How to remove a VW t2 body

[Dizzy T2]

Zero point even bothering with a restoration into a rotted body/chassis.

If the mechanicals are in good working order, one can actually use the bus. They’re utility vehicles, not beauty contestants. If the frame is that rusted, find another project bus. Just because it can be restored doesn’t necessarily mean that it should be restored.

I get that but the same logic says if we don't restore them there will be none left

 

[Dizzy T2]

Well, I gotta comment on how fantastic I reckon the end result that you’ve achieved here. That’s gotta be one of the best I’ve seen and puts mine to shame. That all looks like new plus ten per cent. The other guy with the fancy boots and the rotisserie also puts us UK bus peeps to shame. To get a garage that size here in the U.K. I’d have to rustle two or three neighbors garages for that much space. Some over here can hardly get down the sides of their vans when in the garage.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,,, different worlds

guy in the picture is at that bus a few years and did do a video on removing the frame that I can find

 

[Dizzy T2]

Interesting indeed. I’m assuming this restoration has the benefits of its own personal mortgage advisor I’m also wondering how far you’re thinking with the body off idea. If I wanted a total resto with no resources limitation then I’d have a real good think about and ask around exactly as you are doing. Straight off the cuff now without too much thought process, I’d start with a strip down in a decent sized place where stuff / parts can be stored. One of the things that amazes me is just how much space can be taken up when you strip a whole bay down. Thinking I’d start with the doors and hatches then interior including all the panels and photograph as much as you can which is so easy nowadays. Seats out, dash out, will give you so much more space and visuals as to what you’re up against. Than perhaps wiring. Having somewhere to clean and label and box store stuff instead of heaping it on a pile. Once the internals are done and dusted and it’s still rolling, I’d go for the motor and box out and store then the fuel tank and vent pipes etc. I’d then be getting ready to fit the shell onto a rotisserie and I’d like it it chassis mounted front and rear so I could get the beam out and really get in to the nooks and crannies. So beam out and rear suspension out then you’re looking at controls and cables and stuff. Get it on the ‘spit’ and now you’re cooking. The only panels and parts coming off in my little world are the ones that need replacing. Anything that was made by VW originally and is still in reasonable shape, I’d save. Most reproduction stuff is nowhere near as good as original. By now , I’d have a shopping list as long as your arm. Every single resto is different and requires different things and usually dependent on where the van is from. Once you’re on a spit, you can really see the job at hand and can get at it too. Spare parts are usually sourced from second hand good replacements in the main. Sounds like a great approach and attitude you have to this project. Please start a resto thread as you kick off, it sounds great.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,have you got it yet ?

Interesting indeed. I’m assuming this restoration has the benefits of its own personal mortgage advisor I’m also wondering how far you’re thinking with the body off idea. If I wanted a total resto with no resources limitation then I’d have a real good think about and ask around exactly as you are doing. Straight off the cuff now without too much thought process, I’d start with a strip down in a decent sized place where stuff / parts can be stored. One of the things that amazes me is just how much space can be taken up when you strip a whole bay down. Thinking I’d start with the doors and hatches then interior including all the panels and photograph as much as you can which is so easy nowadays. Seats out, dash out, will give you so much more space and visuals as to what you’re up against. Than perhaps wiring. Having somewhere to clean and label and box store stuff instead of heaping it on a pile. Once the internals are done and dusted and it’s still rolling, I’d go for the motor and box out and store then the fuel tank and vent pipes etc. I’d then be getting ready to fit the shell onto a rotisserie and I’d like it it chassis mounted front and rear so I could get the beam out and really get in to the nooks and crannies. So beam out and rear suspension out then you’re looking at controls and cables and stuff. Get it on the ‘spit’ and now you’re cooking. The only panels and parts coming off in my little world are the ones that need replacing. Anything that was made by VW originally and is still in reasonable shape, I’d save. Most reproduction stuff is nowhere near as good as original. By now , I’d have a shopping list as long as your arm. Every single resto is different and requires different things and usually dependent on where the van is from. Once you’re on a spit, you can really see the job at hand and can get at it too. Spare parts are usually sourced from second hand good replacements in the main. Sounds like a great approach and attitude you have to this project. Please start a resto thread as you kick off, it sounds great.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,have you got it yet ?

got it let me ask the back manager
Get it on the ‘spit’ and now you’re cooking.
Does that mean removing the body from the running gear?

 

[ozziedog]

got it let me ask the back manager
Get it on the ‘spit’ and now you’re cooking.
Does that mean removing the body from the running gear?

No bud, it just means get it on a rotisserie so you can roll the whole body and chassis over together to get to the underside much much easier. Cleaning it up and any welding required is so much easier if you’re not laying on your back trying to weld above your head. Overhead welding ain’t for the faint hearted. Before getting it on the rotisserie, like a BBQ spit, remove the front and rear suspension , then you just have the chassis and the body and that is where you’ll find any issues that desperately need sorting.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,, Have fun with it

 

[Dizzy T2]

Ok h

No bud, it just means get it on a rotisserie so you can roll the whole body and chassis over together to get to the underside much much easier. Cleaning it up and any welding required is so much easier if you’re not laying on your back trying to weld above your head. Overhead welding ain’t for the faint hearted. Before getting it on the rotisserie, like a BBQ spit, remove the front and rear suspension , then you just have the chassis and the body and that is where you’ll find any issues that desperately need sorting.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,, Have fun with it

Ok Haven’t seen one do you have plans, pictures or a YouTube on this one

 

[ozziedog]

Not really, but if you scan through some of the gallery thread on here, you’ll see several bays on the rotisserie / spit and you can see how much easier it is to get fantastic results.
Over on the gallery section here, on the first thread by Yellowbay, you’ll see one and another one in use over in Oz and that thread is Dubbus or similar, there’ll be quite a few more if you have a look. The good thing about trawling through the build threads, is you can see the results, how good they are, and exactly how they were achieved. You’ll also find out who did what themselves and who used professional peeps for certain bits like some peeps don’t get on with the electrics, some don’t get on with welding , etc etc.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,,you could read that for a week if you were so inclined