1978 Baywindow Project (Picture heavy)

[brucet]

Seems there are a lot more negatives than positives starting to show themselves with this bus. No use crying over spilt milk though!

The roof has been repaired with a few kilo's of body filler which we have started removing.....can anyone say ching ching The things we do for our silly fantasies and hobbies! Oh well at least we found it before it became a problem.

Looks like the two week simple respray is going to end up being a 6 week fight which i will win. We have two weeks left, hopefully. Then I start with mechanical s which i think is also going to be fun. I know of either a bearing or brake component failure on the left rear as its making a funny squeaking type noise after its been driven for a while.... so the first job I will be doing is removing all brakes and bearings and replacing with new. The motor was apparently done about a year ago so for now I only plan to redo all the vacuum pipes and wiring which is in a bit of a mess currently and there is an oil leak which i need to trace and that needs to be fixed and then i will take it for a tune and a check over. I will also be cleaning and coating the undercarriage and then sorting out suspension, heater system (pipes mainly which are held on with wire). Then the interior........think it will be done by September?

One of the depressing patches of body filled about 5mm thick on the roof.

[acpaterson]

Bruce, don't sweat it. Bodywork is important, esp to do it right. Mine was in for 4 months, same signs, windscreen lip, below doors, etc.. Let the bodyshop do the stuff properly, because you don't want to have to come back in a years time to fix stuff ups. These things take time to do them properly. Those guys who claim they can rebuild a bus in 3 to 6 months are bs artists.

[brucet]

Yes thats true. Like I said Im glad we found all these issues and that I started with the body first. Still, cant wait to get it back though so I can start tinkering on it. Also nice to see some old fashioned type panel beating going on.
Besides its not all bad as the window and door rubbers have not arrived yet anyway and Im still looking for a drivers door window as mine is badly scratched..

[brucet]

The old girl is almost ready for paint. Once the roof was stripped of body filler you could clearly see someone at some stage had driven under something and damaged it. Fortunately it was repaired pretty well with the body filler however I dont like body filler so it was removed and panel beaten.








Roof still being worked on. Then passenger door which had some damage to it and then she goes to paint. I really cannot wait.




Does anyone know the paint code for this blue:

[acpaterson]

It's coming along nice man.
Clearly BLUE is the most popular scheme by the looks of it..

[brucet]

Thank you. The choice was either blue or pink according to my daughters......

[acpaterson]

lol. ok then. wise choice buddy.

[brucet]

The boring work has been completed with all the outside body work and rust repairs finally being completed. Bus is going into the paint booth tomorrow.

The first box of parts (mostly all the rubbers) has also finally arrived and I have managed to get a bunch of other stuff for the bus also which I will slowly start restoring. Can't wait to get it back.

[brucet]

With the body almost done we have started thinking about the interior. Please show me pictures of your interior to give me a few ideas.

Also is there anyone that can restore chrome bumpers. (straighten and maybe re-chrome them)

[acpaterson]

[brucet]

Wow your kombi looks immaculate. Thank you for sharing.

[brucet]

Got these pictures on Friday after the first coat of primer was done. Apparently this is outside the spray booth as they need to sand it down again.......now they wont share pictures with me and say I have to wait to see the final product.... 's

[brucet]

All the window rubbers, door rubbers, door handle rubbers etc, a new antenna and some of the new lights have arrived.

Where is the best place to buy brake pads, discs and new wheel bearing from?

[Jdt1976]

Looking good.

I buy my bearings at G-man traders. If I remember correct they sold my bay window's bearings in a kit.
http://www.gmantraders.co.za/

[brucet]

Paint is finally being done. Another two weeks later than promised but at least it's being done properly. Colour doesn't look the same as in pictures. It's more baby blue than green.