Jus wunderin, how many out there doing "off road" resto

[Davydomes]

As stated.

Just wondering, how many members of this blessed collective are in the process of doing a full restoration at the moment keeping your P&J off the road.

I am - started it a year ago and to be honest I think it will be at least another 18 months before back on road due to "free time to do it" :roll:, learining/researching solutions :?: and available funds for parts etc.

Bought it as a resto project and have never had it on the road yet.

Read with envy exploits of others on this site who are on the road :mrgreen: (That's me grinning though my teeth).

I know some of you have started build threads but I think there will be others like me who haven't yet

Just wondered.

 

[Trikky2]

Well yes, just got it on the road last week - but being retired now it all went rather fast.

It was maybe obsessive. Worked on it seven days a week between six and nine hours per day and finished the resto in only three and a half months :lol:

Wasn't a dub though. :mrgreen:

 

[Tofufi]

My Beetle has been off the road for a full (and I mean FULL) resto for 6 years now.

I wouldn't do it in one go again - too easy to lose motivation. Rolling restos are the way forward.

 

[70-CA-Panel]

I'm in similar circumstances, worked on my bus everyday after work from 7-10:30 or 11, then making dinner eating, checking forums or parts, washing up and ending up in bed way past midnight just to get up at 6 again... It got a bit tiring to say the least.
I have a goal date which has been pushed back a little again, but I quit work and get to the bus between being online, driving criss-crossing town for parts so usually about like Trikky 6 to 12 hrs a day. Time just flies working on the bus, I don't get hungry or thirsty and all of the sudden it's time to go home.
I haven't driven my bus since I imported it in Jan 2013 in fact not since 2005! but hopefully in Sep this year.

Just keep plodding along, every little bit done is a bit closer to the MOT and driving it.
I've made a tick list which has helped with organisation, when I get stuck with one thing to jump to another and most of all it bounces the motiviation!

Good Luck! I'm sure it'll be worth it in the end

Like said many times before the journey is the goal, right?
Just think of it this way; You'll know your bus inside out and will be able to fix most things when needed again.

All the Best

Andy

 

[Davydomes]

Good Luck! I'm sure it'll be worth it in the end

Like said many times before the journey is the goal, right?
Just think of it this way; You'll know your bus inside out and will be able to fix most things when needed again.

Thanks - I fully undertand everyones comments. I would love to work on it 6/7 days a week but job gets in the way. Please don't think I am disheartened I'm most definitiely not, having done a 7 year Resto on another car not that long ago - I understand the obstacles and disappointments that do get in the way. I/we will finish this, and it will be to a high standard. I lose track of time also - eating gets in the way. I AM OBSESSED WITH IT.......but it's a sweet pain and I love it! I know it will be worth it.

Great to read people equally as obsessed as me and my pal vinvan

 

[Happystamps]

I've been on mine for 4 years now. It takes it's toll!
One day it'll be on the road and I'll go camping in it. That feeling is going to be incredible, maybe.
Sometimes I sit in the drivers seat like a child and pretend to drive it. It's good to maintain a goal.

 

[Trikky2]

I've been on mine for 4 years now. It takes it's toll!
One day it'll be on the road and I'll go camping in it. That feeling is going to be incredible, maybe.
Sometimes I sit in the drivers seat like a child and pretend to drive it. It's good to maintain a goal.

You have to remember to only make the engine noise in your head though, that way, if somebody suddenly comes in, you can get away with "just checking the steering for play" or "just checking the seat position" :lol:

 

[busdiver]

coming up on exactly two years now of the old girl being off the road, had her for some years used regularly for holidays days out and meets, really missing having her running what started out as repair a front chassis member turned into rust wrangling, but front end is now all back together just to find i need to skin the front doors and repair the under edges of them, then its back corners and trays and............ remove belly pans and see what is going on in there :shock: hopefully not to scary as the rest of the chassis is really good but we'll see.

 

[thejinx]

5 years, was hoping this would be the year but defo next year. I work full time and do bits as and when, been sanding the fibreglass roof for four days. Engine is done waiting to go in welding done and a mate is spraying it for me. CV joints to do and all back end. interior sat waiting to go in just got to pluck up the courage to put in the head liners and windows when it comes out of spraying. i have never driven it, infact i couldnt get the key to turn in the ignition, my son managed it.

 

[yackaboo]

Mine's been off the road for about 4 years but it's only been worked on for the past couple of years, I was going to do the resto myself but I moved house and my new place did not have anywhere to work on it so I bit the bullet( I'm not getting any younger so it was now or never!) and gave it to a local guy who owns a paint shop to restore it, I stripped it of everything and had it sand blasted then he got what was left back into his workshop. He's got a guy who is a local welder / fabricator(he makes ally panels and bodies for vintage cars and hot rods) and he cut out all the rot and welded in new steel, either repro panels and he even fabricated parts that we couldn't get. Got the fully painted body shell back 5 months ago, it was so straight it hardly needed an filler on any of the panels before prime and paint.Now in the process of fitting everything back on.
Can only spend 1 or 2 days a week on it as I work shifts, but.. making progress, hope to be on the road for next year, maybe...

Mike

 

[LeeME3]

Let me start by saying Im very lucky. I bought mine a few weeks ago for a price I was happy with and I live near a well respected independent Classic VW Specialist who I'm in the very fortunate position of being able to pay to do some of the work. Because of where I am in the country they offer VERY competitive hourly rates provided you agree to buy the hours in weekly blocks if that makes sense. I have loads of admiration for those doing it all themselves (and I've been there with my '71 bug years ago and more recently my T25). But, long story short, I hope to have an MOT on the Bus by early to mid September and will then do the rest of the work myself. She'll be mechanically sound and body work solid (but far from pristine) and I'll then work on the interior and upper bodywork and other bits over the neat 12 months. But at least this way I can use her for camping and day trips (and when she's off the road I've got the T25....like I say, I'm lucky!).

Good luck to all doing the full resto....all that really matters is getting these gorgeous vans back on the road and being used properly (ie camping and fun days out - I'm not interested in building a 'show queen'!).

 

[starbiscuit]

Had mine just two years, never been near roadworthy.

Bought as a project, but having completely underestimated the cak-handedness and lack of ability of the PO :evil: , it's turned out to be more of a project than I anticipated, TBH.

There's a lesson there about taking on someone else's crap, no matter how good the pitch.

While the body had been done quite well, it has needed welding that it shouldn't, if the PO work had been done properly, and the fuel and electrics were bloody dangerous, as it later turned out.
Whilst the PO was keen to show me the engine running, I'm glad it wouldn't and I'm sure he knew it wouldn't start. I subsequently found evidence of a small fuel fire (greasy soot and crispy wires) and the carburettor looks like it was assembled by someone blindfolded and using BBQ tongs. All sorts of seals and bolts missing or loose.

Still, it had dry-import cab doors, cab floor and front beam, a new front panel and a bunch of receipts for work done. My mechanic mate and I checked it over as much as we could and decided to take a punt, knowing that it was a gamble: how bad are the bits we couldn't check?

Sadly, the answer was pretty much everything I have looked at on it has needed attention and or replacement, or was just plain missing.

More time and expense. Family losing patience. And it's difficult to keep up momentum while doing a 9 to 5.

Positive news is that I've met lots of great people while buying and selling bits, there's lots to inspire here on EB, and the bus should be ready for MOT in a few weeks.
It might have an outside chance of passing :shock:

My only real concern is the steering box and how much slop at the steering wheel is too much.
Either way, I fully intend it to be usable soon.
And that will be great.

 

[dub boy]

mines been ongoing for sometime ,ive just mot it and have driven it a cupple of times ,link below

 

[gninnam]

9 years and still trying :evil:

 

[who?1]

I've been on mine for 4 years now. It takes it's toll!
One day it'll be on the road and I'll go camping in it. That feeling is going to be incredible, maybe.
Sometimes I sit in the drivers seat like a child and pretend to drive it. It's good to maintain a goal.

You have to remember to only make the engine noise in your head though, that way, if somebody suddenly comes in, you can get away with "just checking the steering for play" or "just checking the seat position" :lol:

You've been caught before! ? !

 

[who?1]

Took me four years to get mine on the road!

Evenings, weekends and the odd day off in the week! Got married and had a baby (not personally) in that time too.

It was a brilliant day when I got her on the road but I am glad it is all over. There is always on something to so though I find!

Matt

 

[Nick-Rackham]

My Beetle has been off the road for a full (and I mean FULL) resto for 6 years now.

I wouldn't do it in one go again - too easy to lose motivation. Rolling restos are the way forward.

Likewise, bought Mollie in Sept 2009, hasn't been on the road yet! Time, Motivation and Cash ! Nevermind, maybe I'll have it finished ready for retirement! :roll: