EarlyLoaf's 68 Bus Project Post

[EarlyLoaf]

I purchased this 1968 bus back in July from a good friend of mine, and brought her home in October after we moved. I have finally gotten around to creating a project post. My plan is to go through almost everything on this bus. I won't be able to do everything myself due to time mainly, and skills when it comes to body and paint, but I do plan on spending what it takes to make it right!

Here she is the day I bought her!

And the day she came home!

I can't wait to share the journey here!

[EarlyLoaf]

Engine and transaxle were pulled and set off to some local old school guys! Going up to 1776cc with dual carbs!

[EarlyLoaf]

Pulled the gas tank and it looks really good inside! I'll still do a treatment on it though. I might also put in a new sending unit since it's out. not sure of the condition of the old one, as I never did drive this thing. Any thoughts on that?

[EarlyLoaf]

On to the rear brakes and axle. got all new parts ordered. I had to remove one of the bearing housings due to a stuck shock mount bolt. Had to put it on a 20 ton press and then persuade it with a torch. this thing was STUCK! I'll probably just pull the other side too so I can clean them both up and paint.

[skills@eurocarsplus]

what's the door date on this?

from what i can see, you have 68 door handles, 69 and up wipers and a gas tank firewall which early 68's didn't have

looks like a solid bus
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[busdaddy]

You'll probably have to date it with the M plate, 68's have a different door sticker, like below:

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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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Слава Україні!

[aeromech]

Lots of grime but I'm thinking you have a 1968 transmission with the acorn nuts. If so I don't believe it's rebuildable. If that's the case and it works you can clean it up and sell it for $400 or so and buy the 1969/1970 tranny outright somewhere. Send the original fuel sender to Telford Dorr who can rebuild it. Much better than buying new. Send the tank to a radiator shop to be boiled out. Don't use any products like POR15

Nice bus.
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Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[sodbuster]

[Buggeee]

That is a very pretty bus. Congratulations

Don't be afraid of the torch. I love the tool and reach right for it at first sign of resistance. Mapp gas (yellow bottle) is the ticket, it burns hot. Get that nut or bolt red hot, you will see the rust combusting like little bright flakes. My daughter knows chemistry and she informed me the combustion actually burns the rust away. Much less chance of breaking off and often times threads are clean when it rotates out. I rotate it while it's still really freaking hot.

Wow, I do love that color blue.
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Big Time 1988 Vanagon Westy
Release the Krankenwagen! 1966 Sportsmobile Camper
Dr. Kompressor 72 Super Duper
61 Turkis Pile (adopted out)

[EarlyLoaf]

[EarlyLoaf]

Alright, need help decoding this! I looked in the technical section but still can't figure it out! To me it seems the VIN number should start with 218 and not 228?

It's got the early 68 brakes (according to the bently manual), but it has a firewall. It had 68 door handles but the original paint and interior seem to be only available in 69 according to the technical section here on the Samba. Someone had commented that the trans seems to be a 68. It doesn't have the 68 wipers, but those would have been easy to swap.

Any help greatly appreciated!

[EarlyLoaf]

OK I got it now! the second "2" in the VIN is the model type, in this case a microbus?

[nemobuscaptain]

[busdaddy]

The painted plate behind the LF seat offers much more information.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!

[EarlyLoaf]

[EarlyLoaf]

Looking for suggestions on cleaning up/paining the suspension and underneath here. What’s the best way to get rid of the dirt, oil, grime, rust, etc? Does it come down to some good old fashioned manual labor? I’ve started with purple power, and a wire brush lol. I’ll probably bead blast and paint the bearing housings and brake backings since they’re out anyway. I was thinking about using POR15. Let me know what you all think!

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"No description available for special paint jobs"

Check out my project!

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=766509&highlight=

[Ry-dog]

I used POR-15 on my undercarriage 20+ years ago and it appears to be holding up well. I used the marine clean + metal ready stuff that POR-15 sells (followed instructions to the T). I ended up using a half face respirator and safety glasses as I was under the bus b/c of close quarters (VOCs from the paint) and drips in the face. Good luck with it all - keep up the good work!
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'70 Westy
'14 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel

[EarlyLoaf]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

POR-15 is shit these days. look lit up, it comes off by the sheet.

I would soak the hell out of everything with Super Clean. Not purple power, not grape Kool-Aid real Super clean. Hit it with a pressure washer. Heated pressure washer is better if you have one.

i've done this a few times

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[EarlyLoaf]