Shorty's 1969 Kombi

Are you indicators on the front still wired as sidelights?

What do you mean, still? They're brand new units that I've modified... That's the one mod I've kept secret - even from you - right till the end!   

US buses would have run indicators on the front as sidelights.

Looks cool IMHO

Mr Scoops wrote:

US buses would have run indicators on the front as sidelights.

Looks cool IMHO

True, but they use an orange double filament bulb.. I have white side lights and orange indicators..

Sweet, Dibble can't complain.

nice

like what you have done with those sidelights, really cool,

OK, so , the shakedown continues....

I have had a problem with starting the engine when it is hot.. the starter motor turns but very slowly - like it would if you had a flat battery, but leave it alone to cool for an hour or so and it will start straight away - so can't be a flat battery.

I started by having a hot start relay fitted, they are a good idea to have in buses of this age with OG (45 year old!) wiring. The difference to the enthusiasm to start was immediately obvious telling me that there was a voltage drop between the battery and the starter which is hardly a surprise. However, the hot start problem was still present.

I read up about this on t'internet and found that this problem is not uncommon, not only amongst the aircoooled fraternity, but across all sorts of cars.. the culprit is quite often a worn starter motor.. So, with the help of my friend Mark Lewis (Howling Wolf Speedshop) I have parted out the old one and temporarily put in a motor that is known to work well... I haven't been for a drive yet to see if the problem is gone, but from the way in which it started the engine on the first turn of the key, I'm pretty confident this is the issue.. time will tell..

Old one out


'New' one in


Now, Slam Fans.. you need to look away now!

I found the ride at the rear of the bus to be particularly harsh and have been concerned about the proximity of the driveshaft to the chassis rail... 2 options 1) raise the bus 2) notch the chassis..

Not too keen on number 2 for a number of reasons, not least of all the cost involved, so I have opted for option 1..

I haven't raised it loads, but have reworked the rear set up such that I now have up and down adjustability (previously I only had 'down' as it was already sitting as high as it would go), as well as a little more suspension movement..

Whilst doing this work I also found both rear shocks to be cream crackered, so they are next on the list.. isn;t the list supposed to be shrinking now?!?!?!

Before:



After:

Plates arrived! Got them straight on the bus, no messing!

Looking good.

Gonna be some more progress on this bus again soon.. I know this cos my garage and bus are filling up with more bits to fit! Watch this space!

First up, she's being collected early saturday and taken back to Bromsgrove Auto Trimmers to rectify a bad decision on my behalf 18 months ago...

Nice mate. Looked good at the kerbie curry.. At least now you can get rid of the dining chair seat cushion and have some comfort up front

Um... I just sold the bus. This is the end of a 4 year long and painful bus ownership journey for me.. the reality never ever met with my expectations and dreams (DubDreams..)

Over and out.

Really!!! ???? Wtf

Um..... it's not going... say no more.

 

Shorty wrote:

Um..... it's not going... say no more.

Carl, stop being a twat and sort the bus out.

Everybody gets dejected with it sometimes, just drive it.

Pretty much this!! ^^

Unless u broke the engine. Then you can't drive it

Come on dude, there's always a way... There's a spare bare t2 case sat in my shed if it's that bad...

About time this was updated!

Fair comment scoops!

Truth be told, I've not done much to the bus in recent months. My new job sees me spending much of the week away from home, meaning weekends are spent catching up with all those jobs that need doing at home and interacting with the wife and children...

Not sure where we got to, but, over the summer I did go to a couple of shows and would have seen some of you there...

I went to Aircooled14 at Stratford Racecourse and the air-cooled only Old Friends Show in Bristol (spot a trend!) both were excellent, the vibe especially at old friends was on the button..





Just after Old Friends I sent my bus back to Bromsgrove Auto Trimmers to have the lower half of the headlining fitted.. I originally opted not to have this done, but I soon started to think this was a mistake that needed rectifying:

Before: (you'll be able to see the 'After' in other pictures later on in this post...



Once back, I put it in the garage and didn't touch it at all until last saturday when I got some time to tinker.

I started off, after shifting all the crap I was storing in there out of the bus, by priming the engine cover and floor area. Both had areas of bare metal that had been treated with rust converter, so nothing was going to happen to them, but I thought, before I fit the sound deadening, I'll give them a quick spray over as extra protection..

Primer:

Top Coat (engine bay refurb left overs)

I then fitted some sound deadening and installed some trimmed panels I bought 2nd hand from another earlybay friend:


Lastly, I laid some insulation down on the floor (more like thermal than sound, but anything is better than nothing right!) and finished off my relaying the ply floor...


Still got the door panels and off side panels to do, but for an afternoons work I was pretty pleased with that!

vietnam wrote:

Come on dude, there's always a way... There's a spare bare t2 case sat in my shed if it's that bad...

Still got this? If it's a good'en I could be interested....

Yup, I have no idea what state it is in, cost you a beer or two?