1979 Bay Rebuild *Update

[YvaneS]

* POST removed

[fig]

You should be able to find many of those parts locally for less. Calooker sells the ball joints for about R400 a set.

[YvaneS]

Thanks fig. Sent calooker a pm.
Do you recommend a 2l in the bay instead of a 1600? Spoke to IMPI and he said I should rather go for that. Although I would like to keep the bus as original as possible. The bus has engine code : FAD48.... Is this a replacement case?

[fig]

Everything IMPI says about the type 4 engine is true. But buses run just fine with type 1 engines. You must just know that they are very slow, and the engine won't last as long as it would in a Beetle.

Your engine number actually starts SFAD. SF = assembled in Uitenhage, while AD is a twin-port 1600. I don't know off the top of my head, but I think that would have been a 1971 or so engine, but I may be mistaken.

[YvaneS]

Ok so When I start the project I want to start with the suspension and redo it.

As I dont really know alot about cars in general, and I want to do most of the work myself I'll be needing alot of help from you guys!!!

What do you guys reccomend need replacing when I look at the suspension and where can I find the items?

(if these are the right parts Ill order them from calooker)
TIE ROD, RIGHT WITH ENDS, x1
TIE ROD, LEFT WITH ENDS, x1
KYB GAS SHOCK,FRONT x2
KYB GAS SHOCK,REAR x2
BALL JOINT,UPPER AND LOWER x2

These I dont know about but advice would be great:

1.Service or replace steering box?

Anything else?help would really be awesome.

Oh and then I wana get : C.V.Joint Boot Kit, W/Hardware x4 ?

[jolas]

Hi YvaneS, leave, the steering box for last, it's quite possible that there is nothing wrong with it. Replace the shocks, ball joints, etc, etc first.

How are you going about this whole restoration/project?

Are you stripping it down completely ? Or are you going to get all the parts first and do it bit by bit? The advantage of the latter is that you are still
able to enjoy your bus while your project is in progress.
Stripping a bus down to the last nut and bolt, and buying new replacement parts and fitting same is a brave, time consuming and expensive undertaking. And we have'nt spoken about the paint and rust removal, welding, respraying and all the rest. I'm just curious. Projects like Duss's bay and Sean's Fleetline come to mind. Good luck for whatever route you take, the final result will hopefully be stunning !

[marcw]

Hello YvaneS -- and all others

So this is what I am actually doing this weekend.

I have the entire tie rod and drag link plus other steering bits to install and the four ball joints for the suspension.
What I need is someone who knows where I can take these to have the 4 new ball joints pushed in. I do not want someone with a hammer and some wood to do this for me, it’s the suspension so must be done right.
I got all this because I was tired of having the buss feel so much like a piece of soap in the bath. New suspension can’t hurt in any case.

After this she will be one sweet Bella (the buss that is:- )

Marc

[marcw]

Oh and i got all the parts from volkspares.co.za decent price I must say.

Marc

[YvaneS]

Bit of an update :

I ordered some spares from Calooker , which are coming all the way from the U S of A.
Parts include :
Part #: 211-415-802F TIE ROD, RIGHT WITH ENDS, BUS 68-79
Part #: 211-415-801F TIE ROD, LEFT WITH ENDS, BUS 68-79
Part #: 211-101B BUSHINGS,ANTISWAY BAR L/R BUS 1968-1979
Part #: 343144 KYB GAS SHOCK,FRONT= (BUG 47-65, BUS 50-79, GHIA 56-65, TYPE 3 66-73),REAR=(BUG 47-79, BUS 50-67, GHIA 56-74,THING 73-74, TYPE 3 66-73) x2
Part #: 344045 KYB GAS SHOCK,REAR BUS 1968-1979 x2
Part #: 211-405-371A BALL JOINT,UPPER AND LOWER, BUS 68-79 x2
Part #: 211-037C WINDOW SEAL KIT, FRONT & REAR, CAL LOOK, BUS 1968-79

VW Parts.net
C.V.Joint Boot Kit, W/Hardware Code: 211598201 x4

WolfsBurgWest
Part # 311853687 REAR HATCH VOLKSWAGEN SCRIPT, aluminium



I will be taking delivery of the bus on the 11th of july, then the work can start!
I will be replacing all these parts, along with Wheel bearings (which I will have to source locally, any ideas where?), the discs will probably come off to get a skim, and I will add some new brake pads(which I will have to source locally, any ideas where?)

[beetlefanatic]

Bit of an update :

I ordered some spares from Calooker , which are coming all the way from the U S of A.
Parts include :
Part #: 211-415-802F TIE ROD, RIGHT WITH ENDS, BUS 68-79
Part #: 211-415-801F TIE ROD, LEFT WITH ENDS, BUS 68-79
Part #: 211-101B BUSHINGS,ANTISWAY BAR L/R BUS 1968-1979
Part #: 343144 KYB GAS SHOCK,FRONT= (BUG 47-65, BUS 50-79, GHIA 56-65, TYPE 3 66-73),REAR=(BUG 47-79, BUS 50-67, GHIA 56-74,THING 73-74, TYPE 3 66-73) x2
Part #: 344045 KYB GAS SHOCK,REAR BUS 1968-1979 x2
Part #: 211-405-371A BALL JOINT,UPPER AND LOWER, BUS 68-79 x2
Part #: 211-037C WINDOW SEAL KIT, FRONT & REAR, CAL LOOK, BUS 1968-79

VW Parts.net
C.V.Joint Boot Kit, W/Hardware Code: 211598201 x4

WolfsBurgWest
Part # 311853687 REAR HATCH VOLKSWAGEN SCRIPT, aluminium



I will be taking delivery of the bus on the 11th of july, then the work can start!
I will be replacing all these parts, along with Wheel bearings (which I will have to source locally, any ideas where?), the discs will probably come off to get a skim, and I will add some new brake pads(which I will have to source locally, any ideas where?)

I hope you have better luck with the overseas CV boots than I have had with the local . I have to replace one for the 3rd time in just over a year and the rest are also on their way out, as I saw cracks appearing around the circumference. I have now ordered a set of silicone boots used for off road applications. Hopefully that will be the last time I have to change CV boots for a while. I just hate that job!

Brake pads should be available from most Midas/Autozone shops.

[YvaneS]

Brake pads should be available from most Midas/Autozone shops

Thanks.

Do you know where I'll be able to get wheel bearings?

[beetlefanatic]

Also got them from Midas.

[YvaneS]

Bit of a write up:
So Saturday morning 5 o’clock We were ready to go, as we were leaving springs to pick up the bus in PTA. We drove with a bakkie incase we had to tow the bus, but original plans were to drive the bus back seeing as it was running the last time I saw it. I had to stop over at my house in pta to fetch some stuff and had a lekker breakfast there.

When we reached greenbean’s house, the bus was already standing ready and idling away. Greenbean was nice enough to get it started just before we arrived.
So I got in the bus and off we were… I could feel something wasn’t right, no power and also it sounded like the bus was only running on 3cyl. About 5km from greenbean’s house… There was smoke everywhere! Holy crap!
I was so pissed, got out to have a look… Thank goodness, It was just some old oil that was laying around and some got on the exhaust!! While cleaning everything up my dad replaced one of the plug wires… Pow!! Bus was up and running like never before! The whole way back the bus ran like a dream, cruising at a constant 80kmh all the way !!


The bus behaved well and we got back to springs.
Inspection time started, first thing I noticed is that the bus is actually a 1979 model not a 1978. Which leads me to believe the bus should actually have been fitted with a 2l type4 and not a 1600 type 1 ??

There is still major problems with the electrics of the bus, I started fiddling around and I found this thing :


I think its some sort of alarm that was fitted? But anyways I removed it… Then the bus didn’t want to start? Eventually fiddled around some more and all was well, bus starts.
I got fed up with the electrical side and decided to proceed later.

It was evident that the bus was in a few accidents, so I started by checking out these areas. I sanded the areas down to the metal with some areas having putty up to 15mm !
I want to have these areas fixed the right way, and get someone to help me with this, maybe ferdi( Ill still give him a call). I also got some red oxide that ill apply to these areas after they have been fixed.
Most of the rusty areas that was there, I also sanded down to the metal.











If anyone is interested in these two you can have them, just pick it up :



The mat is the one that fits in the boot.

So yes that how far I have come…

Just to let you guys know... I am busy stripping the bus down to the bare essentials... The bus will be treated to a complete respray, new window rubbers new door rubbers seals, the whole thing.
Also I will be speaking to IMPI soon, I want him to build me a 2l type4.

[YvaneS]

I removed the whole wiper assembly because the wipers dont work :



What i found was that the one wiper shaft was rusted an wont even move out of the "bearing". SO I need a new one, can anyone help?



Also when I opened the gearbox, I found that the gear is stripped, So I also need a new one when it comes to that. Can anyone help?

[YvaneS]

Recieved some parts from the US, and picked them up from Calooker :




So over the weekend I took a trip down to Orkney, to pay a visit to IMPI. We spoke about some options for my bus' engine. Finally we decided on building a brand new 2L type4 with FI. Currently Im just waiting for IMPI's final quote before we commence building

I was going to paint the bus black and ivory, but then I saw IMPI's bus :


Now I have decided to go with red!
So I am consulting the panelbeater/spraypainter today about changing the bus to red instead of black. This is the look I want, but with a white roof :



The bus will be leaving for the panelbeaters on saterday!