Aircooled VW South Africa

So it starts.

Firstly a massive thank you to both Fig and Buggoff for their help, this community is fantastic.

I've been looking for a split van for years. In all honesty, the campers don't really do it for me so I never fancied on. I'm more of a commercial utility vehicle over comfort and camping, so when Fig replied to a thread of mine, I jumped.




Yes it's a Fleetline, no I don't give a monkey's, a split is a split. IT has VW on the front, end of debate.

As with any project, this one needs a good massage and some body panels. Buggoff has kindly accepted the task of cutting out any crap and welding in new metal. I will be ordering as many panels as it takes from http://klassicfab.com/ and http://www.autocrafteng.co.uk/products. ... &mnu=mnu10 but will also hopefully source local bits, keeping the money in the country.





It will be a 3 stage project:

Stage 1:

- Remove all rust, every single bit needs to be removed as this van lives down in Durbs
- Add new panels where needed, fabricate where possible
- Make secure, solid and acceptable

Stage 2:

- Remove all paint from body & crap from underside.
- Fully weather seal underside with POR15 (if I can find it locally that is)
- Remove & renew all workings (spindles, rubbers, brake lines etc)
- Upgrade to dual master cylinder (If i can find front disc brakes for sale, I might go down this route)

Stage 3:

- Find suitable stock 1600 dual port engine and overhaul
- Get Bugger to run his magic fingers over a gearbox that is modern and allows good cruising speeds
- Interior (not sure yet on this one, it's too far in the future to think about it)
- Paint, colour will be period related, possibly dark gray or green

Yes it's a large project, but one I'm gagging to get going with and looking forward to seeing the end result.

If anyone has any panels, parts or stuff that would help me out, I'll gladly support locals over companies overseas, please PM me.

Oh and I apologise in advance for any silly questions asked by me during this project, I'm still pretty new to the dub scene, albeit it an old hand with restoring older cars.

I've had a thorough look at that split earlier in the year at the KKKAK and in my mind's eye, i considered it a very optimistic project! Kudos to you and Ferdi - it's high time that we show the UK boys that we can also fix cars like how they do!

Agreed, it's not like your usual fixmeuppa project but hopefully I'll prove that there are enough spares, parts and skills in this country to achieve such a job.

That looks like a lot of work, but Im sure with all the help on this site and your aircooled dedication you will be able to save this one from being butchered as a donor and make a great thread and ride.
I really look foward to the updates.
I love the smaller rear window panelvans, Ive got the big-ass one



Have a look at this aswell:
http://www.customandcommercial.com/subc ... 4&group=60

congrats dsan, this is going to be one badboy someday!

Wow Daniel...I think you need to sit down and think about this one. This van is fcuked This is not a project, this is a waste of money! Rather spend another year looking, I’m sure you’ll find one worth restoring. You don’t have to prove a point here. They restore these vans in the UK, because there is nothing better and the alternative is to import. You don’t have to do that. Anybody telling you that this bus is worth restoring, is you

Dsan, I am not one to discourage anyone, especially if they have done this sort of thing before and probably know more than me!
So some thoughts:

The Panel you got is kind of unique as far as VW models are concerned so that would be a plus.

Bugoff is the man to repair it, we know he has got skills, and he definately had more than enough practise on the notch

BUT
Cost of the panels from overseas will be EXCESSIVE to say the least.

Why not look at something like Bossies Fleetline? http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... =3&t=14081 It has papers, motor and from the pictures, almost no rust. I am pretty sure Bugoff can easily turn that into a panelvan using this bus as a template, and perhaps even some of its good metal. I might be willing to buy the seats you won't be needing once I have seen my new fleetline, getting you some return straight away. I can tell you know if I did not buy a fleetline a couple weeks ago, Bossies would be mine, as it looks complete, and you could then paint it almost right away.

Bugoff still gets to do a nice(r) project, you have a BETTER van, UK etc gets less SA money for panels, Bossie sells what looks like a good van at a decent price quick quick...my 2c. Whatever you decide. Good Luck, will help where I can and eager as always for pics of progress. Will definately go past bugoff's place soon to have a look!

You're a brave man All the best. I'll follow with intrest.

CongRATS man, you are 1 hell of a mad scientist, live your dream. Make it work.

Don't let the guys get you down.There is a lot of hope yet.This is what mine looked liked when I got her.

All the luck with the project you got more guts than me that for sure.

I appreciate all your concerns, I guess each to their own. I didn't really want an easy project, what I did want was something to really push me and make me work for it, this is that project.

@karma: I could have gone down that route, but I'm not comfortable with converting a camper into a van, granted this won't be a show stopper, but it has to have left the factory as it was, a van. On the panel front, I don't believe the costs will be that much, 500 quid at a push?
On the topic of waiting and finding a better one, yes I might and in most cases I might end up getting it as they are getting pretty rare, you can never have enough toys

This is an indication of what prices they fetch locally http://search.junkmail.co.za/view/Johan ... 233-200939

Mad, brave, stupid, insane... talk to me in 12 months

All I can say is Go Daniel!

This bus was only ever a parts bus to me, but I offered it for sale cheaply in the hope that someone would take it on as a project. You're obviously a braver man than most of us Daniel!

And I like the new name of this panel; very appropriate. All the time I had it we called it Surfer Boy because of the stripes.

I think if you have the bucks to fix it up then why not! You are going to appreciate every bit of that bus when it is done

Go Daniel go if you cant get panels for the bus in SA, On the samba there is a guy who makes what look like quality panels for buses.


Good luck