Das Volks Vintage Volkswagen Gruppe

...it was only a matter of time. Wanted something cleaner, but I think its an honest entry level local bus at a fair price. Minimal rot, but needs rear corners loving, def a battery tray, and some front floor work. Rear wheel wells are rusty, and nose is filled with filler.
First up is getting it running and getting a canvas for pop top.

Family is super excited for it!

Welcome to the bay side

Thanks for having. Just be gentle on me at first pls

Awesome! My wife told me this weekend if I sell my boat and bug I can get a bus. Trouble is I don't have a garage big enough to work on one. Suppose I should work on a bigger garage first, then fill it. Anyway congrats, hope ur family enjoys it.
Rob

I always knew Raj was Bay... We'll go gentle at first, there's plenty of time to get a little rough.
She definitely needs a little loving. Probably not what I would've hopped in for a family of four, but it's a start. Excited to see what comes of it. Buses are a whole 'mother beast and you need to relearn everything you think you know about VWs. LOL
Will she be camping this summer? Hopefully by the time we have the DVG campout in August?

Raj, it's a thing of beauty! I'm sure you'll have it up and running in no time! Good luck with it!

Happy to welcome another 71 Bay. You'll have a great time getting it road ready and setting up camp!!

Mine needs some body work as well so good luck tightening it up. I have lots of filler on the rear quarter panels and the wheel wells are dripping rust too.

Need to get back to work on it.

Congrats!

Cool good luck with it.

Congrats...love the color.....perhaps Buses by the Big Duck next year.

Bay window, the fat chick of buses. JK

But I disagree with Mike that now when the kids are young they can fit in the child cot and the hammock and you will be good. Glad to add another bus to the group, where did it come from ?

Forgot to mention- over on popupportal.com the 3 most talked about canvas replacement companies are (in no particular order) www.canvasreplacements.com www.bearcreekcanvas.com and www.rvworkshop.com

I've read good things about all 3. I think the replacement canvas (installed by a p/o) came from canvas replacements, but I'm not sure. Do you have an old canvas for a template if it's needed?

Thanks guys. Im def excited about it.

This was originally a NY delivered bus ( per M plate) that ended up in NJ. Thats where I got it from... Nice jersey bus guy I recently became friends with over the past year or too. Almost bought a 65 kombi W/T, but although they have the cool factor, I needed something that the family can truly use. The splitty will come, but that will be more for me. Was leaning towards a 76+ bus, but form the sounds of it, the brits are buying them up like wild fire. Also, Although less power, the early bays are better looking IMO ( sorry guys) and I am fully stocked and familiar with the T1 motor. Like I said, Nice entry level bus.

Got it running this past weekend, which was good, bc I bought it with a supposed bad head. Lets see what i can get out of her. Worse case, I have a univeral case motor that I was about to start building for the baja, but that can be slated for this. Man.. this thing is a pig! How the hell do you drive this thing? I cant see $hit backing up the driveway! lol. But its def cool.

As far as timing.... Let me get it cleaned up and running better. I'll slap her on the road soon, and hope to be camping with you all soon.

Swapped the plates over from the 56 yesterday, so its officially on the road. Still havent done much to it as I have to finish up a side job on a 66. Once thats done, Im planning on dumping the oil and getting some confidence mile on this thing. So far so good. Im happy. And a big shout out to POPTOP in NJ for finding this for me.

really cool bus, congrats on the purchase. looking forward to updates(and hopefully pics) of the progress you make.

Finally getting ready to dig into this. I really want to be at flanders with it.

Been moving it around the ' shop' lately, but she isnt happy. Engines sounds like hell and sputters bad. Recently, wont even hold an idle.

#3 and #4 were cold after a run, so i know they are firing. Cleaned up that side plugs and at least 4 fires a bit. Still sounds like crap. The PO claims it has a valve issue, but Im not too fluent in the valve train issues.
I have a few plans.
1- yank this motor and clean it up. Replace the P&C's with new ones, and both heads with a set of decent looking used ones I have. Clean the tin, paint it up, replace all top end gaskets and install.
if that doesnt work
2- I bought a oil pump t2 adapter, so I can swap over the recently rebuilt 1641 that was in my red thing. She sold engine less, so maybe that displaced motor will be happier there. That motor is currently in the baja, which I have a 1835 w/ dual webers that is currently homeless, so lets see.
3- last option is, I have a bare universal case that I was cleaning for the orange thing that paused. Already have the bearings and crank, so thats not a bad option either.

Side note.... my small guy doesnt sleep. He only points to the garage and says ' bus'. So the only way for him to sleep is to head to the garage. He hangs out while I do my thing. Eventually he passes out, with milk and/ or dino in hand.
He's gonna be the car guy.

I could be wrong but aren't bus engines a little different to accommodate the mustache bar, I'm pretty sure there is some sort of adapter that connects to the oil pump plate or something if it's a bug engine. Or are mustache bars only on 1.7 liter and up engines ?

Tom wrote:I could be wrong but aren't bus engines a little different to accommodate the mustache bar, I'm pretty sure there is some sort of adapter that connects to the oil pump plate or something if it's a bug engine. Or are mustache bars only on 1.7 liter and up engines ?

Ill start by saying... I have never had or worked on a bus.... so Im learning as im going. Please chime in if you are an experience bay boy.

Pre72 ( bc in 72+ is t4) Buses require the mustache bar that bolts to certain t1 cases, designed for t2. Thing cases work too. If you dont have that right case you can use the oil pump mount on a regular bug motor ( it actually dosnt just hold the oil pump studs, but also the bottom through bolt on the case.

All this being said, Im hoping to redo the top end of the existing motor and call it a day.

[quote="Raj"]Finally getting ready to dig into this. I really want to be at flanders with it. Raj it's the year of the thing at Flanders this year.

EDNCAROL wrote: Raj it's the year of the thing at Flanders this year.

Yes sir. The plan is to have the Thing at flanders while sleeping in the Camper!

played musical cars last night while the wife was at Zumba.


then this happened.

It's been 2 days... lets see some progress! You've got helpers- no excuses!
(Seriously- before you know it they WILL be actual help)

82 Vanagon canvas is probably no help, huh?

http://norfolk.craigslist.org/pts/5193030861.html

Big_kid wrote:It's been 2 days... lets see some progress! You've got helpers- no excuses!
(Seriously- before you know it they WILL be actual help)

They do 'Try' to help, and if fun to have them out there with me seeing tools and car stuff. I'll get some more shots of them in action for the next few days.

It helps that everything is metric, with my 5 yr old, get the shiny wrench with the 1 and 3. It takes several minutes but eventually you get what u need. the 3yr old just grabs a hammer, she knows that's the one I'll end up using!
rob