1974 T2 Bay Window build - DZDaisy

[imjackofitall]

DZDaisy, building my home on wheels to explore Australia

Straight on the truck after seeing her for the first time.

First resting place, learning how to restore begin!


Hey folks, reckon it’s about time I kicked off this build log for my bay window bus, Daisy. I’ve had her for a couple of years now, and it’s been a wild ride – and not just with the renovations! Between snapping an ACL and slicing a finger tendon, it’s been a bit of a stop-start journey, but here we are.

Bit of a background on me – I’m a software developer by trade, so you might wonder how I ended up elbow-deep in engine grease. Well, I started my career as a mechanic, didn’t stick with it, but the interest never really faded. Most of my know-how comes from a mix of YouTube deep-dives, local trade courses, and just tinkering around.

The dream of rebuilding a kombi isn’t new; it’s kind of a family legacy. My folks had one, and my grandad was a mad VW mechanic with his yard always full of kombis, bugs, and the like, in various stages of repair. After renting a bay window bus to see if the nostalgia was just a passing fancy, I ended up even more hooked. So, the hunt began for a decent bay window that I could restore and eventually take for a spin around Australia, with my sausage dog as my co-pilot.

I’m aiming to get Daisy road-ready while my four-legged mate is still keen on long road trips, so I’m giving myself about five more years. There’s no real rush; it’s more about enjoying the process and honouring my grandad’s memory.

I’ll keep updating as we go along. Here’s to the journey – bumps, breakdowns, and all. Cheers!


SGT Pepper the Bay Window bus I hired

2L Air cooled on the M1, not bad, loving life

Chip, the sausage approved

[imjackofitall]

My parents BayWindow, trip organised by my Grandad, bus driven by my Uncle and Auntie

If you aren't aware, Cairns to Bamaga is to the tip of Australia, some of the nastiest roads as you get towards the top, especially in 1991!

Parents Bay Window, which later caught on fire with my christmas presents in it... A story for another time

Bogged, nice

What a nice collection for a great trip

One big ant hill

Mmmm ferry crossing

[imjackofitall]

First try, and first fail.

What the cab floor looked like before hand, not to bad...

Afterwards, also, not bad

Why is it a fail?

Well I had no concept of correct rust treatment, opting to carbide disc/wire wheel down to "bare" metal and coat with a rust inhibiting paint.

It has since already started rusting through, after many many youtube videos and chats with other restorers later I have realised the only way is.

1. Get to bare metal
2. Metal condition/Rust convert
3. Clean
4. 2k Expoxy prime
5. ???
6. Profit

All good, I went in to this knowing I would make mistakes, small one, it is what it is

[imjackofitall]

While initially thinking I could just clean the floor, I realised quite quickly it would be smarter to go deeper.... oh dear, more and more rust, we must go deeper.

The start of the removal of the old cab floor

The replacement panel from Brazil, for a LHD, but we will make it work

Not even close to finished, since this time I have dug deeper, found issues with the LH sills under the sliding door, the B piller, the front top hat.... oh well, rust free Kombi.... eventually.

[imjackofitall]

Windscreen was already broken when I bought the bus, good chance to take it out and see what is underneath....

This copper? Brass? brazing is pretty ubitquitous on this bus unfortunately. Going to be taking any of it near where I have to repair out. All TIG or MIG welded for me thanks.

See this quite a big on this bus, quite an AVERAGE repair, then fillter straight over the top.

Would love to know what they were thinking

A collection of what I have cut out so far

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1974 T2 Bay Window Build - DZDaisy

[metahacker]

[imjackofitall]