The Turd, 1969 sunroof van refresh, finished and driving

[creationblue]

Lovely bus Mr. 8)

 

[squareweave]

This stuff arrived today. All NOS, grills, sunroof seal and drivers side air duct. I really didn't need the duct or the seal but when I was offered them I thought that I might not get another chance to find stuff like this again so I picked up and I will be using them. I like the grills for a deluxe.

 

[Supertramp]

Where did you get them from?
I'm particularly after the air ducts for my deluxe.

 

[roland]

oh man, this is ****.

 

[Grazy]

This has to be the most insanely NOS resto ever , AWESOME man keep up finding cool **** and putting it on the bus

So cool great work 8)

 

[squareweave]

Where did you get them from?
I'm particularly after the air ducts for my deluxe.

Pm sent

 

[squareweave]

Busy day today in the garage, beam and related parts in, steering box in, horn on, rear shocks and spring plates mounted, master cylinder in and front grills installed. Takes time sorting through the cad plated hardware to find the correct bolts for each part. I had a close call when I was setting up the steering box/drag link/pitman arm assembly. I was cranking the wheel back and forth to find center when I noticed the bus start to move on the jack stands. The driver side outboard tie rod end is hanging there at the moment and it rotated back and while I was cranking the wheel it was touching the jack stand and I nearly pushed the bus off of the jack stand onto the ground. No damage except my undies.

Anyways here are few pics from my phone:

 

[squareweave]

Here is couple of more random shots:
drivers side belly pan, you can see the old tire road spray pattern, I like the look but don't want it to rust so I gave it a light coat of Cosmoline and then waxed it to seal it up but still keep it clean looking. These were never painted totally from the factory, they were just over sprayed paint on the factory primer from when they painted the bus

it has the same looking road spray pattern in the rear fenderwell and factory runs in the primer

 

[squareweave]

Rebuilt the rear hubs last night. New german bearings, seals and greased up ready to go. These were powdercoated along with everything else.

 

[Dirty Harry]

:shock: :shock: whow.. superb job your doing there!!

 

[squareweave]

Mounted the rear hubs and assembled the rear brakes, lines, shocks etc today. Off to work tonight.

 

[Buss69]

I think I spotted some dirt on the 2nd image :lol: you should be ashamed

 

[Lee C]

Yeah & your workshop floor could do with a paint, what a mess!!!!
:lol:
:lol:

 

[creationblue]

I like the fact your using your OG Westy lino to assemble your hubs :lol:

Nice work 8)

 

[Airtime]

I can only say WOW! :shock: 8)

 

[*Sam*]

Tidy work, I'd love to tap into your NOS stash.

 

[*Sam*]

Tidy work, I'd love to tap into your NOS stash.

 

[squareweave]

Thanks for the comments guys. I would have to agree that the floor is a mess :lol: I was a nice mint green :shock: when we moved in nine years ago. Old owners of our house were in their 80's and built the house new in 61 and it was very 50-60's looking. I plan on giving inside the garage a freshen up when the van is done. Working on old VW's has taken its toll on the old concrete.


Worked last night and heading back out this morning to get the front brakes done and hopefully roll it out of the garage this weekend. I'll keep you posted with pics as I get more done.

 

[squareweave]

I had a bit of a snag this morning when the lower balljoints were both pressed in to fit the left side. So after getting another new balljoint the shop installed it the right way this time I was off and running. I finished up the front end. Packed the new front wheel bearings with grease and mounted the drums. I also installed new e brake cables. Hopefully tomorrow I will have brakes bled and back on its wheels with new 1" whitewall bias ply tires that you saw earlier in the thread. I want to roll it out of the garage so I can give a good clean up as the van has been on jack stands since last July!!

Here is a few picks of todays progress.

Blue tape is to remind me to tighten up the outer tie rod ends

 

[squareweave]

With help from my wife I got the brakes bled today. It went well. So I put on the rims and tires and rolled the van out of the garage for the first time since last July. The van is dusty and dirty and looks like patch work quilt right now with the quickie polished spots from ding removal but I am fairly happy with the look of the tires. I hope to get the gas tank back in and engine and trans back too in the next day or so I I can get the ride height down to stock. Here's a few pics:

Rims painted black on the back side like stock.

Cleaning up the garage while the van was out