BigRedResto

Bit of background before I start
(First time posting and adding pictures so let’s hope this works eh!)

So I’ve had this for a little under two years and this year I’ll start putting boot to ass and get this light resto/build underway.

Purchased June 2017 a seeming solid ‘73 kombi. Mostly complete with a decent running 1600tp engine. The previous elderly owner was based in Southampton and I was in Birmingham. We arrived by train to view/collect the bus on a miserably wet day, the bus was soaking wet as was the floor! I crawled around as much as possible to try and go through the checklist I had in my head, nothing obvious that was going to put me off (but seriously who travels so far and walks away empty handed?)

Test drive was scary, she didn’t idle great and coming to a stop was a choice between downshifting/braking and trying to keep the motor going. Negotiations began and I parted with my dosh and off I wet. Stoked!!

i
C&C



It got me home with only two stops (one planned and one not so planned). It was obvious the gear linkages needed some work, the motor ran a little hot on a run and she under-fuelled on a hill climb and the wipers were shocking - as was the heating.




Home!

Used her locally a little over that summer and in late August we’d planned to take her to my sister in-laws wedding (Birmingham to Crewe). That didn’t go so well, in fact we didn’t get any further than the petrol station in my own town before she spluttered and died.


Flatbed

This was traced to water in the fuel, thanks to a missing seal on the filler cap and generally poorly fuel system. So Mr AA man took us to our local air cooled garage in Derbyshire where they got the problem sorted, overhauled the fuel system and gave “flossy” a once over.

The biggest let down was the flooring throughout, particularly in the living area being threadbare in places. Awful red carpet. So I removed that and a couple of home made cabinets and put some Lino flooring in and refitted one of the better home made cabinets.




We used it locally again until the weather turned and into hibernation she went.


Snooze!



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Spring 2018.

Began tackling a few little a few little jobs

Removed the spare wheel from the front panel and was greeted by this little mess behind it.

At that point I almost considered refitting the wheel, but it isn’t the look I wanted so off it stayed.

I also began removing the same crappy carpet from the front cab area. It didn’t take long to discover that there were a fair few patches on the front tubs, and a little after that I found a scab.

A little picking later that turned into a hole and it became clear that this day was only going to get worse. Yep. Same on the other side. Joy! So I asked someone I know and used to work with to take a look at welding those up and the front panel holes.






(I should add that somewhere around this point this happened)








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He hit it hard with the grinder/wire wheel and it became clear that new tubs were the best way to go. Plus a few other areas to be addressed. A slight problem arose here as no supplier had any tubs, out of stock and no replen planned meant that I had to think a little out of the box. It was decided that a couple of raised tubs would be used giving me the option of reducing the ride height in the future. He sourced those and my man fitted those into place.





He had my bus quite a while, working on it between jobs. And this happened within that time



And this takes me upto now, once again taking busty out of hibernation this week for “the list” to be created.


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So this week (end of Feb) she came out of the garage.

She spent a bunch of time in and out of a workshop and spent most of a year outside of my mates unit awaiting her turn under the spanner and sandpaper.

None of those things were good for the paintwork that became as flat as anything. In the grand scheme of things this is not a huge problem, there are much bigger fish that need the heat of the pan.

But to me, it needs to look like a polished turd at least or else I’ll fall outta love with her and nothing will get done.

So an afternoon was spent cutting back the old paint whilst assessing the state of play.





During this it became clear that the front panel was the first thing externally to be tackled. Which leads me to today




Sadly the video for the above won’t attach. Shame as it adds to the full effect. (Need to figure that one out?)

This looks to have been poorly prepped previously. Great. Thankfully the front panel is the only place that the paint seems to be shedding.

Not sure what to do about the fresh air grill. Stay white or body coloured??

Let me know what you think.


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Nice bus mate
Doing mine red n cream front grill will be red on mine.
As for video you have to put it on YouTube then attach the link.

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Thanks for the input

Yeah I lean towards red. I’m not a huge fan of red or the white if I’m honest. I’d love a full colour change if money or time where more readily available

But I’m under strict orders from the wife. Use it or loose it. Haha!

Huff videos onto YT first. Ok, I’ll have a bash at that in the future.


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Looks like a decent rolling project bus dude.

Look on the bright side, it will be nice and easy to get the old paint off when you come to do it.. just take it to your local jet wash and watch it all fly off..

 

Keep it on the road as much as possible and use it to make happy memories with your new family. Time will go by at warp factor ten now. Use it and enjoy it for what it was made for. They can be very practical and fun for all.

 

Yeah I wanted something that I could work on and improve over time. I’m a fickle beast at times and if I’m not active on something, I’ll mentally move on.

Spent a fortune on her already and I’ve forgotten half the stuff we’ve purchased for her. Actually sat and made a list of all the things I want to get done and I’m hoping the need to keep all you fine folk up dated and this thread going will spur me on in my progress. If I achieve half of it, I’ll consider that a win!

It does look like that little lot wont to too difficult to get off. Paint scraper more than sandpaper it seems.


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Thanks. I shall do my best.

Big plans need maximum effort so just gotta keep on swimming.

Need to

Paint my cab floor! Have many people tried raised tubs? They look great and will help with next years “project lows” but I’m not sure how or what people are using to cover the interior.

Obviously off the shelf cab mats aren’t going to work for around the front seats - so what? Self adhesive rubber/carpet mats?

Bare painted surface is my current train of thought. How wear proof is Rustoleum/Hammerite/raptor bed liner paint? Needs more thought.

Shameless Screen grab from Pinterest


Then there is colour. Red or white?


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Thanks, time does indeed fly! My Boy is 14 weeks (and two days ) old already and I don’t know where the time has gone. No chance of slowing to impulse eh!

Need to have a nice bus to show for my time!!

We’ve already had a little fun in her sine we’ve owned it. Even the break down was an experience that we joke about. Not slept in her yet though. On the 2019 bucket list that one!

Maybe this year I’ll even make it to techenders

Engage.


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My kids were 5 and 8 when I bought my bus and it’s been used and abused for the last 13 years. Worth every penny I paid for it. Only seems like 5 minuets ago. Scary.

 

Yep try madmatz- they’ll do whatever you want. Mark is on here occasionally.

Nice project.

 

Scary indeed.

Mostly the reason we got the bus, we’d spend far more than the bus will cost just on yearly holidays. So having that in the garage, will be like having a ready made holiday that we can use at will.

So if it gets used and (reasonably) abused then that’ll be money well spent.


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I’ve had a little look on the madmatz site. I’ll pop them an email a little closer to the time.

See what they can do.

Do like their rubber dash mat!

They’re not a million miles away from me either.


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Thanks. Looks like a win.

Not sure on just a painted finish, more that it might create a cold surface when camping

Picked up one of those Chinese diesel heaters for night heating duties, not sure if that’ll cause condensation to settle on cold glass/metal.


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Fitted a Chinese heater in my bug a couple of months ago. Well impressed. Might get another for the camper.

 

good work on the bus and baby front @Tminty83 !