'70 Westfalia Project

[retrovan]

Yes not the type of work for the cold weather, constantly needing to take stock of a finger count,

Nice work and great progress, keep the photo's coming.

Will look good when done.

Herman

[Tony Z]

Well done.
Slow going but it'll be worth it in the end.
It wont be long before you finish a job and while trying to figure out "whats next", you realize that its actually finished

[AlanH]

So after lots of elbow grease and a sabbatical of a month because my fingertip were cracked I am now nearly ready for painting.

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Once that is done I can start assembling and find out how much I am still missing.

[AlanH]

Just a quick update.
I got a quote to have professionals paint the Westy but they made my eyes water. Nevertheless I went back to the Westy and looked carefully at it and found there was still a lot of body preparation. It looked good until the sun was at the right angle and one could see all the bumps still showing. So, basically I have been bust ironing out the panels to get them as good as I can without them looking homefixed. I can say that I can appreciate the work that goes into this and that the quote was reasonable.
But I am slowly making progress. So far I have completed the front doors and am busy with the sliding door. The RHS body I think is also about complete, but a coat of black paint will show if I need to do more work.
Hopefully next update I can post some pictures with a painted Westy.

[AlanH]

Update with some pictures and just to prove that the project is not standing still.
It's just one hell of a lot or work with little to show.
I have hopefully smoothed the doors enough and given them some paint to check when they reflect light. They seem OK and I will leave them now ready for the last coat of paint that will be done when everything is together so there is no difference in shades. At this stage I want at least a coat or two on all surfaces so it will also be easier to clean before final painting. still have to do the rear hatch as it seems it has a kink in it and doesn't align nicely with the body. Also once the inside is done I can start with some interior refitting.

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Thanks for looking.

[AlanH]

Unfortunately no further progress yet due to other projects/duties taking priority.
I have however sanded down the doors with 600grit waterpaper. Everything will be sanded hopefully only one last time before final coat of paint.

[Haans]

Hybernation time !!!! And Streep, my street cat agrees!!

work time,...if you want to is from 11 to 14h30 ,.... that's it !
See you in the summer !!
Haans

[AlanH]

So while my other projects are at a standstill due to deliveries/parts availability I decided I must use the time to make some progress.
Sanded the last remaining panels and gave all a coat of paint. At least now the whole Westy had a single coat of 2K. This will again be sanded to refine the finnish and then I will get the second and final coat on. After that I suppose the paint has to dry a while before it can be polished.
Anyway I can't wait to get to that stage and to start refitting some parts.

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Had to provisionally place the emblem on the front. Looks so cool.

[Tony Z]

looking good

[sean]

The worst is over. Now is the best part when it comes together.

[AlanH]

I want to say nearly over. I still have one or two coats to go on and then polish to a proper finish.
I will still need a few bits that seem to be hard to get.

1) Front engine tin as per another post in the wanted section
2) Decent outer scrapers for the doors
3) Still fighting with what air cleaner to fit. It has a pillar suggesting a splitty type filter, but most seem to have a later filter that sits on a pedestal that I don't have. So if I get a pedestal I will go with that.

I'm sure there a more but can't remember them now. Think I must write them down as I notice what's missing.

[retrovan]

Looking forward to it being on the road, and to hear the joy in your typing.....

Look at Autostyle.co.za they have a good number of hard to find items.

You heading to the finish line with speed.

Herman

[Haans]

. Can't say I liked a bus,.........but something is stirring !!
Got a single cab in the family,....and it's an experience driving it.
Haans

[AlanH]

So while I am waiting for a quote for a panelbeater friend to paint the final coats in his paint shop I thought I'd tackle my engine.
What a disaster that was. When stripping I found so many things I am not happy with considering this was supposed to be a proper rebuilt engine.
Anyway I removed all the tins, alternator inlet manifold ... I got to the heads.
Removing the covers I could see overspray from the now evident rattle can rebuild. Removed the heads I found different pistons, some with numbers on others only pitted by some foreign object.
Eventually after managing to remove the fanbelt pully that was so tight because the crank was at one stage clamped in a vice so that the marks are visible, I opened the case an removed the crank.
There I found my problem of why the engine is soooo tight that initially I thought it was seized solid. The locating pin on the from bearing turned and obviously pressed against the bearing pushing it out of shape. So now I at least know what I am dealing with.

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If anyone has a useable 74mm crank lying around I might be interested. I don't want to make a racing engine but only a fuel efficient version with some more torque for a bus.A 74mm crank should allow me to reuse all other stock parts including 85.5mm piston & cylinders while giving me a 1699 engine.
This according to https://www.aircooled.net/vw-type-1-mileage-engine-mpg/

I would appreciate comments on the above. If there are too any cons I will can the idea and just stick with stock as I don't want to spend too much money now. Was just thinking since the engine is open it could be a good time to do something of value.

[AlanH]

Seems the forum is getting less and less traffic which is really disappointing.

Anyway, on Thursday I took my Westy to a panel beater to give it the final coat of paint and buff. Waiting in anticipation to get it back within a month.
He is busy with a Land Rover and will alternate as he gets time. Luckily I know him and he lives and works around the corner so I could go and check progress.