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

[ASBug]

The pull of the triangle is getting stronger!

"The triangle is strong in this one."
-Darth SmellyCat.

KC

[Bignick]

but will it be easier to find a lower donor skin or a RHD slider door? Seems like you'd have better luck finding an OG rust free donor vehicle...

[Ret.Bugtech]

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

8 ply ?  Wow. Do what farmers sometimes did in WW-2 when tires were rationed. Stuff them with hay. It didn't matter how many holes and splits they had. Talk about run flat tires. Tain't nothing new under the Sun. Pay attention SC

[ASBug]

but will it be easier to find a lower donor skin or a RHD slider door? Seems like you'd have better luck finding an OG rust free donor vehicle...

Perhaps you missed the part where I stated I was using a regular door's bottom for the repairs.  If the weather will cooperate I have this Saturday to cut and paste.
I'll take some photos and it'll be what it'll be when I'm finished.
I'm confident I can make it look good.
KC

[ASBug]

Will not show pics above, but click to see the M plate decoded...
Originally was a 9 seater!
Is still the original Color.
I think the block I have that goes with it is the original Block!
Was delivered to Port of Boston.

KC

[ASBug]

Welded in the door section last Saturday.
Went as planned.
Door has some dents and such and will need some filler here and there, but all in all it went OK.
I still need to finish welding in the bottom rocker and the lower 4" on each side of the door.
I ran out of Gas. Guage was stuck on 40 PSI when I started tapped it when the welds went to pot and it dropped to 0.
I tried some flux core that I had and it is sooooo hard to weld with on sheet metal.
Made the job 10X harder, so I opted to stop and get some gas and go at it again this weekend or next week when I'm on vacation.
At least there isn't a large hole in the side of the Bus any more.
KC

[ASBug]

Some Pix:
Step 1 - Identify the problem:



Step 2 - Prepare the specimen for transplant.



Step 3 -Little nip here, little tuck there...



Step 4) dry fit.



Step 5 - Skin graft...



Step 6- This is where I ran out of Gas (literally and figuratively):



Step 7 - Look at insides and realize that there is ALOT more beef here now...



KC

[ASBug]

I changed out the 34 that was on Irmalinda and put a 30/31 that came with the bus on it. seems to like the 019 disto way better than the 34 did. I hooked up and set the choke, MAN I forgot how nice it is to not have to feather the gas when this thing is started. purrr.
I changed out the 34 that was on the 70 bus (clogged idle jet) and put on the newish empi that was Irma. It is nice to have it idleing as well. I had to rebuild the oil cooler tin on the back of the shroud on Irma. It had no seals and no bolts holding it on, there was a 4" piece of aluminum tape though...  Every thing back there was litterally flopping in the breaze
I made some seals )5/16 gasline) and put some new bolts in. I cannot wait to see if this helps, I know the oil was taking a beating... Pressure was still pretty good though ( I installed a guage).
It was a busy saturday!
KC

[ASBug]

Got a new Roof Rack for the '70 Bus.




Took the 2 youngest ones for a ride in the bus up and down the driveway 4 times.  Driveway is 1/4 mile long, was able to get it into 3rd gear, too short for 4th...

Got the missing piece of trim from Alvin, will go and retrive the clips needed from 2-3 other busses he has down there.  I have to fix the door hinge pop out spring before installing the trim though.  I have another roller hinge assembly for the spring already.
This bus still has the chromed roller hinge on it, gonna save the OEM one.

Some more sanding and it'll be ready for paint.
KC

[Zen]

So I take it you got ANOTHER bus KC?

[Ret.Bugtech]

So I take it you got ANOTHER bus KC?

AH ! Has the north Ga. Arab Trader struck again

[Zen]

The bus population in the Chattanooga area has doubled since Casey got his first one.  I've lost count of the number of non-running buses he's pulled out of the weeds and put back on the road.  Kind'a makes me feel bad that I've only got one and can't seem to find the time to get it back up and running.  If I tow it over to Casey's place, he would probably think it's one of his and fix it for me     . . . but he would have it sold before I could get back over there and pick it up!      

[ASBug]

Yepper, the bus is mine!
I'll get some photos up on the other post since this one is going away.
-saved another one.
Got it running today.
Had a massive air leak at one of the intake ports due to a cracked hose.
Got a radiator hose for a replacement, will tackle that tommorow.
It's got a 2.0 with hydrolic lifters.  They didn't knock when I started the engine, so that was a good thing.
The muffler is cored and will need to be replaced.
tires are holding air, but need to be replaced.
This thing is like a time machine...
IT HAS A WORKING 8 TRACK!I didn't dicker on the Price and he gave me like 30 8 track tapes that are all 1975 - 1982 Rock- Lots of stuff I do not recognize, but Jim Krochie an the eagles, and Saturday Night Fever!
KC

[Russ]

Wow, that was fast! From the pictures you sent, it looks like it has the wrong emblem on the nose. 1978s should have the smaller 7" emblem, same size as the headlights. Nice score. Which hose is cracked, I'll check and see if I have a spare.

[ASBug]

It was the one from the EGR box to the snorkle.
That one has been broken on every one of the busses I have had.
There is a heater hose that is like 2" too long that I always use.
I found 2 other vacuume hoses that were suspect, and replaced them.
The bus purrs and stared in the 50 degree weather we had tonight.
I'll get some photos up tomorow.
KC