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Riff Raff Shivering Sambian
Joined: October 25, 2004 Posts: 3096 Location: Alberta
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Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2020 8:44 am Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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Bravo!
You make it look easy.
Carry on. _________________ The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance, but the illusion of knowledge
- Daniel Boorstin |
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apexxn Samba Member
Joined: September 09, 2002 Posts: 39 Location: Southern California
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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2020 1:33 pm Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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ronjonlasvegas wrote: |
I say if you take a VW bus without a nose that was being used as a shed and bring it back to the road you can do what ever you want with it. |
True That!
Nice job and a lot of work.......I've been trying to find the energy to just replace my rocker. |
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Shoyrtt Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010 Posts: 1007 Location: Redlands, CA
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Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 10:58 pm Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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The Franken Project was on the shelf for a long time as her owner bought a boat last year that needed lots of tinkering. The bus was loaded up tonight and is headed up the I-15 to Idaho for the next stage.
This got in the way
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tisius Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2011 Posts: 1570 Location: Rotterdam,NL (+Chicago,IL)
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 2:15 am Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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Idaho....Did you sell the bus? _________________ drive it like you just robbed the bank
you don't have to be crazy to be into VW's, but it sure helps!!
.... if it ain't dutch, it ain't much! |
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62DoKaGuy Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2011 Posts: 1276 Location: Surprise, AZ
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 6:34 am Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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Shoyrtt wrote: |
This got in the way
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It’s the effin Catalina wine mixer! So, did you sell the bus to fund the boat, or, like the kid in all of us, get a new toy and forget the old? Haha _________________ ,,Wenige Menschen denken, und doch wollen alle entscheiden.'' -der Alte Fritz
EverettB wrote: |
...I went at it from both ends but going from the rear didn't seem to do anything, although I did spray some rust breaker in there... |
4/62 Double Cab
5/61 Panel (sold)
4/59 Single Cab (sold) |
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Shoyrtt Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010 Posts: 1007 Location: Redlands, CA
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 7:01 am Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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62DoKaGuy wrote: |
It’s the effin Catalina wine mixer! So, did you sell the bus to fund the boat, or, like the kid in all of us, get a new toy and forget the old? Haha |
Yes the new toy easily distracted me. I joke that I like old VWs because they are “tinker mobiles” always needing a little attention. I found out boats are even worse, so the bus was collecting dust. I didn’t sell the bus, she is on the way to a buddy’s shop so the work can continue and I can keep tinkering on the boat. |
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Shoyrtt Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010 Posts: 1007 Location: Redlands, CA
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Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2022 8:28 am Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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Here is a little update on the Frankenbus. We put an Autowerks air beam on the bus along with a WagensWest/Wilwood brake set. I like the stance on it.
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John Ghia Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2004 Posts: 277
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Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2023 10:03 am Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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Any updates? _________________ BUS BOYZ |
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Shoyrtt Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010 Posts: 1007 Location: Redlands, CA
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Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2023 4:00 pm Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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John Ghia wrote: |
Any updates? |
Just a few. After the suspension install we wanted to start on the engine. I had Rick Wright build the 68 bug transmission to handle up to 200hp for what I was planning. Again this is a Frankenbus so the purists will definitely need to avert/divert your eyes.
I picked up a 2001 Subaru Outback with a rebuilt EJ25 engine and 5 speed for $400. The car was really clean except that the rear diff was locked up.
The EJ 25 is a little wider than a ACVW so we did have to trim a little sheet metal in the engine bay. I also picked up a low profile oil pan so that everything is above the transmission cradle.
We got the decklid and a new apron installed that also needed some trimming.
Right now we are working on the exhaust. I picked up a stainless steel header, but it hung way too low. Here it is reworked and shortened. Next up is the driver's side and the muffler. I need to buy some bumpers for it to get the muffler position correct.
More updates to come.
Last edited by Shoyrtt on Tue Jan 10, 2023 12:11 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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John Ghia Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2004 Posts: 277
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Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2023 6:00 pm Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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Ironic that everything you trimmed I’m trying to fix on my 56 because it had a Corvair drivetrain.
So where’s the Rad going? _________________ BUS BOYZ |
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Shoyrtt Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010 Posts: 1007 Location: Redlands, CA
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Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2023 6:24 pm Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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John Ghia wrote: |
Ironic that everything you trimmed I’m trying to fix on my 56 because it had a Corvair drivetrain.
So where’s the Rad going? |
The trimming wasn't too bad on the sides. The apron is a repop piece so no issues on cutting it as needed. If I had opted for the 2.2 (EJ22 engine) no trimming is necessary. Radiator will go between the frame rails. I'm thinking something similar to this but tucked up a little higher:
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Shoyrtt Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010 Posts: 1007 Location: Redlands, CA
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 8:04 pm Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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Here are a couple of pictures of what I am shooting for with the radiator. It’s got to be close to the level of the frame rails with the bus being lowered.
And here is a nice diagram of a plumbing and fan layout. Luckily this isn’t a new swap in the VW world.
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Shoyrtt Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010 Posts: 1007 Location: Redlands, CA
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2023 3:12 pm Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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Radiator in place. Fans, plumbing and ducting are next.
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Shoyrtt Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010 Posts: 1007 Location: Redlands, CA
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2023 11:11 am Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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Ribbed bumpers from ISP West arrived along with a decklid prop from Resto Bus Parts.
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Shoyrtt Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010 Posts: 1007 Location: Redlands, CA
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Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:31 pm Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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Does anyone know where ISP West obtains their rear ribbed bumpers from? The front is clearly a Gerson unit. Maybe Autocraft? I would guess a majority of the aftermarket metal on the bus came from Wolfsburg West, with Klassic Fab in a close second.
If you are wondering, that is a 2.4 Ecotec in the Baja Bug. |
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John Ghia Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2004 Posts: 277
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Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 12:33 am Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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Moving right along. _________________ BUS BOYZ |
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Matt_H Samba Member
Joined: August 09, 2022 Posts: 25 Location: Cornwall, UK
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Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 1:44 pm Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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I thought this was my van for a second !
We should definitely swap notes, meet my 1959 Project : )
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Shoyrtt Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010 Posts: 1007 Location: Redlands, CA
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Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 5:01 pm Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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Matt_H wrote: |
I thought this was my van for a second !
We should definitely swap notes, meet my 1959 Project : )
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That looks great! I like to see I'm not alone with the swap. You see a lot of Bay and Vanagon people who do this, but not so much in the Split world. |
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Shoyrtt Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010 Posts: 1007 Location: Redlands, CA
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Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 5:13 pm Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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Here is the front bumper in place. Lots of Gerson funky green going on.
For the fuel system, I was going to buy an aftermarket 15 gallon cell that was set up with an in-tank pump and return for the fuel injection. The problem with that tank is it makes filling from the stock location difficult with the angles the hose will have to take. Instead we decided to just use a new stock tank and add a return in the neck. I'll just have an external pump and regulator. If we run into vapor lock issues, there is a trick we can use that we have used on the desert cars to cool the fuel.
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Matt_H Samba Member
Joined: August 09, 2022 Posts: 25 Location: Cornwall, UK
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Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2023 10:37 am Post subject: Re: The 1959 Franken Project |
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Shoyrtt wrote: |
Matt_H wrote: |
I thought this was my van for a second !
We should definitely swap notes, meet my 1959 Project : )
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That looks great! I like to see I'm not alone with the swap. You see a lot of Bay and Vanagon people who do this, but not so much in the Split world. |
A few more photos here https://www.instagram.com/the.cornish.one/
I started planning mine way back in 2015 and had a few threads on here about it, but sadly they all got lost (as well as my profile) so I'm now here looking like a newbie |
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