Vincent, our '78 Bus... doing the interior.

Finally got the time to re-post after the forum crashed and burned all the topics.
So here's the story of our 1978 Bus, Vincent

After a 2 year search for a cheap "fixable" bus, I finally found one.
it was sitting for about 10 years, engine doesn't run... but Its supposed to cost me as little as posible, and that it did.




The M-plate revealed a lot of nice goodies including an original dash clock, ressetable oddometer, ambulance fans and other less exciting stuff...

One of the first things to go was the engine, so that soon joined the rest of the junk heap in the yard.



What I thought would be a good idea at the time, was putting a CT engine from an aircooled Vanagon and modifying it to fit the type 1 cooling. What that is, is basically a type 1 engine with hydraulic valve lifters and a proper oil filter, dressed up in a "pancake" style cooling system.



The bodywork was to be done in 2 months time, while the rain is on strike, as I have to do everything outside and by myself.



luckily it didn't need a lot of work, and everything was finished in 1 month.

The front badge was cut out of an old aluminum road sign, it's supposed to be temporary, but it's still on the bus today as I haven't gotten to buying the real thing yet.



The end of summer was getting closer, so I had to get the roof painted first to avoid any leafs falling on the wet paint.



I'm not a professional spray painter, but when you set your mind to something, you can get close enough, In this case, money was the main issue, and principle of doing everything myself with my own tools and conditions was a special challenge that i was keen on putting to the test.



Fixing all the spots in filler took ages, I worked at nights sometimes, as that's the best way to spot some dents.




After all that was done, I could finally lay the rest of the paint on... it was supposed to be Bahama Blue from Volkswagen's '63 Beetle, but I changed my mind, and modified the color to better resemble a light blue tone, rather than green.




Quite happy with the end result.



I hated the metallic gold



Now to make a break from the exterior, there's one specific thing about the Bay window buses that always annoyed me. That plastic looking black dashboard. I know that must have been bonkers in the 70's, but today it just looks sad.
so I sanded the rough texture from all the parts, even those that are actually plastic.



Before:



After:

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put some chrome rings in...




The look I was going for was supposed to be more in style of the 60's and the buses classic image



Seats... I don't need that many, but I want the option if i ever need to carry 9 people



Taking the head rests off was not a smart idea, but i thought they looked better without them


Almost done... in the company of his sister



Doing the sides in imitation alcantara...




I then had a bit of a strange idea... I cut up the roof and installed a rag top.




Wasn't sure if that was the best idea, but after driving and sleeping in 40°C heat, i don't know how i would live without it, all the hot air goes to the top and the bus cools down in seconds after being in the sun. No suffocation at night as you can leave it open and still have some privacy while camping.



The vynil dash top got a matching color.


In attempt of getting annoying tailgaiters off my bumper.



sorting out the electrics: (most fun part for me, don't know why)



Engine, ready, steady, go..
and it went for a winter sleep.

After that I still had some mechanical work to do...
so brakes first.



I might skimp on other things, but brakes should always get your full attention.



the front calipers can be a b**** to do if the car was sat for a long period.




the radio was hidden out of sight in a custom made glove compartment.



And there it is, ready to take it's "MOT"





Passed offcourse, got his licence plates, and went off for our first ride...


After all the hard stuff was over, I could pay my attention to less important things.
like monitoring the oil temperature. (the gauges pictured are just temporary)



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installing a type4 oil cooler



Made upa control panel for 220V, lights, webasto heater, etc...



Made a rock&roll bed and started doing some furniture... started sewing curtains...



Smelled fuel in sharp-left corners so i changed the fuel delivery pipe with some heavy duty steel armored pipe used hydraulics... it does the job, and should outlive the bus.



getting in some warm-white LED lighting.



I've shortened this a bit, it doesn't follow a very precise turn of events, but it's a general view of my project bus.

 

Dude this is a bloody brilliant tranformation, well done. Really looks the part now, love the colour.


Very well done dude 8)

 

that is what you call a hands on job .would love to be able to do the work on a bus like that as said brilliant

 

Nicley done Sven, a great project K+

 

Excellent work Sven... Lovelly.. K+

 

Nice one Sven

 

you've made yourself a really good-looking bus there Sven k to you for years of happy holidays

 

excellent job buddy, looks amazing! K+

 

That's a great resto and story

 

Fantastic Sven
Have some K+ ^-^

 

Thanks!

I miss the bus, it's currently put away for winter, won't be seeing it for another 2 months.

 

Haven't updated for a while...

since, i've rebuilt another engine and put it in.



bench started.



I made an electronic (no points) distributor out of golf parts (there's a topic in how-to somewhere)




all went well, running great.




fixed, painted and modified the steering wheel for a bug horn button. it took me more than a year to do this, always preferred the bakelite wheel to the ugly rubber one.



did some sound insulation, etc...




And for the last week, i've been working on making some more storage space (furniture)

I'm not a wood worker, but i apply the "monkey see, monkey do" method. It's worked ok so far.



the front faces and doors will be mdf, the construction plywood.


This is what i've done so far.



has to come apart again for painting. i'll try and get a smooth shiny finish if i can do it.



Meanwhile... i wanted to do some retro- speaker grills. If i'm going to have speakers in the r&r bed, I can't have them looking all plasticky and modern.

some chrome US-spec number plate frames, cut out some old refrigerator grill, a bit of silicone and an old black t-shirt. added the script from some junk radio's i had.

it's just the 60's look i wanted.

 

progress on the interior.


test fit in the car. filling the grain.



sealing...



priming... painting..



i'm sewing some new curtains too.




all painted...




polished some aluminum profiles... warm white LED's in them.



gives just enough soft light.



wired in the speakers, inverter, and other stuff... takes a lot of time, but almost done.

 

This resto is ace, well done mate..... Love the floor

 

What a lot achieved . Well done mate

 

Brilliant Sven, I really love a one off.

 

Fabulous. That interior is brilliant.

 

Very very nice M8

 

Very nice indeed, love the transformation..great work!