Today In VW Collecting History... ASBug's Growing Collection

[Bignick]

Can't wait to see how you do that driver's side. Make sure to take lots of pictures. Looks pretty rough down along the inner rocker panel and vertical supports.

[ASBug]

The inner fender has already had a custom piece of C channel fabbed and installed.  The forward 1' of the rear tire well has already been replaced.  It comes with several structuaral pieces and the only thing I should have to fab is the outter skin of the body.
I would hit you up for that roof section you cut out, but it has a structural bend in the middle of it.
I am going to use some of the machine shops to fabricate a side pannel if I cannot get what I need with the tools I have at home.
I am more worried about the wavyness of the large side panel than the base @ the floor.
I litterally think in one full saturday I could have this thing sealed up and ready for a glaze and paint.
It does seem to pull and run well.
KC

[Zen]

It does seem to pull and run well.

I've said it before and I'll say it again . . . I drove it a couple of years ago . . . despite having a big hole in the drivers side of the bus, this was the best driving bus I've ever driven.  Keep in mind though, I haven't really driven that many buses.  I would have loved to have gotten it . . . but I've got too many projects that I'll never finish now, and I really don't care too much for having to find a new place to live . . .

But if you ever get the hankerin' to trade it for an autostick, we might need to talk.  I might even throw a Dasher in to sweeten the deal!   

[travisyoung]

I ran good when I had it but if you came to a stop and weren't in first gear,  good luck getting it in first,  once you got used to it wasn't so bad,  I still heal toe the gas pedal o. The thing even though I fixes the idle out of habit,  I didn't see a reason to fix it when I had it,  I was like a work truck

[ASBug]

Had an epiphany on how to fix this large hole in my bus.
Add a Door!
No- seriously.  It is easier to weld in the horseshoe for the handle than to weld across a 42" in the middle of the panel.
I'll post more plans, but it involves de-skinning the door leaving the thick edge and trimming the lower skin just below the belt line and tucking the door skin below the existing belt line and weld below the beltline and grind down the radius.
More to come...
Used door = $25....
Not having a weld in the middle of a panel = Priceless.
KC

[Bignick]

Had an epiphany on how to fix this large hole in my bus.
Add a Door!
No- seriously.  It is easier to weld in the horseshoe for the handle than to weld across a 42" in the middle of the panel.
I'll post more plans, but it involves de-skinning the door leaving the thick edge and trimming the lower skin just below the belt line and tucking the door skin below the existing belt line and weld below the beltline and grind down the radius.
More to come...
Used door = $25....
Not having a weld in the middle of a panel = Priceless.
KC

The pull of the triangle is getting stronger!

[Ret.Bugtech]

Had an epiphany on how to fix this large hole in my bus.
Add a Door!
No- seriously.  It is easier to weld in the horseshoe for the handle than to weld across a 42" in the middle of the panel.
I'll post more plans, but it involves de-skinning the door leaving the thick edge and trimming the lower skin just below the belt line and tucking the door skin below the existing belt line and weld below the beltline and grind down the radius.
More to come...
Used door = $25....
Not having a weld in the middle of a panel = Priceless.
KC

The pull of the triangle is getting stronger!

Put a window in. Then you could look down and see how close you are to the white line in the parking space.  Yes indeed the "Triangle" is expanding. Scary isn't it ?

[Zen]

You need to find a right hand drive bay window parts bus.  It'll have everything you need to make a double-door.   

Or, you can make it into a camper and make a slide-out . . .

It's a blank canvas . . . why paint a plain ol' bus back on it?

[ASBug]

Zen, The funny thing is I seriously considered a slide out....
If I was planning on keeping this bus, then I'd do something cool like that.
BUT, since it'll be on the auction block before you can say "done". I'll just go back to a normal looking bus....
You all are just jelious you don't have my creativity!!
LOL,
KC

[Bignick]

Zen, The funny thing is I seriously considered a slide out....
If I was planning on keeping this bus, then I'd do something cool like that.
BUT, since it'll be on the auction block before you can say "done". I'll just go back to a normal looking bus....
You all are just jelious you don't have my creativity!!
LOL,
KC

We are, but SC knows that you are jealous of his creativity!

[ASBug]

Tru dat.

[Ret.Bugtech]

Zen, The funny thing is I seriously considered a slide out....
If I was planning on keeping this bus, then I'd do something cool like that.
BUT, since it'll be on the auction block before you can say "done". I'll just go back to a normal looking bus....
You all are just jelious you don't have my creativity!!
LOL,
KC

I was wondering what you called it.  I thought trying to make something good out of a sow's ear was called  something else. 

[ASBug]

I know...
A purse!
LOL,
KC

[Ret.Bugtech]

I know...
A purse!
LOL,
KC

You will need a big one for your bus project.

[ASBug]

I'm glad someone else sees the potential in this bus, heck yeah I'll need a big ole purse to haul all that mooolah to the bankie in.
 
Seriously though, the more I look at this door idea, the better I think it is going to work out great! If not, I really haven't lost out, I have a great running engine for the Ghia (rebuilt), and a practically brand new set of 14" 8-PLY sidewall tires.
I think you could run these tires flat and they would not flex down.
I should be able to recoup my outlay for the bus in just parts (other than the engine).
KC