A Pick-Em Up Truck Tale - 1968 Double Cab

[Ceckert64]

Nice job! It looks great!
_________________
1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop

[SamboSamba22]

Thank you for the kind words. It’s been a fun project.
_________________
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]

[vintage water]

Hi !
it's a beautiful rescue, congratulations

[SamboSamba22]

[Merling]

I like that steering wheel too. I'm doing the epoxy fix on my old wheel right now but I'd consider one of those. I've got a 1970, I assume it attaches like the OEM wheel?

[SamboSamba22]

[blue72beetle]

How do you like the AAC steering wheel? I'd like to get one, but they're pricey $$$
_________________
-Andy-
-1970 Ghia-
-1971 Bus 1776 Microsquirt EFI-

[SamboSamba22]

Believe it or not, the covers (and my door panels) are #3 Tan. From my experience TMI’s “Tan” matches the original beige vinyl leatherette best.

And yes, basketweave as all seats 68-73 would’ve come from VW.

A pair of hog-ring pliers and hog rings. Used WW seat padding, WW cotton seat jute and 3M headliner adhesive. Other than my welder for a couple broken welds on the back rests, no special tools were needed. Firm finger tips and patience.

Hope that helps brotha,


Sam
_________________
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]

[dstimm]

[SamboSamba22]

[SamboSamba22]

[jtauxe]

Aha - the first time I've seen the inside of your truck. It looks great! I am not a fan of vinyl, since it gets sticky in the summer (I went with a tweed from Sewfine), but as you point out, it suits your application. It is also a reasonable match for the rear seat, which I presume is original.

I know you are enjoying the heck out of that thing.
_________________
John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD

[metz]

Damn, that is looking sweet! I really need to up the light-game in the dash too.
_________________
68 panel
64 ghia coupe

[SamboSamba22]

The most recent project has been very much appreciated. and delayed by supply and demand. Seat covers from TMI took just over 8 weeks to arrive, finally allowing me to tackle my busted up seats.

Driver seat with the original tan cover removed

Passenger seat in need of much love

I scrubbed up and painted the seat frames and springs. Truthfully, for their age, and the condition the trucks been through life's paces, they weren't too bad. Had to weld on both, pass. and driver seat on the back rest pad area.

Wolfsburg West's "horse hair" seat padding, using the factory style jute padding to "fill" the seat along the piping areas.

I also placed the jute padding underneath the horse hair padding on the bottom and back rest to protect the padding from the springs and hopefully contain some future mess in the event if the seat padding begins to fall apart.

Driver seat. The front section of the seat piping is a little lower than I'd like, but overall happy with it's finish.

Passenger seat piping laid much better. I had to add some more jute padding above the seat padding due to either the seat cover being stitched a tad larger than needed, or from year's of a thick ass from the crew's help. Who knows.

The finished product:

The seats are a lot firmer than the previous worn out, fallen apart padding. It's been about two weeks since I first fitted the new covers and pads, and they have softened up a touch, but not much. I happen to like the firmness, as with bumps and long hauls the back/ass support is appreciated. The horse hair isn't exactly identical to the original stuff, seems more like a horse hair pad sprayed with adhesives rather than woven. This difference causes me to think the subject of firmer seat pads versus original horse hair pads. Still very nice, and the only options I know if looking for original style seat padding.

The Wolfsburg West seat pads fit well, but the passenger seat didn't fit as clean as the bucket driver seat. Seemed just a tad short to wrap around the side seat frames. Still wrapped around them, but could've used another 3/8"/ 1/2".

The TMI seat covers I'm happy with, being heat seamed as original is a very nice touch. Also having the basket weave is great. The vinyl itself isn't plush or anything, but good enough for the price point and especially appropriate for my application (being used, worked in, dirty pants, swimming trunks, etc...).

Overall, less back ache, more smiles within the miles, and less bitching from the lady about a sore ass. Seems well worth the time and trouble.


The only other project I've tackled over the last 6 months is the dash lighting. I had the AAC tachometer without installing it forever, so I changed that. And when doing so, I wanted to wire in the VDO clock light, along with the tachometer light. These lights are wired into the headlight switch to the dimmer relay terminal so they can be dimmed and turned on as stock. When doing the dash lights work, I replaced the original bulbs with the next brightest bulbs (2.1w/2.3w) Makes a world of difference at night. And with everything working, it sure makes me feel fancy.

Sam
_________________
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]

[SamboSamba22]

It's hard to believe I haven't shared any of my time and effort on the double cab since March!

Haven't really tackled much, as I've just been enjoying driving and using it damn near daily. Makes the 30 minute commute from the house to my shop numerous times throughout the week.

Some various shots of the bus (and myself) enjoying life in the slow lane:

Downtown Benton, Arkansas

Closing up shop later one evening early summer

Downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas (Overlook Mountain)

Driving I-40 towards the Catoosa, Oklahoma Show back in April

Bring used as my front door replacement wagon at my parents' house

Shipping container supply along I-30 just south of Little Rock, Arkansas

Here I am enjoying a breezy summer day cruising Highway 5 (Civil War Trail/Trail of Tears) towards Hot Springs, Arkansas

So as you can see, the ole truck is being loved, used, and admired.
_________________
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]

[SamboSamba22]

[Wasted youth]

[jeb1978]

What brand of ball joints did you end up using for replacements? Or did you go the rebuilt torsion arm route? Any stiff steering afterwards?
_________________
1969 Westfalia 1600 Single Port

[SamboSamba22]

[Wasted youth]