BLUE BELLE (PRONOUNCED BLUE BELL)

[Cyndi Kritzinger]

OK, SO HERE GOES.

PLEASE EXPECT A FEW FAUX PAS AS MY COMPUTER SKILLS ARE LIMITED AND SOMETIMES I JUST GET TOO CHEESED-OFF TO RE-DO SOME OF THE POSTING.

THIS IS A CONDENSED VERSION OF MY PROJECT NAMED BLUE BELLE.
SHE IS A 1978 2L EXECUTIVE BAY. SHE IS MY 2ND LOVE (BUS WISE) AFTER CYNDI'S BRAZILIA, TANK.
SHE DRIVES LIKE A ROLLS ROYCE COMPARED TO TANK AND WHAT'S NICE IS THAT EVEN THOUGH SHE DOES FEEL THE UPHILLS ETC.... YOU DON'T HAVE TO GEAR DOWN TO SECOND GEAR THAT OFTEN.
SHE HAS TAKEN US AND OTHER FAMILIES ON SOME NICE TRIPS/OUTINGS AND HASN'T LET ANYONE DOWN YET.
I HAVE KEPT HER LOOKING FAIRLY STANDARD OUTSIDE WITH THE BLUE AND WHITE JUST CHANGING THE RIMS AND BUMPERS TO WHITE TO MATCH THE TOP. THE BUMPERS WERE ORIGINALLY CHROMED BUT CHROME DOESN'T DO WELL AT THE COAST.




I PURCHASED THE BUS FROM A GENTLEMAN IN THE MIDLANDS AREA.
IT HAD BEEN POSTED ON GUMTREE UNDER AN ALIAS AND WITH LIMITED INFO. I HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR A PROJECT (ANOTHER ONE) FOR A WHILE BUT I WANTED SOMETHING WITH A LITTLE LESS WORK AND ALL THE PAPERWORK AVAILABLE.
AFTER A LITTLE SLEUTH WORK I MANAGED TO FIND OUT WHO THE OWNER WAS AND WHERE THE BUS WAS.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE THE SALE TO SOMEONE ELSE. WHAT HE WAS PLANNING ON DOING WAS TO MEET EVERYONE AT THE SAME TIME, IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT AND BASICALLY GET EITHER THE HIGHEST PRICE OR THE FIRST ONE WITH THE CASH TO TAKE IT OFF HIS HANDS.
CYNDI AND I WEREN'T GOING TO BE AVAILABLE DUE TO A GIGGING COMMITMENT SO I TRACKED HIM DOWN AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED AND WE DID THE DEAL.

THE BUS WAS APPARENTLY RUNNING AND I COULD DRIVE IT BACK TO DURBAN...........
(ALERT! WARNING!) NEVER BELIEVE WHAT YOU ARE TOLD BY A SELLER.
I WENT UP WITH A FRIEND TO COLLECT THE BUS ARMED WITH SOME BASIC SERVICE ITEMS LIKE PLUGS, OIL, FUEL FILTER, CONDENSER ETC... THINKING WE'LL JUST DO A QUICK BASIC SERVICE AND DRIVE IT BACK.
WE COULDN'T EVEN GET IT STARTED AND THANK GOODNESS OR ELSE I MIGHT NEVER HAVE GOTTEN FAR ENOUGH TO ENJOY THE BUS.




SO AS YOU CAN SEE. EVEN IF WE HAD GOTTEN THE BUS TO MOVE, WE MAY NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP!

[Cyndi Kritzinger]

THE SAGA CONTINUES......

I TOOK A BREAK TO POST JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ALL DOING WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO.

WE LEFT A DEPOSIT, TOOK THE PAPERS AND MADE ANOTHER ARRANGEMENT TO COLLECT THE BUS WITH A TRAILER AT A LATER DATE.
MY MATE RICHARD ORGANISED A TRAILER AND WE USED HIS BAKKIE TO COLLECT. FROM THERE WE TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO HIS PANEL SHOP WHERE THE WORK BEGAN.

AS YOU PROBABLY GATHERED FROM THE NUMBER PLATE IN THE FIRST PIC, THE BUS WAS FROM THE TRANSVAAL AT SOME STAGE AND WE COLLECTED IT FROM THE MIDLANDS SO AN INLAND VEHICLE BY ALL ACCOUNTS. THE BUS HAD OBVIOUSLY BEEN DRIVING AT SOME STAGE BUT PROBABLY NOT IN THE PREVIOUS 10 YEARS. WHAT WAS NICE IS THAT IT WAS A ONE FAMILY BUS AND SO REASONABLY LOOKED AFTER (UNTIL IT WAS PARKED OFF).
RUST WAS MINIMAL BUT THERE WAS SOME MOSS, ROT AND OF COURSE PERISHED RUBBERS. EVERY RUBBER COMPONENT ON THE BUS.




I STRIPPED THE BUS DOWN AND AGAINST ALL (GOOD) ADVICE AND WITH NOVICE EXUBERANCE I STARTED ON THE BODYWORK AND SPRAYJOB.

I KNOW.......... IT SOUNDS LIKE I DID IT ALL IN A WEEKEND BUT OBVIOUSLY IT ALL TOOK SOME TIME.
I WORKED ON THE BUS AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY I COULD WHICH EMBARRASSINGLY WAS VERY OFTEN AS I'M NOT WORKING MUCH; BUT IT PAID OFF.
IT WAS A BLAST AND A HUGE MOTIVATION TO SEE THE PROGRESS.

[Chardivw]

Looking very good Mark. Keep up the good progress! Much more rewarding when u get stuck in urself are u keeping her original?

[Cyndi Kritzinger]

SORRY MAN.
THIS BUS IS VIRTUALLY COMPLETE. JUST THE POSTING THAT IS SLOW.
I'LL CONTINUE.

EVERYONE THAT I SPOKE WITH OR POST I SAW REGARDING RESTORING A BUS MENTIONED DOING THE MECHANICS FIRST.
I'M SURE THAT THAT IS THE BEST WAY BUT WHEN I GET A BEE IN MY BONNET I JUST WANT TO GO.
THE PROGRESS KEEPS ME INTERESTED.
ANYWAY I STRIPPED IT DOWN, BOTH FOR PAINTING AND TO DO SOME OF THE MECHANICS INBETWEEN PAINT WORK.





CHARLES, AS MENTIONED A BIT EARLIER; I DID KEEP THE OUTSIDE PRETTY STANDARD. BASICALLY JUST CHANGED IT FROM TOTALLY DELUXE TO UPMARKET STD BY LOSING THE CHROME.
INSIDE HOWEVER IS A BIT MORE CHANGED UP.
I USED THE EXISTING PANELS (MOST OF THE BOARDS ARE NEW MASONITE BUT COVERED WITH ORIGINAL VINYL) WHERE I COULD AND I KEPT THE FRONT SEATS ORIGINAL BUT I WILL PROBABLY RECOVER THEM TO MATCH THE BACK SEATS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
I HAVE FITTED A ROCK'NROLL BED IN THE BACK USING HERMAN'S HINGES. THEY WORK A CHARM BY THE WAY!
THE CUSHIONS ARE 100MM HIGH DENSITY FOAM (75MM WOULD HAVE BEEN ADEQUATE I DECIDED LATER) AND COVERED WITH A HEAVY CHORDED CHOCOLATE BROWN CORDUROY. I LOVE IT AND WILL MATCH THE FRONT SEATS LATER.
I FITTED SOME NICE SOUND... A SONY DECK WITH A FRONT SPLIT SPEAKER SYSTEM WITH TWEETERS, AN AMP, 6X9'S AND SUB AT THE BACK UNDER THE R&R BED. NOT WINDOW VIBRATING SOUND BUT GOOD CLEAN SOUND WITH NICE VOLUME AND BODY.
I ALSO HAVE A ROOF MOUNTED DVD PLAYER FOR LONGER TRIPS.

[Chardivw]

That sounds so cool.please keep pics coming!

[Terry Phillips]

Good Luck Mark,it looks like you have a nice straight bus to work on.

[jolas]

COME ON MAN - MAKE HASTE HERE !!!!

[Tony Z]

Nice going Mark. Plenty progress... waiting for the rest of the pics...

[oldschool75]

Don't stop now - as you would say - KEEP THE PICS COMING - WE LOVE IT....

[Cyndi Kritzinger]

SO AFTER LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE PHOTO'S AGAIN YOU START REMEMBERING JUST HOW MUCH WORK GOES INTO PUTTING A BUS BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. THOSE DARN DOOR AND SIDE CARDS HAVE SOOOOOO...MANY HOLES IN THEM, UNTIL YOU MAKE THEM YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT!

I ALSO MANUFACTURED AND FITTED THE ROOFLINNING MYSELF.
NOT A QUICK JOB AND ALSO NOT FOR THE FEINT HEARTED BUT EXTREEMLY REWARDING AND A LOT CHEAPER THAN HAVING THE AUTO UPHOLSTERERS DOING IT.
I AM NOT COMPLETELY SATISFIED WITH MINE BUT IT WAS MY VERY FIRST ATTEMPT AND HAS COME OUT AS WELL AS I HAVE SEEN IN BUSSES PROFESSIONALLY RESTORED. I HAVE SINCE DONE ANOTHER ONE IN A FRIENDS BUS AND IT IS ALMOST PERFECT.



I DID TRY USING LOCAL HELP BUT THEY WEREN'T AS HELPFUL AS I'D HOPED. (CYNDI CATCHING A NAP ON THE JOB)



THE NEXT STEP ON THE INSIDE WAS THE COVERS FOR THE SPING HINGES. THEY ALWAYS YELLOW AND GET PRETTY BRITTLE.
I SANDED THEM DOWN, PLASTIC PRIMED THEM AND GAVE THEM A COAT OF THE SAME 2K WHITE AS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUS.

[Cyndi Kritzinger]

A FULL RUB DOWN, MINOR PANEL BEATING AND THEN OF COURSE SOME COLOUR.

[Cyndi Kritzinger]

[Chardivw]

This has motivated me to get going on my bus again. Really like the colour

[Cyndi Kritzinger]

THAT'S GREAT NEWS CHARLES.
I SEE YOU HAVE THE SAME BUS AS MINE. YOU'LL ENJOY IT THAT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU.

ANYWAY, ON WITH SOME MORE POSTING.

SO THE PAINTING BROUGHT ON A FEW CHALLENGES, ONE OF WHICH WAS THE SWASH LINE. USING MASKING TAPE WAS A CHEAP OPTION BUT IT LEAVES AN UNEVEN FINISH THAT LOOKS SORT OF BADLY FEATHERED SO I WENT FOR THE MORE EXPENSIVE BUT NEATER PLASTIC TAPE FINISH. I'M GLAD I DID.
ANOTHER PROBLEM I ENCOUNTERED WAS A SMALL PATCH WHERE NO MATTER HOW I PREPPED IT, THE PAINT JUST WOULDN'T HOLD.
I EVENTUALLY HAD TO PUTTY THE AREA AND PAINT ON THAT. (THIS LITTLE SPOT TOOK 3 DAYS TO SORT OUT!)





I FITTED THE WINDOW AND DOOR RUBBERS. MAY I SUGGEST THAT YOU DIG DEEP AND GET YOURSELF THE IMPORTED RUBBERS. THE LOCAL RUBBERS DO A JOB BUT ARE A FAR CRY FROM WHAT THEY NEED TO BE. I'D SAY THE MAIN REASON IS DUE TO THE COMPOUND BEING TOO HARD. THE RUBBERS CANNOT MAKE THE SHARP BENDS AROUND THE CORNERS OF THE WINDOWS WITHOUT SOME PERSUASION ( I BELIEVE THAT SOME GUYS CUT TO GET THEM TO BEND) AND TO CLOSE THE DOORS YOU REALLY HAVE TO GIVE THEM A GOOD BANG! (YA....., YOU WISH!)
SAYING THIS HOWEVER, NOT ALL IMPORTED RUBBERS ARE EQUAL.
I WAS FORCED TO BUY BRAZILLIAN DOOR RUBBERS DUE TO THE SUPPLIER NOT HAVING STOCK OF THE GERMAN RUBBERS. ALTHOUGH MOULDED FOR THE DOORS, NOT THE MOST AMAZING FIT. BETTER THAN THE LOCAL STUFF THOUGH WHICH WE HAD TESTED ON TANK.
IF YOU DO USE THE "PRO AUTO RUBBERS"; USE THE SAME RUBBERS FOR THE WINDSCREENS AND SIDE WINDOWS. THE LARGER PROFILE HELPS TAKE UP THE SPACE FROM THE LACK OF BEND. ALSO CUT THE RUBBERS A BIT LONGER AND SQUEEZE THEM INTO PLACE FOR THE SAME REASON. GLUE THE JOIN WITH SUPERGLUE.





I ALSO HAD CARPETS MADE FOR BLUE BELLE.
I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO MEET A GUY WHO MANUFACTURES CAR CARPETS FOR A LIVING, WHEN HE HIRED CYNDI'S BUS FOR HIS DAUGHTER'S MATRIC DANCE.
HE MADE THE CARPETS FOR ME (YES, I DID PAY QUITE A BIT) AND IT DID TAKE QUITE SOME TIME, BUT AGAIN WELL WORTH IT.



THEN IT WAS STARTING TO PUT ALL THE BITS AND PIECES BACK INTO THE BUS.
THINGS LIKE THE RUBBERS ON THE FLOOR AROUND THE FRONT SEATS, HANDLES ETC, ETC....

[Cyndi Kritzinger]

SLOWLY, SLOWLY CATCH A MONKEY.
MY POLICY IS TO TRY AND DO SOMETHING EVERY DAY TO PROGRESS THE BUILD ON A PROJECT. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW LITTLE IT IS.

MOST OF THE INTERIOR BITS ARE SORTED AND OF COURSE THERE WERE QUITE A FEW OUTSIDE BITS THAT NEEDED SOME ATTENTION.
MIRRORS REPLACED, STEP RESPRAYED AND RUBBERED, TOWBAR FITTED, AERIAL INSTALLED, WIPER ARMS DE-PAINTED (TAKEN BACK TO SILVER), NEW SPRAYERS INSTALLED, RUBBERS AROUND THE LOCKS AND HANDLES, HUBCAPS DE-RUSTED, ETCHED, WAXED (INSIDE) AND POLISHED.






OBVIOUSLY THERE WERE ALSO A LOT OF MECHANICAL ISSUES TO DEAL WITH.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED ENOUGH BREAKDOWNS TO RISK SHORTCUTS AND SO TO THE MORE SERIOUS SIDE OF THE BUILD.

NOW JUST REMEMBER THAT I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME.......

I REPLACED THE SHOCKS ALL AROUND.
I REPLACED THE FLEX HOSES.
I REBUILT THE BRAKES; FRONT AND BACK, INCLUDING SKIMMING, NEW SHOES, PADS AND CYLINDERS.
I REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND CLEANED THE RESEVOIR SO THAT IT LOOKED NEW.
I HAD THE BOOSTER TESTED AND THEN CLEANED IT UP A BIT....