Burt's rebuild

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by Burtthebus, Sep 15, 2014.

  1. 'Burt is a 79 bay, pulled out of a barn where he has sat for the last 10+ years. 2 owners ago took him off the road, started stripping and then stopped. The last owner took him on, but had other projects and a busy family and work time so he continued to sit there. One failed to show ebay buyer and he was back for sale when Kev and I pitched in and bought him.

    We went and picked him up from Ringwood and brought him back to Wiltshire.

    This is how he got off the trailer at the end of 3 hour pull.
     

    Attached Files:

    pyroking and paradox like this.
  2. The plan is to clean up what is there over the next 2 weeks, then get cracking on the welding mid October.

    There is a highly recommended welder and fabricator from the classic car racing scene who has his workshop in one of the other units, who is happy for winter work even if it is on something that you could have a sleep in on the way round the circuit......

    In the mean time the engine and gearbox can come off and come home for work there too.

    At this rate it will be all done by........some point in the future. The target is Busfest 2015.
     
    paradox likes this.
  3. Good luck!
     
  4. Yay another resto thread:thumbsup:

    Out of interest are you keeping that wheel holder on the front or chucking it?
     
  5. I'm very tempted to junk it as I prefer the smooth look with a VW sign. However, we are doing a resto rather than a customise so I am considering keeping it.

    I've got about 3 weeks to decide.
     
    paradox likes this.
  6. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    good luck with the resto, overall it doesn't look a bad project!
     
  7. Let me know if your going to chuck it
     
  8. Will do.
     
    paradox likes this.
  9. Are you doing this to sell on?
     
  10. There is no immediate plan to sell. I'd like to see how good a job we can do and enjoy it with the family. I sold my last van in 1998 and have missed the VW scene ever since.

    If we do sell it will be because we have managed to raise enough cash to buy two more.....
     
    paradox likes this.
  11. It has all the usual suspects up at the front, but the rear and the roof seem pretty good. I'm sure we will see a few surprises as the paint comes off though.

    We got a lot of history from about 1985 (Service books, manuals, all quotes, work receipts, insurance, tax, sale receipts etc) so hopefully we wont find much in the way of botched repairs.
     
    MorkC68 likes this.
  12. I hope you dont mind me asking
    Id like to hear some background about yourself with vehicles

    Im tickled interested by this thread:)
     

  13. No problem. First car was an escort MkIII, bought for £750 in '92 as I wanted a reliable car. Within weeks I had to lift the motor, have the case drilled as I had a leaking fuel pump which turned out to be a sheered bolt and a whole load of silicone sealant. Then the shocks, brakes, head gasket and on and on. I realised I might as well have had the car I wanted anyway and started looking for a beetle. I didn't have enough cash to buy a decent ready done cal look bug, so went to see one that needed a 'little' work.

    Luckily in the background was a 72 crossover bay, Danbury conversion. 'Lucy Love truck' (ok, I was 21 and thought it would be a good way to chat up the girls.....) was in better condition for the same money, and I was big into windsurfing at the time. I drove it for a year as it was, with leaking roof, no heating, Blaupunkt radio before over reving it and taking out cylinder 3. When I took out the motor I noticed a fair amount of Rust and thought I should do it properly, so took it off the road. We put on a new front, steps and repaired door, rear arches, battery tray and roof before taking it down the road for a White over light Blue spray job (Spray over not bare metal.). I rebuilt the interior using the old cabinets as template out of birch veneered ply and fitted a big stereo.

    In the mean time I got hold of a second hand engine and stripped and rebuilt, combining the two engines and got it all back on the road. There were lots of things I could and should have done better, but I was 21 building to a budget. I sold her after I got a job taking me all over the country about 5 years later. About 3 years later I saw Lucy again, looking very sorry for herself. Wingmirror hanging off, flat tire, dents, seats ripped. I nearly knocked on the door to try and buy her back again.

    If anyone know the whereabouts of NGK 986L, I'd be very interested in catching up with her again. She is currently SORN according to DVLA, but deserves to be put back on the road again properly.

    Kev, the other Burt owner, is my father in law. He comes with a lot of experience having worked in the motor industry since leaving school. He was with Lancia when the Beta was out, so not even rust is enough to scare him off!
     
    rob.e, Flakey, paradox and 3 others like this.
  14. Welcome to the fold of like minded dilusioned folk who pander to the old ways:hug:
     
  15. Good luck!
     
  16. Unfortunately I didn't have the camera with me, but I cleared out Burt today. I hoovered out 10 years of grass, crud, rust dust and cobwebs then gave it a good blast with a steam Jetwasher up at the farm.

    It has made a big difference, the roof is not actually green it was just moss!

    I have started making the list of repairs and repair panels required....
    Deformation Panel VW T2 Bay 1973–1979
    Inner Front Valance VW T2 Bay 1973–1979
    Nearside Step
    Offside Step
    B Pillar Nearside
    B Pillar Offside
    C Pillar Nearside
    C Pillar Offside
    Panel Above Front Jacking Point (Offside)
    Cab floor, Nearside

    and a few patches for cut out and holes which wont need a full panel.

    Good news is the original radio is still in and working, and we have the original receipt and manual for it too.
     
  17. The current plan for the bodywork is as follows.

    Strip the van to shell. Engine and running gear can come home from the farm for work here, then the van can be worked on.

    Do the major and visible welding jobs by stripping small areas of paint and cut out the required metal.

    Blast or acid dip the the van once the major work complete. to highlight any small extra jobs needed.

    Complete those jobs.

    acid etchprime the body

    prepare body for paint.

    Paint body,

    Put on everything we took off having made it sparkle.

    Do interior.

    Enter show

    Bring back trophies.
     
    Lazy Andy likes this.
  18. Poin
    Point taken....Pics to follow shortly.
     
  19. Here are some pics after the first vacuum and wash off. IMG_0516.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

    paradox likes this.

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