I've taken everything that I want to off the bus. Well, there's some bits of headliner that need the hairdryer. Since I am going to roller-paint this thing I can leave things like the light assemblies in place. I've taken the covers off, but by taping up the seals, then replacing the lens you won't be able to see a thing.
I've made a series of photos that I will make into a "How to strip the door down" post.
I hammered a few bent pieces back to where they are meant to be (roughly).
Taking the bumpers off should be done whilst wearing protective eye-wear. I suffered a lot of dirt etc in my eyes. And don't forget to disconnect the trailer plug from the tow bar before walking away with it. The kids then helped to wire-brush a lot of the dirt from the parts I had removed from the bus.
I laid the headliner out on the ground once I had it out. We are going to order a premade one from the US (probably cip1.com, and get a drink holder that fits into the ashtray slot). We are toying with the idea of including a strip along the length of the headliner to match the seats. We know someone with an industrial sewing machine
It is surprising how much rust falls out as you remove the rubber seals from the doors and hatches. It looks like a right mess, then you clean it up a little and there is barely any pitting = no problems. It felt really final to be throwing the seals into the bin. I think that they are the first bit that I've thrown out from the bus.
Rear view mirror came out now worries, just twist it left or right. Hopefully it will make sense when you see the photo. Gave a little scrub with the leftover water from washing up and it looks pretty good. Will make more effort later as I clean all the parts before replacing.
So, I've just got some work to go with the grinder, and filling some holes with solder then bog. Then I'll rub her all over and begin painting. I'll do the mechanical bits in there somewhere for a change of pace, and send the seats of for reupholstery.
October long weekend might actually work. And what a great Birthday Present to myself to go to Old Bar.
Then I can start on the DC, and making a camper a cubby, with a slippery-dip from the roof. _________________ Robert and Emma (and 4 kids so far)
1979 Bay Window Microbus (Restoration for daily driver due Xmas 2008 - well, some time in '09
1976 DC (daily driver - when it is running...)
Secondly, I had my mechanic have a good look under the bus. He was a bit worried that the job might beyond his skills.
I've taken off everything that I want to. Got lots of dirt in my eyes. Wondering what this bolt is for - it's on the front bumper.
_________________ Robert and Emma (and 4 kids so far)
1979 Bay Window Microbus (Restoration for daily driver due Xmas 2008 - well, some time in '09
1976 DC (daily driver - when it is running...)
poor little mite, he looks as though he's impailed there , he will grow up with a fear of kombis. _________________ Di
Kombi Karma - you know it makes sense
www.klaus1.bigblog.com.au
76 8 seater poptop, resto'd in a fashion
He's just worried about the brakes... _________________ Robert and Emma (and 4 kids so far)
1979 Bay Window Microbus (Restoration for daily driver due Xmas 2008 - well, some time in '09
1976 DC (daily driver - when it is running...)
looks like a gas stay ball bolt, we use those at work for gas stays to hold toolbox lids up. maybe thats all they could find to put in there or perhaps someone had a gas stay on it for some reason
probably the only bolt around. Thanks for that. _________________ Robert and Emma (and 4 kids so far)
1979 Bay Window Microbus (Restoration for daily driver due Xmas 2008 - well, some time in '09
1976 DC (daily driver - when it is running...)
I've been using the wire brush on the grinder a fair bit, but spending time tidying up the Patrol for sale. I can almost say that the bus is rust free. I am now going round the body hitting any stone chips and exposing/removing the rust behind it.
I cleaned out most of the grease in the track runners with the wire brush. See how clean they are:
I am a bit stumped about how to get rid of the glue and stuff left behind from the rubber around the bottom of the front seat/wheel arches. I will buy some cans of degreaser for the weekend.
Planing to spend much of the weekend underneath the bus with the degreaser, getting it ready for a covering of Underbody sound deadener paint.
My father-in-law has been up with his welders to fill in some holes. Tried some brazing, and some MIG work. It is going okay, but he wants to get a different gauge wire. Wish I knew more about that, I have a lot of work ahead of me when I pick up the DC and the camper that I have left a deposit on.
So work has been very slow. Still, I've taken her out for a spin now and then. With all that weight on the back she doesn't turn as well as I'd like on long icy grass (bang, sorry apple tree = ding in front bumper, dead centre. It will be hidden behind the external bumper, and no one else has noticed it yet It's not in this photo:
_________________ Robert and Emma (and 4 kids so far)
1979 Bay Window Microbus (Restoration for daily driver due Xmas 2008 - well, some time in '09
1976 DC (daily driver - when it is running...)
Since it is snowing outside and the garage heater has run out of gas, I thought I might warm up inside and update a little.
I've been using these Strip It discs to attack any stone chips, trying to get rid of every bit of rust that I can. Much faster than using a kitten, but not as fun.
I did the front here in about 30 mins, so I am pretty happy about that. By the end of today I hope to be able to have a rust-free body.
_________________ Robert and Emma (and 4 kids so far)
1979 Bay Window Microbus (Restoration for daily driver due Xmas 2008 - well, some time in '09
1976 DC (daily driver - when it is running...)
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