Westfalia Deluxe restoration (reconstructed highlights from google cache)

Don't quite know if I should post this here - since Im the owner rather than doing the restoration but maybe its interesting and useful and a couple of people on another thread suggested I should. Anyway. Maybe my thinking will be of interest. Originally I wanted the lack of worry that would come from a new Brazilian. But after lots of investigation and lots of visits I worked out the following, maybe others disagree:
a) Brazilians seem less well made fundamentally - the metal seems thinner
b) dont like the grill
c) at least 10K more than I can afford
d) more doubtful resale

In fact if I can get a great restoration done well then I reckon the only real advantage to a new brazilian might be MPG.

The thing is though I wish I was more mechanical and hope to take a course (anybody know of one?) right now I have no skills and this is not the project to start on - this thing has to made it back and forth to Spain and be a real holiday and weekends machine.
Eventually I came across this lot http://www.busaholics.com/ and thought they seemed decent value though I was very well aware they didnt have the reputation (yet?) of some of the other bigger names. I went to look at their work on their own machine which looked good. Anyway this is post number one in which Ill tell what I hope will be the heartwarming story of my bus. Rather than the grimly hilarious story of how a complete newby ended up making every mistake in the book...

SO Ive bought this:
http://s743.photobucket.com/albums/xx76/glanger_2009/Tiaga%20Green%20Westfalia%20Deluxe/

Im having loads done, including reconditioned engine, new gearbox, new exhaust, brand new Weber 34ICT dual carbs and 009 replacement distributor + new Electric fuel pump,new fuel lines and a new clutch.

also getting new shockers, Brake discs and pads, rear shoes and wheel cylinders, steering damper, ball joints, anti roll bar bushes, gearchange bushes, battery, engine bay seal, starter motor, 5 Tyres and new hub caps!

The body is going to be sandblasted then a fresh paint job with underseal. The interior is getting new door fittings, carpets and Im also getting a new roof fabric - probably the oatmealy one from Just Kampers - anybody got that - is it tough?

The wife is already looking out for curtains...I hope to be there for some of the main stages and understand as much as I can so that in the future Ill be able to do some of the simpler work myself. Anyway apologies to all the people out there doing it all themselves - any obvious pitfalls to check over with the restoration company please shout. Ill post some more links/pictures when the bodywork is done and let you know how Busaholics are doing


Graham

 

OK so the bus - which my wife and daughter now tell me is named Guinevere (I was going to go for "Zappa" or "Floyd") is nearly ready for primer. SO there are some new pictures in the Photobucket location below so far it looks solid...

http://s743.photobucket.com/albums/xx76/glanger_2009/Tiaga%20Green%20Westfalia%20Deluxe/

But a few highlights are posted below

 

Looking real good M8, I love that colour.

 

OK jump to a few weeks ago as the paintwork is done and trims starts to go in (sorry hard working with google cache so lots of updates missing)

 

And here are the latest pictures of all...two weeks ago maybe two weeks to finish















yes its the greenest thing Ive ever seen...

 

left to do

roof on

engine tune

new steering wheel

read bumper

few things to fix


and thats it!

 

Glad you re posted .....its looking lovely - great colour (of course Green is the best colour to have I should know ;D )

Doesnt matter that your not doing the work your self, if I had the money I'd be tempted to let some one else get the welding burns ;D

K+ for re posting

 

Thanks Diddyman - Its nice to have a record of it all because its taken ages....and ages

 

Would be even better in Orange - lovely van though

 

Shes just got an MOT - can finally be registered. Whoop!

Here in perhaps the most boring picture I have ever posted is the Bus at the MOT station



Final Tidy up next week and hopefully a registration by about Wednesday...

 

bloody hell thats classssssssss loven the interior hats of to ye owen nw 8)

 

Here are last few pictures before I leave the restoration thread and join the Bus owning world - a few things are going to be left until later on, tweaks I can wait for for a while but as you can see it has passed its MOT, has a reg number and a roof!

The last few Restoration shots show the interior from Lizzie at Delilahs and the new Steering Wheel

 

Very nice M8

 

Liking this alot, paintwork and interior all looking spot on well done, but with a steering wheel like that, should you not be smashing a bottle on the side to mark its launch road worthiness, I christen thee HMS Guinevere ;D

K+

 

Thanks and good idea but after after all this time I think I may owe Busaholics a drink for perseverance and me one for patience so Ill be christening HMS Guinevere by downing rather than smashing a bottle! (In fact maybe more than one...)

 

interior looks great

what R&R bed have you got?? and how would you rate it??

I've got to get a full width R&R soon so I know where to weld my last seat belt mount in so I was hoping to get as many opinions as possible

 

Thanks All for comments

Diddymen: rock and Roll bed is this one: http://www.bluebird-type2.co.uk/Split%20bay%20interior.htm have not yet slept on it but am impressed by quality of construction, will let you know more once I have had a snooze (or whatever...)

MorkC68? the steering wheel was about £70 more than a standard bit of kit but its seems such a vital part of the bus I didnt want to stint on it and am now very glad I didnt


Bus delivered saturday here she is with the VW badge on and done






Graham