South African '71 microbus project

[marco]

Finally here, my '71 microbus all the way from Pretoria in South Africa, now residing in the somewhat colder and wetter lake district.

Fair bit of tinkering to get her roadworthy, should be fun. More photos when it's daylight.

 

[Grazy]

Let the fun begin !!

 

[61 stu]

Nice work, awesome colour 8)

 

[marco]

Some more piccies!!

Nice crusty quarterlights!

Nice new lenses

interesting damage, looks like someone's attacked it with a tin opener :shock:

everythings coated in this red/brown dust, but solid and shiny paint underneath

solid front inners

new engine, needs a tune-up!

opposite corner to battery tray, (battery tray needs welding )

One for the patina junkies, check that door mirror!!

Crusty windscreen seal!

 

[marco]

Nice work, awesome colour 8)

Yep, it's growing on me.

 

[marco]

Job list so far(sure it'll grow)
1. strip out and jet wash interior, that red dust got everywhere!!
2. fit l/h brake cable
3. new hoses then bleed brakes
4. new steering damper
5. new tyres,(sure one of them is 41yrs old!!)
6. few bits of welding
7. fix sliding door
8. engine tune up/poss carb rebuild
9. window seals
10.clean up electrical contacts
11. jet wash dust off underside
12. por15 the underside
13. interior
14. etc.

 

[Barkafer]

Cool Bus Dude 8) A nice lookin project! Keep those pics comin

 

[simo]

Cool bus looks real solid :mrgreen:
Dont forget fuel lines :idea:

simo

 

[61 stu]

have a good look at any parts you're thinking of replacing mate as things like rear light lenses and windscreen wipers are marked with 'made in south africa'. Mind you if you're not too bothered about keeping them i'd happily take them off your hands for mine :msn4:

Good luck

 

[marco]

I'm keeping some stuff like the lenses for originality, not that they're much use as they've been bleached clear, as I noticed the 'made in south africa' stamped on them, I got rid of the dead south african beasties though!

 

[marco]

Cool bus looks real solid :mrgreen:
Dont forget fuel lines :idea:

simo

Fuel lines and nice stainless clamps at the ready.
Fitted new dizzy cap and leads last night as the old ones look original, found that the dizzy clamp is knackered so new one ordered so it'll keep in time!
and took off the middle hinge from the sliding door as it's needing attention!!
Also started to fit the n/s handbrake cable and found some siezed adjusters so they'll need sorting!
Stripped out the door cards etc too ready to jetwash the interior out, found a few small areas that'll need the attention of mr mig my crappy SIP welder.

 

[marco]

Got it's birth certificate today from VW, born February 1971, 8 seater, colour listed as Kansas Beige with cork leatherette interior.

 

[marco]

Some more photos, cleaned out the interior, man that SA dust is stuborn...

Before

After

before

after

Bit of welding required..

Nice and clean!!

Not sure I can use the spare!!!

 

[marco]

Spent today jet-washing the underneath, no nasty suprises, just underseal and fresh paint, piccies to follow when it all dries out. Probably 1/2 a kilo lighter now all the dirt has gone

 

[krusty]

Very nice! I love the colour, look forward to see what you do with the interior.

 

[marco]

Very nice! I love the colour, look forward to see what you do with the interior.

Thinking of a simple danbury style interior as I have 4 kids, bench seat/ storage across the back and 2 seat/storage units behind the front seats. First job is to get her mot'd and on the road though with the original microbus seat in the back and have some fun when summer finally arrives. :mrgreen:

 

[61 stu]

looking good, not much welding needed 8)

 

[marco]

Cheers Stu, just a few pin holes in the cab area too, just gonna patch the floor for now and do proper repairs to the smaller areas, can't believe how solid the underneath is though
Just need to overhaul the electrics and brakes, replace the steering damper and fettle the starter, the solenoid is sticky and it flattens the battery in no time :? It won't start at the mo' but can't be too bad as it ran when it arrived.
Oh, and new tyres!!

 

[marco]

Nice rusty battery tray

Nice non rusty other side :mrgreen:

small bit of welding

No belly pan :roll:

Old jack damage,(can't complain really, it's not rusty :mrgreen: )

Before...

After... just need to space the roller correctly so that it locates properly,just a few mm out(didn't have any suitable washers :roll: )

 

[marco]

After further investigation seems I've been sent the wrong roller for the middle hinge, looks like a bottom roller, no groove in it to locate on the rail.
Got some goodies yesterday for it, new rear cylinders, brake hoses, o/side brake cable, dizzy clamp, no.plate lense, front indicator seals and steering damper.(resisting urge to buy blingy bits for it that I don't need yet)
Need to crack open the welder at the weekend and get them holes sorted. :|
Need to take the starter off too to give it a good clean, the solenoid keeps sticking. :roll:
Wish it would stop raining :evil: