71' Swiss Microbus Resto

[Barkafer]

This is my somewhat knackered former Microbus. One of the previous owners had attempted to restore it by poprevetting it together :shock: I now have it at home in my small garage and am slowly putting it right. Progress is slow due to the usual commitments.

Briefly this is what I started with.

I'm starting at the r/o/s corner and working my way around the bus.

Found the original Pastel white paint while repairing a small patch on the butt end!

Took the tank out and was amazed to see a nearly mint unit! I kid you not it was like new when I removed the lid, take a closer look at the photo's. Shame the rest of the bus isn't as good as this bit.

This is the next bit of fabrication and welding I'm looking forward to.

It's my first resto and a steep learning curve I can tell you! Off to BigBang with the kids tomorrow to buy some bits.

 

[windsurfer]

Looks like a good project, enjoy Dude. Check out 71 Dormys build thread, that'll give you inspiration :mrgreen:

 

[Barkafer]

Seen that thread. The work he has done is awesome! :mrgreen:

 

[gninnam]

Looks like you have your work cut out :shock:

And popped riveted.... What's all that about

Enjoy yourself

 

[Barkafer]

Yep, got my work cut out alright!

Leep, here are some photo's of my othe rproject, a T1 '67 spahr kafer.

Been collecting parts. Got this NOS rear valance from Sweden for £200.

To replace this bondo bodge :shock:

Back to the bus, got a pair of rusty rat look slider covers for 8 notes at BB. Bargain! Also a flywheel oil seal and 'O' ring. Gonna replace them this afternoon, with any luck.

 

[DadWagens]

Cool projects- the '67 looks pretty good, might need some new doors from the looks of it. The bus need much more than doors :confused0068: !

In the States those front fenders have the later style upright headlights, though a lot of times people replace them with the early style.

Looks like the rear corners are donor pieces, but what about the rest? Are you making your own patch panels?

 

[Barkafer]

Yep, I'm making patch pieces for the odd place or two. Should have just replaced the whole wheel arch in hind sight, but I figured it would be good to practice. Will learn lesson and do the near side differently. Patching takes too much time.
The rear corner is a bought replacement panel though, not from a donor. It's rough, but it's my first shot at welding. I will get smoother and stop blowing holes eventually Gotta be quick on the trigger, short accurate bursts are best. Easier said than done :lol:

 

[Barkafer]

Progress has been sloooow! Got a bit side tracked (see '71 deluxe oh patina thread in Gallery) Took ages to get the flywheel bolt off. I had a 4' bar on it and was jumping up and down whilst my 15 yr old was sitting on the motor......until the flywheel lock sheared off :shock:

My neighbour came to the rescue with his windy gun......though it took him a good 15 mins before it eventually moved.
Are these things Locktited in place, because there was an awful lot of crap in the threads?
Cleaned the filthy flywheel too ready for the new clutch.

Anyhow, she now has a new oil seal and 'O' ring fitted and I've just finished adjusting the valve clearances too.

Gonna purchase a couple of floor H supports and all the sills for the next repair. Schofield seem to be just the ticket!

 

[gninnam]

Got most of my bits from Schofields and Heritage - good luck

 

[Barkafer]

Cheers pal. Schofields are gonna get an order soon. A big one!

 

[Barkafer]

Got the temp floor out to start on replacing the floor supports. Rather alot of rot.

Cut off the rotten H end sections

Trail fitted the inner sill

Removed the crap dog leg. Took 3 minutes :shock:

Took the pop rivets out of the inner wheel arch panel. Wonders never cease :lol:

Not surprised at what lurked beneath!

This bit was rivetted on too! What is the point!!!

All the necessary parts arrived very promptly from Schofields. Great firm, lovely people.
Here's half the reason I get nothing done fast on this project :lol:

Me and my budding enthusiasts with our noses under the lid of a cool bus at a local show last summer! No the engine wasn't running and yes he was going to get his little fingerprints all over the shiny stuff!

I want this bus to be loooow!

Now the fun starts

 

[DadWagens]

Mah Gawd that bus is rotten!

When do you expect your super pimp "new" bus to arrive?

I can't wait until my little one is old enough to fetch me a wrench!

 

[Barkafer]

Yup, rotten as a pear, but nothing that can't be chopped and replaced. Just spent £250.00 on parts so all I have to do is weld them in. Simples, not!

My little one loves helping on the bus, but mostly we just sit in the front and he drives me to the beach! :lol:

The super pimp mobile will leave in the next couple of days and will take 5-6 weeks, around the same time as my fifth little vdubber is due!

 

[Barkafer]

Did some stuff to the bus yesterday. Pics can do the talkin.

Trial fitted inner repair panel

More to follow. I'm on a roll.

 

[Barkafer]

Bit more done today. Mostly cutting out the bad stuff and grinding back to shiny. The bottom of the 'B' post where it joins the top of the slider chanel is rotted through in a couple of places. Ground it back to shiny and gonna try to build it up carefully with spots of weld. we'll see how it goes tomorrow.

another trial fit.

aiming for looking like this

More welding tomorrow.

 

[Barkafer]

Bugger! I ran out of gas again. Bitten the bullet and bought a refillable bottle of Arg/co2 off ebay. 10L bottle delivered for 92 quid.
I got as far as tacking the 'B' post on.

Cut the chassis top hat and trial fitted.

Got bored and cleaned door card and panels.

Next jobs are extend the middle sill and fab 'C' pillar.

Don't know how I'm gonna do that 'C' pillar though. Oh well, off to bed! :?

 

[Barkafer]

Got another few hours on the bus yesterday. I bit the bullet and bought a large refillable gas bottle off ebay. Great service arrived as promised in two days. You can see it in one of the photo's.
Tackled the middle sill extension and a bit of the 'C' pillar repair using the old disposible Argon. Not great.

Made this piece ages ago and now it's time to go on

Strengthened the middle sill prior to extending using the new gas.

Before.

After.

The Argon weld is on the left and Argon/CO2/Oxygen weld is on the right. Both using the same setting on the Mig. Judge for yourself!

More popped rivets! WTF!

'A' post bottom, chassis leg and inner front valance to repair.

The welding is a bit hit and miss. I have got to clean the surfaces properly, then it's good.

 

[Nelly]

That brings back memories :shock:
Good work though

 

[Barkafer]

She's a challenging one, this one :roll:
Thanks Nelly.
Had a little bit of a, er....mishap with an angle grinder yesterday! :shock:

Stings a bit. I was cleaning the paint from the edge of the 'B' post outer when the grinder switched off (faulty switch). I had removed the guard (naughty) and as I turned it back on I lost grip of it and thats the result. TWAT! Very lucky I didn't do more serious damage.
Anyway, carried on and welded 'B' post on. Not entirely happy with the result (slight overlap) and may have to remove it and start again.

This is the space I have to work in. More than some, not as much as others I dare say.

Gave it a rest today. Will be purchasing a new angle grinder tomorrow :roll:
Bit more cleaning. Seats this time. Anyone know how to get the vinyl completely clean? Started off with a brown dirty stain (removed with Bleach) and now got a yellowish stain that I can'y shift.

Havn't started this one yet.

Later!

 

[Barkafer]

Removed the 'B' post outer and started again as I was not happy with the fit. Better now

Red oxide on the inner.

Tacked the inner arch repair panel

Seemed the top hat in

And seemed it to the outrigger

Started welding up the rest of it

Inner sill to top hat

And then welded the 'B' post to the inner arch repair. Bit rough, don't think I got all the paint off :?

All went a bit snotty prior to that and so I took the torch shroud off and found out why!

Just got the other side to do now :shock:

Later!