1959 Bus

[sean]

After this, I would say the bus is nearing completion. The engine had its oil changed and tappets set the other day at 400km. It’s now nearing 1000km and all still seems nice. Getting over 11km/l fuel consumption, but driving it so damn slow it better!!!

I think I am going to leave the interior just as it is for now. The front bench seat is on loan, I do have the original base but the back rest is missing. When I have sourced that I will have it upholstered.

All the missing windows have now been fitted, all working as well, I have cleaned all the original locks and they are all opening and closing, so basically everything on this bus is working how it should.

All the costs to follow later today for those interested in seeing how much getting one of these busses back on the road actually costs. Its scary.....

[Drusky]

The little things add up ja.
I got my Early Bay gear knob here:
http://store.vintagespeed.com.tw/index. ... mitstart=0

I have really enjoyed reading about your progress with this Karoo bus. Thank you for sharing. I think you should fit your shiny bits and leave them shiny. It tells a story. Your story about your time with this bus.

[Tony Z]

some nice work and some lekka bits. Nice one!

[sean]

Here's the costs as mentioned. Take into account this is only record of what I actually kept, there are loads of little receipts and spending I don't have track of any more. My fuel costs for all the running around is excluded, this will be huge. As usual, I never kept track of how much time I spent on the bus, but its huge.

Initial purchase price
Purchase price R 0
Trailer Hire @ 3 days R750.00
Petrol (to Springbok and farm) R3 200.00
Gift R138.70
R4 088.70

Main body spares
Donor Fleetline R1 867.00
Rims R1 200.00
Klassic Fab Panels R16 240.00
Sand Blast rims & backing plates (powder coating) R841.00
R20 148.00

Engine Bay
Complete running 1100 motor R2 850.00
Reconditioned 1100 sub-assembly R6 500.00
Clutch Overhaul R600.00
Exhaust & J-pipes R1 056.00
Engine Seal, pro-auto rubber R140.00
Battery - 6v Varta, 70 ah R800.00
Oils R180.00
Return Springs R65.00
12 191.00

Suspension and running gear
Drag link, Tie rod and ends etc. R900.00
Centre Pin R600.00
Castle nuts R120.00
Shift plate R120.00
Release bearing, bushes, seals R400.00
Gearbox shaft seals, nuts, bowden tube R300.00
Axle boots R170.00
Shift coupler and starter bushes R380.00
Shocks - Monroe R782.86
Tyres - Kumho R2 613.00
Bearings R335.00
Clutch cable and Acc cable steel sleeves R185.00
Purchase of brake drums, backing plates, suspension components etc. and a set of pop-out windows. R1 500.00
R8 405.86

Brakes
Brakes overhaul, resleeve cylinders, skimming, rebonding shoes etc. R1 109.86
New steel pipes made up R570.00
Fluids, brake hoses, gear oil, filters etc. R1 101.00
R2 780.86

Paint, sand paper, body filler, cleaner etc.
Paint(grey) R925.82
Paint (cream) R978.00
Drop sheets R65.00
Sand Blast Hubcaps R75.00
R1 968.82

General
Re registration, micro-dotting and 1 year licence R984.00
Number plates and screws R234.00
Trailer hire @ 2 days R500.00
Nuts and bolts and cables (hand brake, clutch, Acc etc.) R651.22
Steel R150.00
Parts (Wolfsberg West), Electrical switches, mirrors, lenses, light holders, 6v globes, springs, rubber products, seals, accesories etc. R7 903.00
Window catches, door handles, clips etc. R783.92
Semaphores R500.00
6v Horn R200.00
Electrical, heat shrink, terminals, wiring etc. R849.74
R12 755.88

Total R 62 377

Seems quite ridiculous doesn't it. In most peoples eyes this is still just a piece of .

[retrovan]

Well done Sean,

That is a good looking bus you have there. I love it as you have it.

Now on price, should you add your cost for labour,
If you add a good paint job, full upholstery,
Add Undercarriage coating,
Rust converter and tektol injection treatment into all cavity's,
You land up at 150 000 ZAR's
Then you got guys crying that the price should be 30000 ZAR's for a Split Bus. .....

But that bus is worth every penny and a whole bag more.

Enjoy

Herman

[JonnoDub]

I agree with Retrovan , money well spent. Its really a beauty !

[Barry]

X2 on what Herman said. Except I think his cost estimate is too low......R200K+ if you are really serious.

[Drusky]

Of course it's impossible to put a price on the loving hours you spend wiggling and jiggling inside her. Scraped knuckles and hair gathering dusty junk like a filter.

[sean]

I finally have an update on my 59. Well as you read in the thread of the trip report to the George motor show in February, my bus never made it back
It suffered engine failure and had to be towed back to Barrydale after which I went back the next weekend to bring it home.

The engine was stripped and revealed the following, a completely ruined big end bearing. The rest of the motor was still 100%, so no explanation how this happened. Anyway I know have a second reconditioned exchange 1100 which I have installed.





While the motor was out I wanted the gearbox attended to which was working fine but however was incredibly noisy. While the motor was being attended to the gearbox was stripped, noise was because of a completely worn crown and pinion. Gearbox was still good. I had a second gearbox which was from Bushpig’s 58 which I took over hoping this one had a good diff, but unfortunately was even worse plus its gears were also toast. On my last possible option I took a third gearbox from a beetle over and thankfully this whole gearbox was 100%. The reduction gearboxes were fitted to this box and I installed the whole lot.

I am pleased to say the motor and gearbox are both running beautifully. Now just for the slow process of running the engine in again.

[sean]

To add to this very interesting recovery, two weekends ago I was with this bus just outside Tulbagh on a short trip. While on my way home I had a bakkie come past me which soon pulled over and with the driver indicating to me to stop, I was a little hesitant at first but I thought maybe he knew where another bus is. It turned out it was the original owner’s son (his father passed away several years ago) who was on his way down from the farm outside Springbok.

It was him who gave it to me but I never met him. He has also been farming on the farm since his father passed away. He said he just had to stop me; he recognised the bus immediately and couldn’t believe he came across it as is on the road in front of him. He was with his whole family who were all over the bus loving it just the way it is. We had quite a good chat and was really interesting to hear more about its history. What a lekker part to add to the story that we meat more than 700km away from where I salvaged this bus.

Here’s a pic he sent me.

[Tony Z]

Wow, what are the odds of that happening?

[Muderick]

Kwaai story Sean....

Pic of the month??

[jolas]

I am pleased to say the motor and gearbox are both running beautifully. Now just for the slow process of running the engine in again.

you were'nt driving it very slowly on the R304 at 06h55 this morning hehehe

[sean]

I am pleased to say the motor and gearbox are both running beautifully. Now just for the slow process of running the engine in again.

you were'nt driving it very slowly on the R304 at 06h55 this morning hehehe

I nearly froze to death in it this morning, forgot to take my jersey. Winter time to work with it is really a little rough now. Thought it'll be best to get to work as quick as possible.

[jolas]

That 6v claxton hooter was quite appropriate in the mist, sounded like a sick foghorn The guy in the car in front of me jumped in his seat Was quite a cool site to see that rat come lurching out of the mist whilst we were all stuck in the inbound traffic jam

(hope you painted it with varnish before you left this home this morning )