I thought it was about time to start a restoration thread for my crew cab which I brought a few months ago. There is a nice little background story. I brought this bus off the first owner, who brought it from Volkswagen in Reading back in 1973. I first saw this bus in my hometown when I was about 17, and had just got into VW's. In fact, I saw it, and a red Crew Cab that was on the front of Volksworld (this would have been about 1994/5). The crew cab would be parked outside my dad's office, and I would see it all the time. Fast forward about 18/19 years and I'm working at my dad's office quite a bit, and still seeing the crew-cab nearly daily. I have a nice bay window camper which I've owned for about 13 years, but always hankered after a crewie. I have been searching for about 12 months as I had saved up a budget, when I thought I had just lost the perfect van in France, I saw this for sale and couldn't believe it. I thought that the owner would always give it to a family member or it would just stay with them forever! So my plans are to restore it to a stock but lowered truck, keeping it in the current look. I've enjoyed the hunt for parts, which have included all 3 doors. There are 3 phases to the restoration currently: 1 - Initial Bodywork: Get it legal and MOT'd 2 - Mechanical: Lowered, brakes and fuel system checked, and some little tweeks. Fit some new wheels and a couple of interior goodies. 3 - Interior: New headlining, seat covers and door cards. Plus a small sound system. Here is the crew-cab currently:
Oh, and did I mention it came with a whole bunch of paperwork, right from day 1 (including all the tax discs):
So phase 1 is underway. I've sourced a load of parts from VW Heritage, people on here, via Friends, Alan Schofield (if you want me to list all the panels/parts I can). This included sourcing new doors. I expect to only find new(ish) cab doors. I brought one rust free import from the us at Vainest with my brother in law (who was over from the USA), and one new passenger door, which was painted but never fitted. I think it is a repro door but in great condition. The one from @Foxy on here: The import: These have now been painted: Plus I also managed to source a cab door from here: I got this for a great price, and it is basically new. The condition is insane.
I've got some VW Brazilian spindles too, which are dropped. So I'm planning on using the existing disc brakes. I'll post details on the suspension set-up later. I'll also have the old beam, spindles for sale, plus I'm planning on removing the tow bar.
That's in excellent condition, much better than mine! I have decided to go with the current 'Kewl' of rough on top, special underneath. Scooby, Turbo, 6-rib, intercoolers etc etc.
Cool, sounds rad. I've got a 2276cc, 6 rib, 911 brakes etc. on my camper. So I was considering swapping that into this, and put a fuel efficient scooby into the camper. I'm trying desperately to reign myself in! Although I think I just want a nice stock 1600cc. The only engine mod on the cards is some twin 40's and a vintage speed muffler. Some pics of your ride would be cool (or a link to a thread, i'll try and search).
http://www.thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/bill-the-doka.34785/ http://www.thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/a-decision-has-been-made.54983/ Be interested in how your brake set up is as I suspect the originals will be woeful given the 300hp Scooby that's going in!
So no new updates, and hopefully the welding starts in anger this week and next. I'm off to pick up some new wheels tomorrow morning!
Lovely crew cab ,that's gotta be one of the hardest doors to find as well !! we moan about RHD sliders
Still no pics of the welding, but I picked the wheels up today from @onion. Very nice guy and a great help with these parts.
