The rebirth of a 6-9. (WARNING: Pic heavy)

[Kirk]

I've been here a while, lurking, but I never posted up my bay. Would you like to meet her? You would? Well join me then.

I first met her via a very vauge ad on CL in 2006.

vw van, rusty doesn't run. 950$

Well with such a stimulating ad such as that (and no pics I might add) I had to go out. So I rode out to Ponder, Tx and found her just like this.

Well, I noticed that she was a Deluxe that someone had turned into a camper at some point, had some body damage to the rear corners, and fairly significant rust in the lower nose. (Oh, all those newspaper scraps? Porn. Every bit.) I dunno why, but I argued him down to a much much more agreeable price, and loaded her up.

Now she went home with me, unrunning, brakeless and filthy. I cleaned her up a bit,...

....and later sold her to Bay Window Steve. Here is where her story gets kinda sad, and I'll just summarize it. Her next several owners included a member who may or may not be related to domestic terrorism, an illegal alien lesbian, and a fellow Air Cooler, but I don't want to bore you with details. However, fast forward two years to November 2008, I get the opportunity to buy her back, and do. This time for a little more than I sold her for, but in good running condition (still no brakes. Guess no one wants to buy the MC for a 69. Hmm...)

 

[Kirk]

So I went and picked her up...

and with the help of the dogs began to clean her out. My first thought was to install some camper interior I had in the Kirk bus part vault but then I changed my mind. First step? Primer removal. Lets get back to that Montana Red. I'm big into ratty OG paint, so lets see what we find. First, the 80'sBoom Box and my old sack of tapes. Woo hoo. Nothing like 80's music and hair metal on the pure clarity that is cassette.

(I quickly learned gloves are a better plan....)

I did find some hidden damage, but I dont understand why she was primered in the first place. Makes no real sense.

Fearing the worst, I start this side. Wonder why black is on there too?

Ha! No reason. Lets roll on. I'll quit with the section by section pics, and go for bulk results.

 

[Kirk]

The difference is clearly amazing. Did the entire bus and the outside is squared away as much as its gonna get for now. Got all the primer off, only took an entire weekend, a whole pack of 0000 steel wool, and three big cans of EZ Off. Whew. Now to the parts vault. Lets see. Hmm. Dig out the rubber floor mat, and wash off. Check.

Pick up my rear seat and a full length middle seat from Kevin (kaveman), check.

Hmm. Back to the vault. I think I'll stick with my mint 3/4 seat for now, and recover this one for use later.

Large metric nuts from Lowes to mount my middle and rear seat in, check.

Now we are looking more like a transporter all the time.



Now to Dougs. Almost the entire brake system needs to be replaced, along with some other issues I cannot track down. Away we go.

Luckily everything is new. Now all I need are some seals, some minor wiring repair and brakes.

 

[Kirk]

So I pick it up a week later, and leave with a hurt butt. Ouch. Needed all new wheel cylinders, rear drums, all new shoes, two lines and a master cylinder. Dammit. Wiring isn't quite right, so I head over to Fraziers (derturd).

How many Air Coolers does it take to repair the wiring in a bay? Apparently at least four. Pictured (closest first) Derturd, Mike Ortiz and Slownlow.

Its all fun and games until the rain comes.

Alright, back home. Tidy up a few loose ends, and I know, lets take her to the 1st ever SHAC meet! Good times.

Alright. After a week or so of driving around almost daily, lets get serious. I order some parts 7 weeks before the Classic. Surely they will be in on time. That, I was to find out, was not to happen.

SO.

In absence of some other parts, I decide to install my Roo Bar. I ordered it off Samba from a guy who built my tow bar. Top quality stuff. Jeremyrockjock.

 

[Kirk]

Parts are in, lets get started. (8.5 weeks after I order them.)

Well. Two ebrake cables, a speedo cable, a clutch cable, a steering linkage, some tie rods, ball joints, and misc other things, and the beam comes right out!

Woo hoo.

Now to narrow some new stock tie rods (Mucho props to Myk (derturd) for knocking it out. Back over to Dougs for all new ball joints (that hurt the pocket book even more....)

Time to reverse the process.

Mike narrowed my tie rods...

All new balljoints in.....

Now the rears....

 

[Kirk]

Now time for wheels. Hmm. Everyone has randars, 5 spokes and stockers. Hmm. How about...

Wide 5 Fuchs, the pro wings of the fuch wheel line.

Got them in, get two tires from Big Balls Magee (David) and two from Discount Tire. 195/50 and 195/65's.

Ooh... not gonna work...

Well, the rears aint fitting, dammit....

Time to bend those inner lips in, and pull the fenders out. Yes, I said pull the fenders out. Amazing what you can do with three Air Coolers and some musckles. Now, lets sit it down.

Well now they fit.

Test drive! I was thrilled.

Mike, not so much.

 

[Kirk]

Apparently, the Roo Bar hangs a BIT low.

Although it looks sick with my emblem.

So anyway, here is my bay. '69 Deluxe. 4" Narrowed beam, drop spindles and horsehoe plates. Rides good, just gotta get used to how it handles. Figured if I had to come out of the bus closet, I should come out decent at least. Hope it was worth the wait.

There it is, hope you like it.

 

[Kirk]

 

[Loxy]

Good work 8)
Keep the pics coming

 

[AxlFoley]

Awesome!!

Love the stance

 

[ballbag]

Awesome bus dude 8) 8)

Mine will hopefully sit just like that :mrgreen:

 

[ant]

good thread, good pics,

 

[AxlFoley]

Just wondering if you get much rubbing with the van that low on the front?

Mark

 

[cunning plan]

Uber thread Kirk!

Now I want some rusty bull bars (roo) !! Where did you get yours from?

Its great to see how you guys take on a project across the pond - slight differences here and there, a great read.

Keep it up dude arty0021:

 

[Kirk]

Just wondering if you get much rubbing with the van that low on the front?

Mark

No, I still have shocks on my beam. The ride is stiffer, but no tire rub. I may bring it up a notch so I can tow it with my bus tow bar, and run w/o shocks, and not rub. The roo came from a guy on the samba. I had him make it for me. Its not heavy to actually do much protection, but dammit it looks good.

Glad you guys like it.

 

[noddy]

Nice bus dude, good to see buses bought back to life.

 

[Grazy]

Good work Kirk love a nice low 69 i do , Looks sick mate 8)

 

[Coast Cruiser]

Nice rebirth !!!!!!!!!
Good job guys.
Not fan of the big bumper but good feeling for the van !

 

[uber cool]

Love the bus. Love the colour. Love the tattoos.

 

[Airtime]

Whoa! Awesome DLX! :shock: 8) That paint came out really great and thos wide 5 Fuchs look the deal too! 8)