and, lo and behold, the fuel breathing lines were not connected to a canister. I'm thinking that's why the bus smelled like gas. Canister being sought after and will be installed.

Original sender. I'm told it's dead, Jim.

More paint coming off.

[tonysantacruz]

[tonysantacruz]

Work keeps chugging along.

Now here are the colors I want. The red looks fine, but the pastel white looks a bit rich to me. I think I’m going to ask them to tone it down.