My 72 Danbury

[Camperdan]

Hi All,

Newly registered on here a few weeks back and thought it only correct that now I have sorted my photobucket account that I should introduce myself (or rather my bus) properly.

As the title suggests, it's a 72 crossover Danbury. I'm the 3rd owner and have had it for approximately 9 years. It had had some bodywork and paint prior to my buying it for £750, which although not done to the best of standards, it has lasted pretty well and still looks tidy-ish:

It was standard when I got it but over the years I have lowered it, added the empi 5's, rebuilt the engine to a 1641 with Kadrons and stainless exhaust, replaced the tired Danbury interior, colour coded the dash and re-trimmed the front seats... to name but a few things.

However, with the last MOT being bit of a scrape through it prompted me to do something I've been meaning to do for a few years now..... cut off the belly pans and have a good dig around.
It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be but as suspected I found a few problem areas:

I've no plans to sell the van so it looks like the restoration and full repaint that I've been promising myself all these years is finally due... I'll keep you all posted!

Dan

 

[Justin & Muttley]

Hi Dan,

A '72 Crossover? You're in good company!
Bus still looks pretty straight to me - nice work you've done...

 

[gninnam]

Hi Camperdan - you can't beat a cross over

Your van looks nice - good luck with the refurb :lol:

 

[Camperdan]

Thanks

 

[Danbury Doug]

Very smart indeed! 8)

 

[dubberdaz]

Looks like you have a real stunner there mate

 

[Wannabay]

Hi, really nice van.
I've got a 1971 Danbury and posted it on the Gallery last week - have a look
Am interested in what you did with the interior - did you replace it lock, stock and barrel? Post some pics of before and after if you have them, please
How bad were your belly pans when you took them off - mine have a couple of small rust holes but otherwise OK
Is that an original Danbury roof - can't work out what the straps are
And all the best with the resto
Gerry

 

[Camperdan]

Thanks again for all the great comments!

Gerry, although perfectly functional I decided to completely remove the Danbury interior as with the bed down I couldn't access any of my stuff or the cooker all stored below it.... this started to annoy the hell out of me. So instead I fitted a new full width rock and roll bed from Just Kampers and 2 of their cooker/cupboard units (1 as it should be and the other cut down in size to fit behind the passenger seat as an additional storage unit).
Although no longer original I find this layout so much more user friendly for how I want to use the van and can now cook and eat breakfast in bed!
I will try and find some before and after pictures and put them up soon.

As for the roof, yes this is an original Danbury roof. The straps are just something I fit to hold my Surfboard when heading off to the coast.
I have attached another picture below without the straps. This was taken this weekend after fitting larger profile rear tyres (to get the gearing near to stock and reduce motorway cruising rpm's) and then lowering the back a fraction more to compensate:

 

[Airtime]

Awesome bus! Love the colour and the wheels. 8)

 

[Camperdan]

Gerry, forgot to add about the belly pans - to be honest the belly pans looked fine and these weren't the worry.... it was what they were hiding that worried me!

As you will see from the last of the first pictures I posted, the front chassis out-rigger, front jacking point and front of the inner, middle and outer sill all need some attention. This was the off-side but the near-side is just the same.
Luckily though, the rear out-riggers, the floor and all the top hats are still good and solid with just some light surface rust.

 

[Scampi]

Nice ride fella! Wheels go with it really well :wink:

 

[rjb63]

Cracking looking bus! What sort of numbers do you get out of the 1641? Like the detailing on air intakes as well.

 

[Camperdan]

I've no idea what performance figures etc I get from the 1641... never dyno'd it? As for top speed, I've never tried for fear of over-revving it!
I have hit the odd 80-85mph hear and there without realising it when overtaking, and then slowed back to 65-70 pretty rapid.

To be honest, I never really noticed a difference when changing from the 1600 to the 1641. The significant change came when I added the twin Kadron's and the exhaust. Hills aren't quite the burden that they used to be anymore.... I can just plant my foot and it digs in maintaining the forward direction as opposed to the feeling of going backwards!
I also have some 1.25 ratio rockers to add but haven't got round to putting them on yet.

 

[Wannabay]

thanks for info on interior revamp + belly pans
have only recently got my van and will try it out as is over the summer - I can see that interior is not as user friendly as other layouts but it's all original in v. good nick and that's part of the attraction for me - will probably end up getting an awning, so less of a problem.
will look out for the pics to come
cheers

 

[bigbadbadge]

Luv this bus

Colour is great and the interior changes I can see makes sense, did you keep all the original Danbury bits at all? People are saying at shows that they are struggling to find replacement interior bits although how true that is I don't know.

I have a 72 Danbury too and I must admit if on my own I only put up one side and the middle leaving a little space to access things which isn't too bad.

Good looking bus dude

All the best

Chris 8)

 

[Camperdan]

Thanks for the comments Chris.

I sold most of the Danbury stuff that I removed although I do still have the front buddy seat runners and the foot boards that used to flap down over the runners when the buddy seats were rolled back for forward facing seating.

I must admit, if my experience is anything to go by, I think that these Danbury interiors are pretty hard to come by... as I was looking for the removable sink at swapmeets and shows for years and never so much as saw a single Danbury part....?

Cheers

 

[Wannabay]

Thanks for the comments Chris.

I must admit, if my experience is anything to go by, I think that these Danbury interiors are pretty hard to come by... as I was looking for the removable sink at swapmeets and shows for years and never so much as saw a single Danbury part....?

Cheers

makes me all the more determined to preserve my danbury's original interior
fired up the cooker/grill last w/e - amazed it worked - have yet to try the sink and hand pump, will try at w/e.......

 

[Deano]

I have seen this bus from when Dan first brought it and it looks really good...........and goes well too!

I hope that your bus did not get the rust disease from my bus!!!!!!!

 

[Camperdan]

I've no plans to sell the van so it looks like the restoration and full repaint that I've been promising myself all these years is finally due... I'll keep you all posted!

Quick update:
Since my first post I have had no luck in getting a firm quote from any of my local VW specialists that I have approached for the required resto work..... guess they just don't want my business?

As such, and with the inspiration taken from the many DIY restos pictured on here, I have decided to bite the bullet and return to my original plan of doing it myself!
Been really lucky and found a large barn for rent locally..... agreed a price and terms and will be moving my stuff in this week - so plan to start the strip down this weekend in preparation for firing up the angle grinder and Mig next week!

I'll try to take pics as I go and keep you all up to date with the progress.

 

[gninnam]

Good luck then CamperDan - brave, very brave :wink: