'71 White Wagon

[AoT]

After seeing how harsh the winter months are around here made room in the garage for the bus. Needs some shelter from the storm. It was a tight fit but made it work. Can roll it out with room to spare if I need garage space for a project.




Made a list of open times to remember to do. Just passed year # 3 for the bus. The adventure continues !!

Have the Wonder as a backup for ACVW travels over the winter!!

[Glenn]

Just passed year # 3 for the bus.

Wow.. that went fast.

[AoT]

Miss having garage space over the winter but after 24 hours of snowy rain glad the bus is tucked for the winter. Got the Wonder under a four season cover. They are showing their age and need some extra TLC. Getting anxious to pick up on pending projects.

[AoT]

And so another season begins...

Got the bus cranked over yesterday and it is back on the road. Took it for a good ride on the parkway to get the battery charged up. It needed a little tickle to turn over. I have a few items on the checklist to get it cruising ready but it was fun to be back behind the wheel.

[Glenn]

It needed a little tickle to turn over.

It's not the only one that needs it.

[Raj]

looking sharp as always!

[AoT]

After a busy few months finally made some time for the VW's. I removed the door handles from the bus to send them out to get keyed to match the other doors. Wish I thought to do this when I was redoing the door panels as I had to remove the moisture barrier and my homemade panels to get access but better late than not.

Much to my surprise the handles were screwed on with 5mm hex nut. I went through my arsenal of hex keys and wasn't finding a match, either too big or too small. Never bought metric ones. Finally found one that had the ball on the end and it was just right!! Hoping to get then out in the mail tomorrow and back soon.

The bus and the bug have been having battery issues and the bus was dead when I tried it on Sunday and it has been plagued going back to the fall. I have been cheating to get it started but not really letting it charge up, so I put the battery charger on it overnight and even though the draw went down it would not turn over today. I tried to start the Wonder today as well and after two tries to turn over that also kicked the can. I put the battery charger on it and gave it a few hours. The Wonder turned over on the first try but this battery goes back to our first dance in 2009 and I guess it's time to buy a new one to tango with!! Both batteries are out and loaded in the Madza to get replacements. I guess this is the response I get when they have been ignored most of the spring weather.

Felt good to be back working on the vw's and making a list of things to do!

[Markus]

One of the handiest things I bought for my bus is a quick disconnect for the battery ground post. Got it at Flaps and it just has a little wheel you tighten or loosen. Has not failed me and beats having to dig out a 13m wrench to get to that rounded off nut on the post.

Easy peasy for the winter or any time you think you wont be driving the car for a while.

[AoT]

Well put the new batteries in on Saturday and the bug started on the first crank, nice and strong. Took it out for a long run on Ocean Pky and down to Long Beach.

When I got home I went to start the bus and it had nothing. When I turned the key the panel lights came on but nothing after that. not a peep!! Figure it must be the starter or ignition switch. Had some discussions with vw people over the weekend and this afternoon I got out my remote starter that I made when I was having carb issues. Put the female connector on the male spade on the solenoid and the other end went to the positive side of the coil. Key was turned on and when I hit the button, nothing again, not a peep. I checked the coil with my test light to be sure there was power at the coil and there was.

Going to check on getting another starter and putting in a hard start relay. I put one in the bug a few years back and it seemed to really help.

Any other things to check before I change out the starter even though it seems obvious it has failed. Thanks.

[Big_kid]

I would make sure you're getting 12 volts in on the wire to the solenoid before replacing the starter. A loose/broken/corroded terminal or wire would cause the starter to not work. Then again, if you put 12 volts to it and still got nothing, that's a good indication too.

[AoT]

Had shipped out the door handles last week to be re keyed to match the slider and rear cargo door. Got them back today and the re-install is set for this weekend. Glad it only took me 3 years!!




Gearing up to get the starter out on the bus this weekend too. Did this project on the bug way back but access behind the fan shroud on the bus is different so another learning experience !!

[Tom]

Did you get a replacement starter or are you going to bench test this one and if it's bad have it rebuilt ?

[Raj]

Audrey,
Who did you use for the key work? Was it Justin in PA ( maybe steeler something...). I need to do this as well.

Great wonk on this bus..... what a transformation.

[AoT]

Audrey,
Who did you use for the key work? Was it Justin in PA ( maybe steeler something...). I need to do this as well.

Great wonk on this bus..... what a transformation.

thanks Raj. it has been a labor of love!!

Yes, I used Justin for the re-key. I had gotten the code off the slider door which I had keys made but the front handles didn't match so I sent him the handles and a key and he reset the biscuits to match so all the doors are on one key. It was all done in under a week. His direct email is vwkey@yahoo.com and he is out in PA.

I am going to clean out and lube the locks before I reinstall. You can see 40 years of gunk inside the mechanism, Not taking anything apart!! I read on the Samba to use brake cleaner to get the buildup out and then re-lube. Will let you know how it works.

[AoT]

Did you get a replacement starter or are you going to bench test this one and if it's bad have it rebuilt ?

Is a bench test line a bench press?

I am going with a rebuilt. Made a call to see about getting one soon.

[AoT]

Got the handles cleaned up and polished. Used a baking soda and vinegar solution with a toothbrush to get a lot of the surface gunk off. Saw this used on a DIY show to clean old metal. Then sprayed with brake cleaner and hit it with compressed air. Used my polishing cloth from the can and then cotton tee shirt. Cleaned up nice and shiny!!




After I got them cleaned up I found the key codes. Both are different from each other and from the slider. Now are all keyed the same. Makes securing the bus much easier. Curious why so many different locks. What happened with the PO's?

[AoT]

Found a place in Hempstead to rebuild the starter. Got it back in under 24 hours and it looks brand new. Got it back in the bus yesterday and it cranked over nice and easy. Found the bus much easier to switch out the starter than the bug. Took longer to get the tire off and jacked up and on stands.

[SUMTHING]

Starter and solenoid ?
if you don't mind me asking....how much?
I have a solenoid that get's stuck once in a while on the Bus....took it apart once and cleaned it up...it's on my list of things to do...

[AoT]

Now that the bus is pushing 45, I thought is was time for a makeover. When I work under the engine I am always grabbing on the bumper to scoot out and it winds up looking line a CSI finger print dusting. I gave it a good sanding and a coat of primer and gloss enamel. I had used a different paint last time and it did not hold up.



Much cleaner. this only has one coat as my usual trip to Home Depot had me crazy. Out of stock on white gloss so will put another coat on tonight.


Rims were looking very sad as well. Needed some TLC. Gave them a good sanding and primed as well. I used small paper plates to make a fan to protect the tires and a ribbon of blue tape.

[AoT]

Gave the hub caps my baking soda and vinegar scrub and these are before I added any polish. Cleaned up nice



Here is the new look for the bus for 2015. I went with my trademark red to give it a pop!





Always enjoy doing these kind of projects. Now just to get the body looking better to match the accessories!!

[Raj]

great work like usual......

[ObnoxiousBlue]

I will only affix the DVG seal of awesomeness if you are witnessed to be driving bus with said red wheels, while wearing a set of equally awesome red pumps!

[AoT]

I will only affix the DVG seal of awesomeness if you are witnessed to be driving bus with said red wheels, while wearing a set of equally awesome red pumps!

Let me check my closet!!

[AoT]

Just squeezed in getting the bumper primed last night before I ran out of daylight.



Put a first coat on under the lights and looks pretty good this morning. Second coat on after work!

[AoT]

Thought I had a great solution for storing large Christmas packages!! Use the bus!! Got the slider door opened and put the packages in and when I went to close the door it would not grab to close. Oh no!! There was about a 2 inch opening and I tried numerous times to apply pressure on the back end as I pushed it forward. Kept doing the same thing.

All I am thinking is this is going to have to get in the garage and soon. Looked at the tracks and lock and did not see any impingements and it worked fine last time I opened it. So out come all the packages and deciding how to get this resolved even if only until the warm weather, but need to get it weather tight for the winter. Don't need to open this door to take it for a ride!!

Then after I looked at the track again I see that there is very little grease on the lower track. Go get the lithium grease and slather the upper and lower track in the door opening and the track that runs back along the rear panel. Gave it a couple of runs back and forth to distribute the grease and then went it for big close. It grabbed like a bee to honey and closed nice and tight. You think I would leave that alone? No I open it again to see what will happen and fortunately when I gave it a good push it locked up tight! Whew!!

Got a cover for the bus for the winter so need to get it washed down and roof rack off this weekend but still plan on using over the winter!