Das Volks Vintage Volkswagen Gruppe

Hey everyone, I met a bunch of you last weekend, but I'm new to the club. I just got a 1976 Westy named Janis about a month ago after a LONG search. I'll be doing a bunch of stuff to my bus over the next few weeks and figured I'd document it on here. I got rid of those horrible plastic rims already and popped on some dog dishes tonight; thanks to Audrey for helping me get those. Slowly but surely I'll be doing things that need to be done. Saying I have a lot to learn is an understatement so I'm sure you will see some questions on here in the near future. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone else.

Photos with the stock hubcaps!

I tried but it's too dark now. I will tomorrow morning. Wheels need some TLC but I'm going to paint them when I get new tires in a week or two. TLC wheels with the right hubcaps still look 100x better than those plastic ones though!

Nice meeting you at the Duck..... and looking fwd to watching the adventures in your new bus!

Welcome to the Gruppe. Just don't feed Glenn and you'll be ok

Always great to welcome a new adventurer to ACVW's. Looking forward to see the progress and projects on your bus.

I might be helpful and fun to read the other bus threads on this site. You will learn lots of good tips and how-to's and maybe avoid some of the missteps that others have made in trying to diagnose or solve typical issues. Lots of talented and good resources here in the gruppe to help you keep rolling!!

http://www.dasvolks.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=669

http://www.dasvolks.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=3816

http://www.dasvolks.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=5475

http://www.dasvolks.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=4890

http://www.dasvolks.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=3649

Thanks everyone! I checked out those other threads and they look very useful. I'm having some trouble shifting and it is getting progressively worse. Mike had me order a new clutch cable, clevis pins and clutch cable sleeve. Hopefully that takes care of the problem since the sleeve on there now is absolutely shot. But, for now until that stuff comes in the mail, new hubcaps are on. Still have to paint the wheels, but I'm waiting to get new tires first. New driftwood floor came in today, that will hopefully be installed this weekend in the back since the carpet is pretty gross. More pics to come.

Kyle Cropsey wrote:

Now it looks like VW bus!!

If you're planning on traveling with the bus, get yourself ANOTHER clutch cable and a spare accelerator cable as well.


And, big time, change those fuel lines! Get yourself a good fire extinguisher too!

I actually ordered two of all of those things listed. I have to check out those fuel lines too. The two things that every single person has told me has either been 1) I have the wrong tires or 2) check your fuel lines

Should I be posting this stuff under the garage space forum? I don't wanna start off by breaking any DVG etiquette!

Kyle Cropsey wrote:Mike had me order a new clutch cable, clevis pins and clutch cable sleeve. Hopefully that takes care of the problem since the sleeve on there now is absolutely shot.

Kyles sleeve is collapsing when he was depressing the clutch pedal, the sleeve looks like it popped off the metal tube and the cable is fraying where it has been rubbing. Simple 30 minute fix. But, I think this is why you were having such a hard time getting into gear at the duck. After that, you should check the bushings. The cage bushing on the trans input shaft may be loosening up too.
As for the fuel lines, I had GT do mine once, I did them the next time. It wasn't difficult. Just took a couple hours. Make sure you buy the right hose for the bus. You need Gates Barricade ethanol rated for FI systems. (Non carb)

Kyle Cropsey wrote:Should I be posting this stuff under the garage space forum? I don't wanna start off by breaking any DVG etiquette!

That's cute, he's concerned about "etiquette".
Just don't ask Glenn if he likes pirates, or what Ed thinks of monkeys, or if I like sandwiches and you'll be fine.

ObnoxiousBlue wrote:That's cute, he's concerned about "etiquette".
Just don't ask Glenn if he likes pirates, or what Ed thinks of monkeys, or if I like sandwiches and you'll be fine.

Or 13 year old kids from Connecticut.

I thought that kid was 20 something by now?

Welcome aboard, Kyle!

Big_kid wrote:I thought that kid was 20 something by now?

Welcome aboard, Kyle!

He's most likely an unwed father that binge drinks on the weekends.

I began pulling the carpet out today. I was pretty much able to get the carpet out all in one piece just in case anyone was to ever wanted it (don't think anyone would, it's really stained and gross, but you never know.) The wood underneath is pretty rotted; I didn't pull it out yet, just in case. But I should pull it and get new plywood before I put the floor down right? Is there any specific type of wood I should get for underneath? Thanks for the help everyone

I don't think you're going to get any takers for that carpet.


I don't know if they sell a marine grade plywood 1/8 inch thick but if they do that is what I would use, you are putting a laminate floor in right ?

Yea Tom, I didn't think so either, but I figured just in case. I'm going to check out Lowes and Home Depot tonight and see if they have that marine grade plywood. Thanks for the advice!

You have a real lumber yard right on Montauk Highway why waste your time and gas running to the depot or lowes? And since they're right by all those boats they probably have what you need.

Good call, I didn't even think of that. Also, my regulator for the propane tank is shot. I'll actually head over there now and see if they have some before they close

You can get the whole propane system still order it from BD or GoWesty. Off the shelf generic propane fittings will work but might not fit inside the "cage" under the bus.
A lot of people ditch the underbody altogether and run a new hose from the stove into the cabinet to use the 1lb bottles you can buy at Dicks. Less hassle, no parts below the bus to rot out or get damaged, and they don't flag you at the tunnels.

Floor went in yesterday. It really wasn't hard to do at all. Had some help from my cousin's husband and their dog, who clearly knows his German roots!

Looks awesome.

Don't forget to put the fire extinguisher back in!

Looks good. What's next?