"Van Halen" '69 Riviera Bay

[TooLow&NotEnoughGo]

Hey guys, thought I'd share my Bus, 1969 (1970 model) Early Bay Riviera conversion.

How it sits at the mo...

So...



Lets roll back to when I first started it...

The bus is an American import, with a Californian Title, but wearing a Washington State Recreational vehicle plate and a cool 80's used dealer sticker from Idaho,

so guess its got around a bit!!

Anyway, down to business...

When I bought the Bus it was fairly obvious that although the rest of the bodywork was in fairly straight condition with cool old paint, zero rust, and of course those awesome '80's stripes, (hence the Van Halen namesake) the front panel had a very recent almost too perfect paint job. during the day it didn't stand out too much, albiet a tad souless with zero character, but at night time it stuck out like a sore thumb against the '80's Californian Burnt Seaside Dive respray over the original Neptune Blue showing underneath... Not to mention when examined closer it became obvious that it was probably full of filler, which my trusty fridge magnet confirmed!

Before...

So starting at a fairly reserved pace I started to see what laid underneath...

As you can see I probably should have just tried to take it back to the 80's metallic job but the call for the original Neptune was too strong

So at this point I had a dilemma. Do I, satisfied with seeing a bit of original paint cover it back up with metallic again ignoring the ton of filler at the bottom and have that shit colour match again of old and new paint? Or do I Carry on digging to unleash the horrors.

 

[TooLow&NotEnoughGo]

I couldn't help it

And the mother load!!

Phew!

 

[TooLow&NotEnoughGo]

I've seen some filler in my time but f**k me!!

Clean up time to see what's underneath...

Slide hammer holes suggest when it had its spare wheel it must've had it's nose caved in...

 

[TooLow&NotEnoughGo]

We got too stuck in yesterday to take any shots of welding up all the slide hammer holes and the two rust holes where the filler had been, but we were out there from 8am to 6pm relentlessly, I reckon there must have been at least 20 or 30 slide hammer holes to weld and grind down.

Anyway, battling the elements we got some zinc on to protect it

Then high build primer to clean up the grind marks etc.

Yes, I know it's all dented, and yes I know it's not the original paint scheme, but I'd rather wear the dents with pride safe in the knowledge that what you see is what you get than riding around with all that filler hiding 30 or so holes

So this is what we have...

I quite like the two tone feel haha :lol: matches the stripes in my opinion. We roughed up the metallic just so it matches the rest of the bus, and I think I'm going to have two pin stripes or tape stripes down the leading edge of the doors and around the centre bit to highlight the two tone and finish it off.

I guess there will be a lot of folk out there who won't get rolling it all dented up when it looked ok to start off with, but hey, I like a bit character

 

[TooLow&NotEnoughGo]

Next step (once I have saved a bit more cash after buying the damn thing!) is to build a carport to protect it I think.

It's tempting to crack straight into slamming it on its arse as it only really failed its MOT on the beam centre pin and a couple of niggles, but realistically when I can afford it I think a carport is the way to go. Also I will be eventually going King and link conversion etc so probably a better idea not to rush into slamming it before its registered as I'd rather not have notches etc just in case the DVLA want to inspect it. So carport, then MOT and I'll try a new centre pin in this beam and get it registered as it is ... then it's operation slammage

 

[Lee C]

Wow!!
That's some bondo!!!!!! :shock:
My bus front panel was similar, full of slide hammer holes, I managed to blend the fresh paint in, on my 2nd attempt
Don't ask what I do for a living

Good luck that looks like a funky old bus, I liked it when was for sale a little while ago 8)

 

[gninnam]

Good work on the front 8) and like Lee said, some bondo on that....

 

[Dave.P]

Great bus, I really wanted it but the mrs wouldn't let me buy it till I sold mine ! :roll:
Keep the pics coming in , I absolutely love them stripes 8)

 

[TooLow&NotEnoughGo]

Thanks for the kind comments guys, I'm leaving the rest of the Bus as is as the whole reason I bought the damn thing was those Stripes and the faded 80's naff paint job! :lol: I love how the metallic has burnt through to the Neptune underneath, but also being a Riviera originally has a lovely wooden head lining...

The interior wood work has been replaced at some point, but it is pretty old and to a good standard... Infact I think it all has plenty of charm 8)

Only plan there is to recover the bed and seat in the rear with no foam as it has definately seen better days.

Engine wise, it has a pretty respectable 1500 sp which aside from a bit of an oil leak appears to be pretty spot on, no end float, runs and idles nicely...

And yes, I shall be removing the fuel filter from the engine bay!! :x

Incidentally, does anyone know what that thing is on the right hand side just in front of the oil filler cap??? It seems to be some kind of 3 way valve thingy... I don't think it is currently doing a lot! :?

 

[crewcab]

Nice van ;-), 1600 SP and OG Interior ;-) just missing the ice box, they were a bit of a copy of the Westy but I'd never seen one with a short cabinet on the right usuall high like the Westy!vave is something to do with Cali smog laws ,take it off and weld it up as I think it was just open the exhaust!

 

[Slammed]

Oi, Joe, move your fuel filter out of the engine bay please buddy. And let me know when you're free to swap notes on our new veeheecles. :lol:

 

[TooLow&NotEnoughGo]

Nice van ;-), 1600 SP and OG Interior ;-) just missing the ice box, they were a bit of a copy of the Westy but I'd never seen one with a short cabinet on the right usuall high like the Westy!vave is something to do with Cali smog laws ,take it off and weld it up as I think it was just open the exhaust!

Will do, or at least just gonna block it for now just to see if it does owt!!

The interior is a home done jobby by the looks of things, with only the table, part of the buddy seat and the roof and side panels left of the original Riviera interior. It's all done to a nice standard and got its own charm so its going nowhere!

Oi, Joe, move your fuel filter out of the engine bay please buddy. And let me know when you're free to swap notes on our new veeheecles. :lol:

Calm down dear it shall be moved!!! :lol:

I'm away for Xmas dude but can't wait to see the Twingo

 

[Slammed]

can't wait to see the Twingo

I can't wait to go cruising in it. I've named it Annie. 8)

 

[TooLow&NotEnoughGo]

can't wait to see the Twingo

I can't wait to go cruising in it. I've named it Annie. 8)

Ha that's a coincidence, that's exactly what I was gonna call your now for buying it!! :lol:

 

[gvee]

Cool van dude 8)

 

[TooLow&NotEnoughGo]

Cool van dude 8)

Thanks George, I see your the proud new owner of Jakes old Panel!! Always loved that bus 8)

 

[dubscum]

rad 8)

 

[Grazy]

Nice bus man , look forward to seeing it lower 8)

 

[TooLow&NotEnoughGo]

Cheers guys, I can't wait to see it lower either! 8)

Small progress today, got the lights and stuff back in and sorted an electrical gremlin to the O/S headlamp that didn't seem to want to work since welding up the holes in the front panel. Thankfully it wasn't a burnt wire but just a bit of over spray on the connector and a poor earth for the sidelight.

Also painted the shite quality front badge to hide its crapness a little :lol:

Next step, some kinda pin striping to highlight the lines between the Neptune and the metallic. Thinking just some light and some dark blue 3mm styling tape to emulate the stripes on the side a little.

 

[Slammed]

Ha that's a coincidence, that's exactly what I was gonna call your now for buying it!! :lol:

Fair, do you want me to wear a dress as well? :msn4: