My 1976 riviera syncro conversion

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by Kris, Apr 1, 2017.

  1. IMG_0186.JPG IMG_0188.JPG IMG_0192.JPG IMG_0193.JPG IMG_0195.JPG IMG_0197.JPG IMG_0199.JPG IMG_0201.JPG IMG_0204.JPG IMG_0205.JPG IMG_0186.JPG IMG_0188.JPG IMG_0192.JPG IMG_0193.JPG IMG_0195.JPG IMG_0197.JPG IMG_0199.JPG IMG_0201.JPG IMG_0204.JPG IMG_0205.JPG I had a friend mention to me that my bus popped up here on a different thread, and I realize that I do not actually have a build thread going for this bus... so here is my attempt at doing so
    Having driven nothing but split campers for the majority of my life I had never thought I would be driving anything but, then my son came along and something began to change. Long story somewhat short I sold off my splits and purchased a 1976 riviera from Tom Toms in Moab. Got it running and loved the way it felt, even the spirit of the bus. Old habits die hard though so I began buying bays like mad, built and drove a 77 Welty and back burn'rd the Riviera. Westy just didn't have the feel I was lookin for and I sold it, landed in a vanagon. Loved the heat! The way it drove reminded me of the feel of a split and comfort of a bay...
    Now I have always taken my buses of the beaten path and suddenly an old friend showed up in a tin top syncro. This was the beginning of the end, I needed a syncro. I also always missed that Riviera so my dumb drunk ass came up with the brilliant idea to make my riviera into a syncro.
    The first attempt was using a eurovan t4 front end with a chunk of the center and other misc modifications involved, building a rear end out of imagination, vanagon parts and magic. I got as far as having all four wheels on the ground and driveline mocked in before the realization hit me that I abuse my buses and am not a mechanical engineer. Scrapped this idea, bought a split and drove it for a summer, then another vanagon westy to try to fill that hole. That didn't work and my Riviera just kept burning its embers in the recesses of my mind. Plan B. Bought a syncro tin top, a garage and began the work of cutting it down to its chassis, built a makeshift lift in my garage that could hold the bus 3.5' off the ground without touching any of the undercarriage and began removing everything I hoped I wouldn't need. I feel pretty safe in the assumption that I am at the summit of this project and about to start the downhill slope to camping and snowboarding with the family. Feel free to have a look, chastise me or whatever you like.
    Thanks,
    Kris.
    I'll post a few pictures but if you've got time to kill...
    https://www.facebook.com/kris.balfe.5/posts/1331906980157124?hc_location=ufi
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    paradox, Coco, FifeBay and 7 others like this.
  2. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    Got this one on the 'watch' list.
    No pressure now @Kris , we need to see it on the slickrock….:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
     
    nicktuft likes this.
  3. bernjb56

    bernjb56 Supporter

    That will turn a lot of heads when you roll up in it.
     
  4. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    Awesome build @Kris

    Ive seen some of the work you've been doing on thesamba posted in the off road modifications thread, enjoyed reading what you've been up to :D
     
  5. nicktuft

    nicktuft Supporter

    Really like what you are doing, will be following in awe..
    :hattip::hattip:
     
  6. Thanks everyone. I'm kind of wishing I had started a build thread after looking through all my pictures and seeing every setback and little victory.
    The current hurdle I'm facing is clutch and brake pedals and going ons.
    I removed all of the undercarriage supporting all the levers and such ( plan E) and was hoping to install them in approximately the same location. I was pretty happy with the booster location and began patting my self on the back, because I'm pretty much done at this point right? Wrong. IMG_0220.JPG IMG_0222.JPG
    The skid plate wouldn't fit anymore...
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    Well, back to the drawing board...
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    Oh hell yes, I'm a genius.
    Except that I'm not, I'd planned on welding the bay pedal pushing thingy on this support, angle a piece over to the hole in the floorboard, attach the pedal and start figuring out the clutch. Pedal geometry will get you every time. That's what I get for spending high school in the bus roasting my afternoons away instead of in math class.
    IMG_0229.JPG
    I moved it over to be under the hole and added a pivot point in the arm... at this point
    I was just barely clearing the steering arm ( another battle that took place before this thread ) and I still wasn't very happy with it considering all the funky angles, gussets springs and stops that would be needed to make everything push a pin into a cylinder that could be required for life saving or what have you. I scrapped this plan.
    IMG_0232.JPG
    And conjured another.
     
    paradox likes this.
  7. Well. Brakes, clutch, steering, accelerator and shifting are all good to go. Here are some pics of the brake/clutch job.
    20170331_102214.jpg 20170402_195403.jpg 20170402_200354.jpg 20170403_163849.jpg 20170404_140447.jpg 20170404_152029.jpg
     
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    paradox, Twe-d and Valveandy like this.
  9. Holly marmite it's Franken Bus! What a monster that things going to be !!! Keep up the hard work :thumbsup:
     
  10. vinnyboy

    vinnyboy Supporter

    Love it :thumbsup:
     
  11. Awesome build
     

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