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Mberglo Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2020 Posts: 383 Location: Huntsville, AL
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Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2021 6:45 am Post subject: Re: Helga - Our 71 Westfalia |
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The stereo system is a Bluetooth headless amplifier, connected directly to four speakers. I put an original AM radio in the dash, but it's not hooked up.
This Bluetooth amp has a small controller that I'll mount to the ashtray.
I installed 3.5 Infinity Reference speakers in the center dash cover using some scrap birch.
Here's a picture of an auxiliary fuse panel I installed for the accessories. I assigned two spots for Battery+12v and four spots for Ignition+12v. I have the Bluetooth amp and the backup camera mirror on there currently.
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secretsubmariner Champagne Wrangler
Joined: January 08, 2011 Posts: 3104 Location: Tulsa, OK
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Mberglo Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2020 Posts: 383 Location: Huntsville, AL
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Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2021 7:20 am Post subject: Re: Helga - Our 71 Westfalia |
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Thanks! Samba has been a great resource! |
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71whitewesty Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2010 Posts: 1544 Location: oregon
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Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2021 3:30 pm Post subject: Re: Helga - Our 71 Westfalia |
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You are doing an amazing job with this bus. Really enjoying the thread and all the stuff you're doing on it. _________________ 71 Westy 1600 DP, all stock Bus 1
1970's Snow Trac 1600 SP (sold 12/2016)
1968 Tucker sno cat, sold 2021
1969 Tucker Sno cat 542
2017 VW Alltrac
71 tin top stock 1600 DP (project but runs)
Twin 71 White Westy, Bus 2, that I pulled from a 15 year slumber in a dry eastern WA field in 2015.
1966 Sundial Camper "Boomer" |
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HoboBus Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2016 Posts: 347 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2021 3:50 pm Post subject: Re: Helga - Our 71 Westfalia |
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You do nice work, my only comment is on this fuse panel - I typically dont like the unprotected spade connectors. Leaves too much bare 12v+ for my liking.
Also the unprotected terminals look pretty close to the sheet metal here. A thin piece of black plastic from an old oil bottle, trimmed neatly makes a reasonable insulator here under the fuse panel.
Or just switch to the fully plastic covered crimp connectors, rather than the bare ones.
Just personal preference. _________________ 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. |
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nemobuscaptain Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 3874
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Mberglo Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2020 Posts: 383 Location: Huntsville, AL
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 8:20 am Post subject: Re: Helga - Our 71 Westfalia |
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Quote: |
You do nice work, my only comment is on this fuse panel - I typically dont like the unprotected spade connectors. Leaves too much bare 12v+ for my liking.
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Great feedback, and I don't disagree. I think I'll find some protected connectors and redo this part. Thanks! |
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Mberglo Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2020 Posts: 383 Location: Huntsville, AL
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 8:25 am Post subject: Re: Helga - Our 71 Westfalia |
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I figured there are going to be times when the bus is loaded down to the point where you won't be able to see out the back glass very well. So I installed a VanTop H610 rear view camera mirror. I originally wanted the camera inside the bus behind the cargo glass, but I'll try it just above the gutter rail for now. I'm very pleased with how this works. It has front and rear facing cameras that record to microSD card. Install was straightforward.
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Mberglo Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2020 Posts: 383 Location: Huntsville, AL
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 8:38 am Post subject: Re: Helga - Our 71 Westfalia |
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Dash is just about finished. I mounted the Bluetooth stereo controller to the front of the ashtray. I have it hooked up to a pair of Infinity Reference 3.5s under the dash. The plan is for downward facing 6x9 in the headache rack or speakers in the rear hatch; I haven't decided.
Also installed a dual +12v socket. The plug on the left has dual USBs and a handy voltmeter.
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richparker Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011 Posts: 6986 Location: Durango, CO
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 9:19 am Post subject: Re: Helga - Our 71 Westfalia |
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Build is coming along nicely and in a timely manner. Did you delete the ashtray, or was it already missing? I’m wondering why you choose to delete a factory part (ashtray) and keep the dealer installed radio. I guess I really don’t care since it’s not my bus, but I have been wondering. _________________ __________
’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build |
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Mberglo Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2020 Posts: 383 Location: Huntsville, AL
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 9:28 am Post subject: Re: Helga - Our 71 Westfalia |
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I didn't delete it. I screwed the controller to the face of it. I have a spare ashtray if I choose to put things back to factory. The ashtray is the perfect size and location for the controller, so it was an easy decision. |
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Mberglo Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2020 Posts: 383 Location: Huntsville, AL
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Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 7:43 am Post subject: Re: Helga - Our 71 Westfalia |
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The outside of the bus is pretty much finished at this point. I installed a Jeremy hitch on the back, and that thing is sweet. The bumper and splash pans bolted right up to it, and the bumper is way more secure than the stock mounts. I don't plan on towing anything, but we'll get a cargo rack for our upcoming roadtrip.
My daughter got the honor of placing the VW emblem on the front. This makes such a huge difference!
Last edited by Mberglo on Mon Apr 26, 2021 8:10 am; edited 1 time in total |
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richparker Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011 Posts: 6986 Location: Durango, CO
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Mberglo Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2020 Posts: 383 Location: Huntsville, AL
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Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 7:58 am Post subject: Re: Helga - Our 71 Westfalia |
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My focus has switched back to driving the vehicle and looking for problems. I had a noise in the rear suspension that turned out to be a loose shock bolt. I was relieved to find that to be a minor fix.
The rollup windows are still tight from the new rubber, and I actually pulled the glass out of the mount trying to roll it down. Cleaned the track and rubber, and glued the glass back in with weatherstrip adhesive and gorilla glue. That seems to be holding.
Cleaned the seatbelts with hot water, oxi-clean, and fabric softener. They came out really nice. I had a hard time adjusting them from decades of sitting in the same spot, but I finally got them to move. I know 50 year old belts aren't NASCAR approved, but let's be honest about the safety of these busses...
I REALLY like this digital rear view mirror! The view is super wide and unobstructed. My only complaint is that the surface is also a mirror, so you can get two images (the digital screen and the mirror reflection). You have to focus your eyes differently to ignore the mirror reflection. I found if I aim the mirror down from the backglass, I can minimize the reflected image. At night, it's 100x better than a real mirror.
I've ordered prefinished birch plywood, which should be here in the next day or so. I'll start rebuilding the latebay backseat and the new cabinets. The automotive restoration project is coming to a close, and it's about to turn into a home remodel.
So far, I've put 500 miles on the drivetrain before body and paint, and another 150 miles after reassembly. Highway cruising is comfortable at 55mph, and tolerable at 60mph. Samba research and my Excel-based rpm tool shows I'm probably turning 3500rpm at 60mph. I think the empty interior makes the engine loud and makes me want to avoid higher rpms. I'm still evaluating carb options. I think the stock Solex 34pict3 can't flow enough air to optimize for this 1776. I sent a message to [email protected] to inquire about increasing the venturi. I don't have time to sort any issues with changing to dual carbs before this trip. I feel like I could go with my current setup, but I'm also willing to make some small easy changes if presented that option. |
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richparker Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011 Posts: 6986 Location: Durango, CO
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Mberglo Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2020 Posts: 383 Location: Huntsville, AL
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Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:39 am Post subject: Re: Helga - Our 71 Westfalia |
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Then you have to modify the intake for power brake booster. I get nervous introducing too many new variables with a month to go on the build.
I do like the idea of a single 40 rather than duals though. |
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Anchovy Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2000 Posts: 2922 Location: San Diego, CA
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Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 11:34 am Post subject: Re: Helga - Our 71 Westfalia |
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HoboBus wrote: |
You do nice work, my only comment is on this fuse panel - I typically dont like the unprotected spade connectors. Leaves too much bare 12v+ for my liking.
Also the unprotected terminals look pretty close to the sheet metal here. A thin piece of black plastic from an old oil bottle, trimmed neatly makes a reasonable insulator here under the fuse panel.
Or just switch to the fully plastic covered crimp connectors, rather than the bare ones.
Just personal preference. |
I agree with all the comments about the unprotected terminals being so close to the sheet metal, especially on upstream side of the fuse. When I add circuits I try to use the old style continental fuse blocks. They have screw terminals for the leads and most importantly for the hot line coming to the box. This way you don't have exposed wiring before the fuses and you can use the same continental fuses that are in your main fuse panel.
You may want to consider putting fully insulated slip on connectors at least on the top side of the panel.
Nice work.
Last edited by Anchovy on Mon Apr 26, 2021 11:37 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Mberglo Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2020 Posts: 383 Location: Huntsville, AL
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Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 11:36 am Post subject: Re: Helga - Our 71 Westfalia |
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Roger. Thanks for the comment. I'm going to switch to protected blade connectors. BTW, I HATE the continental (stock) fuses. The most fragile fuse I've ever seen.
Thanks! |
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Mberglo Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2020 Posts: 383 Location: Huntsville, AL
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 10:54 am Post subject: Re: Helga - Our 71 Westfalia |
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Work has started on the interior. We've installed the birch headliner and side panels. We rebuilt the late bay rear seat and got that installed.
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Mberglo Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2020 Posts: 383 Location: Huntsville, AL
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 10:55 am Post subject: Re: Helga - Our 71 Westfalia |
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I took the bus on a route through some of our Appalachian foothills over the weekend. While not the Rockies, we do have some short runs with aggressive grade. I couldn't pull them in 4th gear, and in some cases, was at the top of 2nd gear. Afterwards, I visited my engine builder and we talked carbs. He endorsed the Weber 34 ICT duals, so I placed that order this morning.
I still have to finish cabinets, sink, some electrical, and upholstery. Clock is ticking... |
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