Here's my repost, along with some new developments. My bus, a 1978 Westy with 3 previous owners and all service records, all original interior in decent condition, all original exterior in need of some tlc, picked up for a grand about a year ago... cleaned her up a bit: (picture of pop top) added clear lenses and some tires and wheels off a german syncro: new shifter knob: cupholders made from pvc pipe.. to be painted, one day.. Vanagon belts: kids enjoying the roof tent: First camping trip: more of the kids in the bus: bought a welder and now will learn how to use it... for my very first welding job, i patched the holes left by the spare tire holder. still needs some filler and paint... next i made my kids a slammed vintage radio flyer wagon. handle is flipped and lengthened so it can be ridden as a go-kart down hills. next, i cut out some rust: needs more cut out, as you can see, but this will be a temporary panel, to experiment with welding and panel fabricating: test fit: stuck for now.. need to go buy a hammer and dolly to mold this panel... this may look easy to many of you, but this is my first time with a welder, so i am very excited about these minor accomplishments!
something like this: but in this colour, and maybe keep the stock wheels and paint them white (in other words, this one lowered and with white bumpers): in the mean time just leave it ratty and hope to lower it like this:
realizing that 'proper' restoration is still far off, I've started to do a few things to make the old bus look more respectable.. wheels clean wheels. hey they're green! painted wheels took some coke to the hubcaps all shined up in minutes! back together....much improved
So i waxed the bus.. (waxed on the right) and fixed my welder (had a gas leak which is why my welds were so bad!) stripped down the front again to do the windshield replacement.. and POR15 for now. Gotta get it in my shop and finish up since the rains have come. I am restoring a new Westy roof to go on, which has new canvas. Once that's done.. the bus moves in to the shop for windshield and maybe front arch.. and I am getting it lowered soon by local VW celeb Geoff Petersen. (Search Heb Rod)
So the Westy is off the road for the winter. I am driving the Honda minivan, which is quite a luxury - it has heat! This is the first year I've had the luxury of a winter driver, and a garage! just fits in the garage.. i can squeeze in on one side to work at a time. and my CB400F is squeezed into the front. Pulled the windshield cause I'm tired of the pools of water on the floor. not so bad. cleaned up all right, but the welder's coming out again.
While we're waiting for the next exciting installment, would you be so kind as to give us a brief tutorial on how this was made? It looks like a genius way around paying $50 for one, but I can't see how it fits into the ashtray slot.
i used a bolt and nut to hold the two pipes together, then pop-riveted them onto the ashtray. I had to drill the ashtray out right in the top corners. You have to be careful because the corners of the ashtray are delicate and can snap (ask me how i know!) I then bought some caps for the pipe, and carefully cut them down to fit in. I used pvc glue to put them together, but it wasn't strong enough. Some epoxy did the trick. I'll try to get some pics while my son is napping today. I am home with the kids, so I may get an hour's work in.
Thanks much, but I won't be jacking up my ashtray like that. I very rarely drink in my bus, but when you need a cup holder you really need it. I was hoping to be able to keep the cup holder under the seat until I needed it, like for road trips. I keep a stash of coins and mad-money in my ashtray. It's invaluable. I'll just have to put my fabricating hat on & get to work, but the PVC pipes are a great start. Thanks again for your time.
i bought a spare ashtray from a wreck and saved the original..the ashtray can still be used, just a little less convenient.
a little POR15 down the hole as far as I could reach first welds were ugly but after a few they look much better (the plug welds, not the bottom ones) it was hard to do the butt weld at the bottom - the metal below should really be replaced as it is very thin and kept blowing out. I am hoping this repair will last a few years while we use the bus to camp. the grinder and flap wheel are my two best friends.. a little more welding to go, but mostly done next step, more POR 15 and POR15 filler, then paint and in goes the windshield.
The bus is now booked to be lowered in December or January.. Here are a few pics of Geoff Peterson's work. He will be lowering the bus for me.
