Das Volks Vintage Volkswagen Gruppe

Wax on - Wax off.

Can I see the paint you used? You really rolled it? How does it look up close? Once I do the rockers and nose on my bus, I wanted to get it painted, and need to address the roof. I was thinking the whole thing needed to come off and get sprayed..... now Im have a bit of relief knowing you took this route.

Raj, I used a foam roller and Interlux Brightside Marine Anti Fouling Topcoat paint. It is meant for boats (read $$$) but unlike the rustoleum alot of guys have used it is meant for fiberglass and if the gel coat on your cap is worn thin you don't want the exposed fibers to "drink" the paint. This stuff is supposedly the best out there. I sanded (80, 100, 120) then rolled on with a closed-cell foam roller. it went on great. There are certainly some high spots but it will need to be sanded anyway.
Going to take it down a bit with some 220, then roll again. For the final coat, they suggest "rolling and tipping" google for videos on how to.
I will probably have plenty left. I bought the gallon and probably needed half.

Wow..... Cant wait to check it out this weekend

Hopefully the weather cooperates and I can finish it in time...

Looks like new, or what I assume new looked like. Looks like a lot of time and prep envolved, nicely done!

No updates? Slacker!

Been fighting with the damn roof. It looks good - not perfect, not great. Just good. Definitely better, but still has some flaws and they show with fresh paint. So, I try to sad it down and then run into or create more until even spots.

Finally got to putting the roof seals on tonight. Still need to adjust the roof hinges in the back and finish mounting the latch mechanism and support bar in the front.
Was hoping to get the side markers sorted out before the duck, as well as the exhaust. But those projects took a sideline to the roof.
Still waiting for my new linkage to show up from the UK. The new pedal, hinge pin and spring are waiting.
Have to get new headlights tomorrow. The chrome reflectors are peeling out of my now 7 year old Bosch knockoffs.
Not sure if I'm just going to drop in two sealed beams for now order another set of Bosch/Hella H4's.
In crunch mode before the duck...

Man am I glad this thing is done...




Now that the paint is "done" I can see some spots where my sanding shows through. It's not perfect, but it is absolutely better than it was.

Had to replace some of the hardware. Also put all exposed bolt heads in white plastic caps. Looks nice. Replaced the seals and buttoned it all up tonight.
Still have some more on my list, but we'll see what I can get done before the Duck.
Ordered new Westfalia decals, they should be ready Thursday. Black reflective... Was tossed around in the bay forums on TS for a while...
Waiting on one part to make the accelerator upgrade. Might try to do the marker flash upgrade tomorrow before I have to go teach EMT labs.

The roof looked really bright when I stopped by today.

Looked good though, right?

ObnoxiousBlue wrote:Looked good though, right?

All your recent efforts to make Peabody look good have paid off.
The bus doesn't look like its turning 40 soon, still looks 29!!

Took the bus to work today, figured I'd stretch its wheels on any easy run after hibernating for so long.
Came home from work and got right back to working on the bus.
Had already drilled holes in the doors, so I had to button up the marker-flash mod to add signal repeaters to the front door reflectors. Now, where there were once just orange reflectors I now have illuminated side marker lights. Then, I hooked both the new fronts and the factory rears to the turn signal circuits so they flash too.
Installed my new H4 headlights - Bus Depot had a sale for $69 and my old (7 year) headlights were faded and peeling.
Lastly, put on my new Westfalia decal. Technically a 77 wouldn't have decals but I had them before and kinda liked the way they look. I didn't put one back on the front either. Not sure yet if I'm going to...
Check it out, they're reflective!






video to the marker flash mod
https://youtu.be/GTQpDjGJt-8

Nice!

really nice.... love both these tasteful and practical enhancements.

Shining like a superstar!!

Throttle kit showed up today...

Nice looking joints. Much more better than stock.

Intake boot tore - the damn S boot.
Bus was running good, idled real nice - got on it a bit and it began backfiring bad and losing power.

I remembered that someone was making a real nice quality one. Though it isn't the same as stock people rave about it.

Posting here so I can find it later...
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/ ... id=1321070

and other intake hoses that are NLA
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/ ... id=1220031
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/ ... id=1218074

There is one repop'ed now, but I don't know how well they fit...
http://www.airheadparts.com/vintage-vw- ... 2129967-ac

Ordered the kevlar hoses...
One and done, if I am going to replace it - may as well get the best part I can.

Had a banging feeling in the bus, without time to figure it out before heading to VT on Thursday for WRW, I sent it to GT. Tony found one of the heater boxes had rotted open and was falling off. Thankfully, I had a new set here at home. Hoping to get the bus back tomorrow so I can take care of some small stuff before my trip.

Manny found this stool when he was up at Litchfield and called me about it since he knew I was looking for one. It was in great shape, and has all its bits even thought it is really for a 74 I I'm told and is about an inch shorter from the seats I understand. But, it's practical. If I come across a late box, I'll grab it then. I recovered the seat top today. Not flawless, but it doesn't have to be. Looks good and will work just fine.

Before


After

Nice work on the seat. A fresh change on the fabric and it looks like new. Your crafting skills are working magic on the bus.

Glad to hear it was an easy fix on the heaters.

not being a bus guy but that pic leaves alot to the imagineation what happens in the bus stays in the bus

nice work... where does that box go? Cant wait to see it installed.