Nov. 24, 2009
A few months ago my wife, Julie and I purchased a 1975 VW bus. We where on the way home and saw it for sale on the side of the road. I took it for a test drive and was hooked! Called my brother in law "Mike" - (who owns a 1969 VW squareback) to get his opinion - he said "Buy it!" If anything else you can always re-sell it.
We purchased it within about 1 hour of seeing it!
I've worked on cars growing up - so I wasn't worried about getting my hands dirty ;)
But I didn't know much about the History of VW's or the different models - So
I took the 75 Bus to a local VW shop to get it checked out: Johns Foreign Car Service
John is a great guy! He suggested I purchase another one if I'm really interested in them. (And sell the 75)
As the 75 needs a lot of body work (front doors have large dents) and few areas on the back and sides.
Better to purchase another Bus in better shape and not have to do all the body work.
So that Search began...
Mike told me about www.thesamba.com
The BEST VW Vintage website (period)!
I think without that resource and all the great people in the forums - I don't think I would be able to complete a project like this!
Julie and I found many VW Buses we liked and we initially where looking into the older 60's models (Split window) But we finally decided on a custom restored 1969 Bay Window!
(with a DP 2110cc - with A1 Exhaust)
A quick flight to California and drove it home!
Wow that was a great drive! We got so many peace signs and waves for other drivers - It was amazing!
That was at the end of Sept. 2009 - Since that time I've been doing a few things:
Learned a lot about VW Bay Windows, reading forums on (thesamba.com) and asking questions
So far this is what I've updated:
- Fixed the left turn signal - wire was pinched and needed repair
- Oil change (HD30) and value adjustment
- Added wire loom to engine
- Added seat belts to the rear seat
- (10/3) Found the Fuel pump was leaking - Replace with rotary pump and replaced fuel lines and fuel tap/screen ($100)
- Found a locking gas cap - (The 69 buses use the same size as 'The Thing')
- (10/1) Added round side reflectors (Found an ad on Craigslist - Where I meet - Shawn
- (10/24) Added a custom battery cover to protect it from all the rain in the NW
- (10/29) Worked on getting the Air horn fixed- but the wires need to be re routed (TODO)
- (10/31) Trip to Shawn's house to take part out 70 Bus - I snagged the dash heater tubes and tubes that connect to the heater boxes
- Ordered the heater boxes (1.5 in) to fit the A1 exhaust. Working on getting the heater going again - As in the cold rainy weather - You need some kind of heat for the defrosters. Currently the bus has 2 heat guns under the dash that give you about a 1 foot round defrosted section - Not very much.
- (11/1) -Accelerator petal sticking - Found the spring was broken - (Ordered new spring) and added a helper spring to get it to return
- Clutch is acting funny - Seems to be slipping
- (11/13) found the clutch cable was breaking - so I replace it - Found 2 lengths of cables - 69-71 and 72+(longer). The old cable as too short - so I purchased the longer cable (72+) -
- (11/14) - Clutch adjusted all the way and still slipping... Looks like its time to replace the clutch!
- Removed the motor - And it was a lot easier then I could imagine!
- remove rear bumper (6 bolts)
- remove engine compartment panel (4 bolts) (missing the bolts inside the tin area)
- Removed exhaust - all bolts where not too tight - may have had some exhaust leaks
- Removed tin (heater holes) (3 bolts) (needs to be cleaned and repainted)
- Mark all the wires (left side - Coil) (right side - Alt)
- Drain oil and remove oil cooler lines (Need to re-route them as they run too close to exhaust and replace them)
- Remove vacuum brake hose (This 69 bus has upgraded 72 disc brakes!)
- Drain gas (and use hose clamps to remove lines)
- Remove engine to trans bolts (4 bolts) BUT - the top starter bolt (half moon) is removed from behind the firewall - not from the transmission side (thanks thesamba.com for helping me find that)
- Strap to hold transmission
- Unbolt mustache bar (2 bolts)
- Using a ATV Jack - removed the Engine!!! (Needed to jack up the transmission to get things to line up)
- Ok - Now I removed the Pressure Plate (PP) and found the clutch was well worn - looked like its a stock PP and not strong enough for this engine. Will upgrade to a Kennedy Stage 1 or 2.
- Found the Gland nut (that holds the flywheel) is 38mm (1 1/2in) not the standard 36mm - so all the tools to remove it will not work! - Working to get the right socket created to work with the 'Torque dude' tool
- (11/21) With the engine out - its a great time to work on getting the Gas gauge fixed. So I removed the Gas tank and checked the sending unit - seems to be bad. Also found the tank is rusty - so I'll work on resealing the tank also. Wow -its amazing how everything is connected! where 1 project starts to turn to Many! Ok - ok - one at a time...
