New project. ACVW content

So after selling the Manx this winter I couldn't stay away from VWs too long. So this morning I loaded up the truck and trailer and went traipsing off into the wilderness to pick up a little project.

1964 Bus. Got it very cheap (as in, I may take it on the BABE rally cheap) because, well, its a mess. Needs rear corners, rockers, doglegs, the usual culprits. But the floors are good. Came with a 1600 DP that I'll have to go through and eventually I'd like to get rid of the gear reduction boxes and lower it a bit but there's alot of bodywork before that stage.

Without further ado, some pictures of a very ugly bus.

I know, I know, it looks like a BIIIG project.

But really.....

It's just a little one ;)

It's wheelie time!

We need a pciture of that next to the Smart next to the Soul!

Sorry, the Soul isnt home right now this will have to hold you over. And it may look like the smart is waaay in the forground but there's only about 12 inches between the 2 cars when that was taken.

love shortened VW busses but the wheel base needs to be stretched. move the wheels closer to the cars corners

That’s a cool shorty bus and looks fairly rust free for a bus. It looks like it was an 11 window Kombi. The Kombi was the base model with only 11 windows and no side trim. It also looks like it was a walkthru model instead of the front bench seat. The rear hatch looks like a small window from a 1963 and earlier bus. I would have to say it looks like a great start for a project and is a lot solider then most of the Volkswagens I see around here.

CarKid1989 wrote: love shortened VW busses but the wheel base needs to be stretched. move the wheels closer to the cars corners

I'm thinking on that as we speak, not entirely sure how to accomplish it just yet but I have some ideas.

ratghia wrote: That’s a cool shorty bus and looks fairly rust free for a bus. It looks like it was an 11 window Kombi. The Kombi was the base model with only 11 windows and no side trim. It also looks like it was a walkthru model instead of the front bench seat. The rear hatch looks like a small window from a 1963 and earlier bus. I would have to say it looks like a great start for a project and is a lot solider then most of the Volkswagens I see around here.

LOL...either you need your eyes checked or I need to take better pictures. Pretty much everything from the bottom of the doors down is gone. The doglegs are just a shell of bondo and rustflakes. But the structural stuff is in tact and I plan on doing a little customization with fiberglass so the lower portion of the body will most likely all be glass.

It is a walkthru, I guess I'll save the seat frames for someone who may need them. I have a set of Jetta buckets I've been saving for a project.

If this were a restoration I'd cry at the mess that it is but when its custom Id dont have to fiddle with the details and can just make it strong and the way I want it.

Seller originally said it was a 63, title says 64, I guess I need to figure out which because there are some things I may do to it which are year dependent. Just happen to have a set of 944 brakes but the adapters only work on 64+ spindles. Im a long way from that stuff though, and I think it might flip if it had too much stopping power in the front...at least some endos to go with my wheelies.

Need some T3 axles or the whole swingaxle trans from one if you happen to know of any lying around.

I didn't realize how bad the doglegs were but I have still seen a lot worse on busses. If the frame rails are still solid it is fixable. My next vw project after I get the split window beetle done is going to be any early bus.

The last 1963 produced was vin number 1-144-302

ratghia wrote: I didn't realize how bad the doglegs were but I have still seen a lot worse on busses. If the frame rails are still solid it is fixable. My next vw project after I get the split window beetle done is going to be any early bus. The last 1963 produced was vin number 1-144-302

Yeah, its deceiving in photos, Ive started grinding out all the bondo, I'll get some photos once its done. They didn't take any time to align the 2 halves just made up the difference with bondo. Debating how to fix it, I'd rather not cut it apart again. Might just skin over the joint with another piece to bring them together somewhat.

If you ever need any parts just send me a pm and I will look and see if I have it. I don't have any bus parts but I have lots of extra general parts.

ratghia wrote: If you ever need any parts just send me a pm and I will look and see if I have it. I don't have any bus parts but I have lots of extra general parts.

Cool, Im sure there will be things. I still have a little stash here but its been greatly depleted by helping out members in the local club.

The big thing will be sourcing all the parts for the reduction box elimination but I'm still researching that to find out exactly what I need.

Good luck. I love old VW buses...........but I am not sure about that bus. Why would anybody do that to start with? I would suspect handling will be.....interesting.

looks like a toy....AND I LOVE ME SOME TOYS

Got a little done today.

Stripped out the interior and all the crap that was in the back.

Then I spent some quality time with the wire wheel and DA sander.

There's about 4 coats of paint on there so its a bit time consuming.

Toying with the idea of making an open air bus out of her, removing everything above the beltline and just putting in a roll cage to add the support back in (and protect my noggin) seen a few full size ones done in tiki style with a thatched roof top that looked pretty good. Still pondering.

JThw8 wrote: Toying with the idea of making an open air bus out of her, removing everything above the beltline and just putting in a roll cage to add the support back in (and protect my noggin) seen a few full size ones done in tiki style with a thatched roof top that looked pretty good. Still pondering.

Looks to me like you'll have your hands full just fixing stuff without adding to the mix with major mods. Plus it would seem that the roof is the only part thats NOT rotted out. If it ain't broke, don't go looking it in the mouth...or some such thing. Just my $.02

Junkyard_Dog wrote:

JThw8 wrote: Toying with the idea of making an open air bus out of her, removing everything above the beltline and just putting in a roll cage to add the support back in (and protect my noggin) seen a few full size ones done in tiki style with a thatched roof top that looked pretty good. Still pondering.

Looks to me like you'll have your hands full just fixing stuff without adding to the mix with major mods. Plus it would seem that the roof is the only part thats NOT rotted out. If it ain't broke, don't go looking it in the mouth...or some such thing. Just my $.02

It would actually take alot off the plate. The roof joint is a mess, its going to take more time to make that right (and straighten the other dents in the roof) than it would to remove it and cap the body. It also eliminates the need to reinstall and rebuild the front window frames (they are shot) Not saying I'd do it just to reduce work, but it would be a reduction in work not an increase.

It would also make it more possible to add a rear seat so I can scare more people at one time ;)

The cage itself would be farmed out, I found a local guy who is doing our lemons car who works at a price that makes it worth not doing it myself.

As it sits, that looks like a huge complicated mess with limited potenital... but as the top half of a welding project - the sky's the limit. Think bus bodied locost, or just weld the top 3' onto an old MR-2.

Bludroptop is the beetle in your avatar a ragtop?

bludroptop wrote: As it sits, that looks like a huge complicated mess with limited potenital... but as the top half of a welding project - the sky's the limit. Think bus bodied locost, or just weld the top 3' onto an old MR-2.

We just have different ideas of potential I guess. I like to march to a different drummer.

Short bed pickem up?

That just ooozes cool. I keep picturing the side view with a pair of longboards on top hanging off both ends!

ratghia wrote: The last 1963 produced was vin number 1-144-302

Title says 1964 but the vin is 1-097-828 which makes it an April 63. Title has the correct Vin so the year doesnt bother me but I was hoping for a 64 only 'cause it makes the 944 brake swap possible. I'm told there are a few guys out there who while converting your spindles to drop spindles can modify them for 944 so I may just go that route when I get there.