Buddy 1970 Early Bay

[Granite]

Ok Thanks, I've connected the other three wires but not tried the ignition yet. I'm going to get it checked by my electrician first.

 

[sparkywig]

Grey wire was for perm live for the key warning buzzer. (I think)

Yes, but UK buses didn't have this fitted.

 

[naskeet]

So far as I am aware, an ignition warning buzzer (buzzes if the ignition is on with the driver's door open or ajar) was only fitted to North American specification, 1968~79 VW Type 2s. Details of the wiring colours for that model-year, should be available in the Robert Bentley manual, wiring-diagram excerpts from which, are accessible on-line, on The Samba website.

www.thesamba.com

 

[Stuartk]

Here you go Grant, click on the link below and all the details are there.

http://www.vw-mplate.com/mcode.php?lang=EN&id=15832
It looks like your bus was bought as transport for somebody who had difficulty getting around, or for a private care home.

Guys ,Where would I find the M plate for my 72 Bay . Is there a normal location .

 

[sparkywig]

Yes, it's mounted on the seat bulkhead behind the left hand cab seat.

 

[mike202]

Look beind the cab seats. M plate is usually painted, VIN plate is not

 

[Stuartk]

Look beind the cab seats. M plate is usually painted, VIN plate is not

Thanks thats great . I want to insulate under the seats better so that's an ideal time to photo that. Cheers

 

[roobug67]

Bus looks great from the picture. But it isn't a Westfalia. Wrong roof, and unless it's a SA import they never came in RHD. That looks more like a Devon conversion by the roof and the fact it's RHD.

The M Plate will tell you if it's a factory Westfalia, it should have at least one of these M Codes 517, 518 and D67.

 

[Granite]

Bus looks great from the picture. But it isn't a Westfalia. Wrong roof, and unless it's a SA import they never came in RHD. That looks more like a Devon conversion by the roof and the fact it's RHD.

The M Plate will tell you if it's a factory Westfalia, it should have at least one of these M Codes 517, 518 and D67.

Hi I know it's not a Westphalia. I owned one in the 80's. Mine was originally fitted out as an ambulance.

 

[Granite]

Buddy is my third Bay. I previously owned a 1969 Bay then a 1977 Westy. Buddy was purchased on Auction from Mathewson's, Thornton Le Dale. I was not able to get up to Yorkshire so I bid online. I was told by Mathewson's that the steering needed sorting out so I had the van brought down to London on a low loader courtesy of Thomas Hanson of T H Automotive Ltd, a great bloke who I'd recommend if you need a vehicle moved from that area.

When the van arrived I was very pleased with what I'd bid blindly for. The bodywork was fairly good, apart from a couple of spots. The interior needed work and the rock and roll bed had been welded so that it no longer rocked, I don't know why. Included in the sale were four Empi alloys with good tyres and a brand-new Khyam Motordome Classic awning, a bonus I did not expect.

A year later I've had a new steering box and Litesteer fitted. Front brakes are now CSP Discs. The interior has been lined with beige carpet, a Chinese diesel heater is installed under a purpose-made unit, and A Rusty Lee RR Bed is now fitted, and very comfortable it is. I did not want to cook inside the van so I designed and fitted a pull-out unit which houses a 2 burner stove. A CSP gear lever is now fitted and has dramatically improved gear selection.

The latest work carried out was the fitting of a Tacho, Oil pressure gauge, oil temperature gauge and a volt meter. The Tacho is fitted in the original instrument housing and the other three gauges are in a purpose-built addition to the dashboard. A new Wolfsburg steering wheel looks good and makes access to the instrument panel for removal easy.

On the way to Busfest, I suffered a gear lever malfunction which stopped me from finding any gear. Pulling up on the M5 hard shoulder was not a pleasant thing to experience, not helped when an accompanying friend was spotted reversing down the hard shoulder to assist. Thanks to a chance conversation with Lynda my wife, Paul Vera offered to assist me with fitting a new CSP gear shift. A day later this was accomplished for the grand cost of a few cups of tea and Garibaldi biscuits. Many thanks, Paul.

So I'm now just under a year and a half of my ownership of Buddy. I'll do some work on him on most days of the week and love every minute of it.

Grant (Granite) Kinnaird

 

[matty74]

Great pics Granite, glad you got fixed up, I remember your post when you were looking for your old van That pullout stove is a brilliant idea, we have a toilet there (wouldn’t want that on a pullout for obvious reasons ) … and you bought it off Bangers & Cash, I wonder if it’ll make the Telly.
Keep the updates coming they’re a good read

 

[Granite]

Great pics Granite, glad you got fixed up, I remember your post when you were looking for your old van That pullout stove is a brilliant idea, we have a toilet there (wouldn’t want that on a pullout for obvious reasons ) … and you bought it off Bangers & Cash, I wonder if it’ll make the Telly.
Keep the updates coming they’re a good read

Hi,
Thanks for the feedback. I've just seen your rebuild pics. Awesome! Obviously, a labour of love, makes my efforts insignificant in comparison. I was interested to see your comments regarding the reversing light. That's a future job I'm planning to do. It would be great to know what problems you faced.

Regards,

Granite

 

[matty74]

Hi,
Thanks for the feedback. I've just seen your rebuild pics. Awesome! Obviously, a labour of love, makes my efforts insignificant in comparison. I was interested to see your comments regarding the reversing light. That's a future job I'm planning to do. It would be great to know what problems you faced.

Regards,

Granite

Thanks Granite, you’re right it is a labour of love but the end result always outweighs the effort.
From memory, the only thing I recall was not to over-tighten the switch. I think the original supply side of the switch was taken from + side of the coil. I wired it via a spare ignition feed that I had in the engine bay as I didn’t want multiple wires at the coil. I also added a foglight for aesthetics at the rear.