Some of you may recall that purchased a 1976 Westy Berlin left-hooker import back in 2014, and was active on LB for a few years whilst I was getting the engine, brakes, and most of the mechanicals sorted. Unfortunately 2 period of illness meant that I had to shelve the project, and despite the hope that Tim and Fuzz would one day turn up, my bay gathered dust until a few months ago, when I decided something should be done. My avatar shows the bus in the US, and the following photo is the bus being loaded up to go off to Campervancoachworks, who are local, for some minor welding and respray. This is after I stripped the bus completely including removing engine and gearbox, leaving just the wheels and axles. I hope to get her back in the Spring, and will spend spring and summer putting everything back, health permitting. I am a bit behind with photos but will be posting over the next few weeks whilst I get on stripping the engine whilst the bodywork is being done. For info, my daughter christened the bus Cheesy Wotsit, as she said that's what it looked like when it first turned up.
All completely stripped, and back to bare metal: Worst parts were a damaged rear quarter, and usual spots such as windscreen frame: Underneath very solid and also stripped: I have taken out the loom which was not in a good way and had been botched in places and Peter and Matt at Volksgoods in Lincoln are making a new one, no mean feat as it is FI with lots of odd connectors most of which are long discontinued. Engine and gearbox are in my garage being slowly stripped and cleaned. More to follow....
Underneath was etch primed and sprayed. I should say at this point that Mrs Wotsit and I had a difference of opinion, in that I wanted to retain the original Marino Yellow, whereas she wanted something closer to Duck Egg blue below pastel white. I firmly made the point that I had paid for the bus; lost a lot of skin blood and bone working on it; and was financed the resto work on it. We therefore came to the only logical conclusion, and you can see that it will be blue! 'We' chose Bahama Blue a '64 colour which looks a bit light in the photo, but if I swallow my pride does actually look good: Rest of the bus has been etch primed, and beam and axles refurb'd and sprayed: Engine is at the machine shop being checked over and more to follow....
Latest installment, prep work then paint to outside. Bahama Blue looks good, but changes according to the light so cant wait to get it out in the sun. Definitely looks a lot less 'cheesy' now.
Good to see you've changed the colour. Mine is bright yellow fancy a change to mango green . Is that he colour you've gone for?
It’s actually Bahama Blue which is a bit of a greeny blue similar to duck egg blue. I think mango is a good colour to go for, have seen a few in that colour.
The wifey comment made me lol so much ref the colour.. Mines the same.. I wanted to go as per the factory delivery . Pastel white .. She said no....
Pastel White was my second choice but that was vetoed on the basis that it would apparently look like an ambulance. I pointed out that it would be without the red cross, blue light, injured people, paramedics etc etc but made no difference!
...and then it all stopped, within a month everything was mothballed until everything was back to normal in the Summer. Although I managed to get a few bits done (wiring, roof on, engine and gearbox restored and put in) in Aug 20, it was soon mothballed again. Anyway here are some piccies from last year. Engine in and started interior:
Got back onto it in the summer just gone, got the engine running and electrics sorted (thanks to Rob at Campervancoachworks after some idiot connected quite a few the wrong way round. Well I can’t help being colourblind). Seats and interior fitted, seats from Newton Commercial, saved up for ages as pricey but well worth it, very well made:
Still got the bed and rear seats to do, some trim and leisure wiring, but have been driving it to and from work, and not missed a beat, here’s the engine: (must sort those heater pipes) Next set of photos were expertly taken by @Lardy who is a dab hand with a camera: Nearly there, as long as no more lockdowns...
