Here's what I've been up to:
Thinking I'll be sleeping in this bus on campouts I figured I'd set up some kind of hillbilly bed, this consists of a sheet of 5/8" OSB cut to 6.5' long and a support structure. The support is pretty simple- two pieces of 3/8" OSB, each with a slot in them, slid together to form a strong "X". It's very sturdy, even with my fat ass on it. I'll look for some kind of mattress for cushion. Most air mattresses will be too tall which would make me bang my head if I sat up while half-asleep.
Next is doing something with the interior surfaces. First is taking a D/A with 80 grit and going over the whole inside to remove old glue. (see above pic) Then I used spray glue and Nasa bubblewrap insulation from Home Depot on all inside flat surfaces to reduce noise and hold the heat in. I like the spray glue with the "figure 8" pattern over the regular fan spray. This will also reduce/eliminate condensation from your breath on the roof which will form in cold weather.
The problem is now it reflects EVERYTHING and makes you feel like you're in the chicken rotisserie at CFM when you're inside. But it's quiet. If you rap your knuckle softly on the outside of the bus you can clearly hear a big difference between areas where there is insulation and areas where there isn't insulation (engine compartment).
I poked around in my junk and found a full set of interior panels from Bus 1, good thing I didn't throw that shit away. The color's wrong but who cares, might as well put them in to "finish" off the inside. I also dug up some extra carpet, scrubbed it well, and cut it to fit. I had some extra foam carpet pad so that went underneath. I don't know if and what I'll do with the headliner so that will stay unfinished right now, maybe it will get some plywood stuck up there or something. My budget's like $20, I wonder what Bill can do for that? Note I used a hole saw to cut a 1" finger hole for the decklid latch so I can open it from inside.
Bus 2 was jealous of the cool tunes in Bus 1 so I had to do something. I bought an awesome megawatt Bluetooth wireless sound system that links to my phone, it sits on the dash right in front of me while driving. It pumps out thumping bass like you wouldn't believe.
I drove it several times lately on dry days, it's actually very comfortable inside. The heater puts out great heat and it's quiet and rides well. The whole inside is super quiet with only a small rattle from the front door stationary glass, I bet I can fix that easily.
Next is building a fresh engine, I've bought a 69mm CW crank, mild cam (same as in Bus 1), and new guts. I have 3-4 core motors to tear down looking for the perfect case and good heads which seem to be the big shortage these days. Stay tuned.
'65 Standard
Re: '65 Standard
Bruce Amacker
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
Re: '65 Standard
It will be great to see YOU and the 65 Standard at some camp outs this year.
1963 Single Cab
1964 Bowman & Sons Camper (Vegas Bus)
1966 Westy S0-42 Hardtop
1967 Westy SO-42 Pop Top
1968 Single Cab
1964 Bowman & Sons Camper (Vegas Bus)
1966 Westy S0-42 Hardtop
1967 Westy SO-42 Pop Top
1968 Single Cab
Re: '65 Standard
I've been over to Bruce's shop 3 times this week and I can't take my eyes off that bus. I love how he kept the original rough look. He blended the paint perfectly. He's even got a hillbilly heat pipe for those cool spring and fall rides.
Re: '65 Standard
Not everything goes as planned. I put together Bus 2 with one of my spare engines which until lately was healthy. It's more of a mystery motor than anything, a 1600SP that I did a top end on about 8 years ago. I've had it over ten years and don't even remember where it came from. Last week while driving it developed a mild but distinct rod knock. I drove it again yesterday to confirm, changed the oil to 20w50 (I think I had 10w30 in it for the winter) and it only quieted down a bit but not much. Oh $hit.
This afternoon I decided it was time to retire Spare Engine 1 and resort to Spare Engine 2. Once again, this is somewhat of a mystery motor, a regular old 1600DP. I bought it off of Glenn Agney (is that his name?) about 10 years ago. Supposedly he did the top end a few years before that, it was in a rotted Beetle when I saw it at his place. I put it in my Ghia for a year or two, then it powered Bus 1 for a year or two. I don't remember having done any work to it, but a few years ago it developed a heavy (main bearing) knock once or twice on startup if you don't run 20w50. If you run a heavy oil it's quiet. So, not a healthy motor, but (hopefully) not ready to grenade like SE1. End play is shit and if you pry the flywheel it goes up and down so I know the case is shot. But, it runs, and actually pretty good at that.
So, get to the shop and rack the bus. Note the clock says 12:35. Yank SE1, note the clock says 12:48. Change the clutch, throttle tube and some other stuff, jam SE2, note the clock says 1:42. SE2 is running in this picture but doesn't have a tailpipe on it. Put the tailpipe on, pull it off the rack. The clock says 1:51. Still enough time to enjoy the beautiful weather today, how about a road test to Hinckley Lake. I put about 50 miles on it today, no leaks, no issues, I didn't even change the oil or anything, just stuck it in and fired it up.
I have to confess this is not the first engine I've changed. There's something to be said for having a spare fully trimmed engine ready to stuff in on short notice. SE2 hasn't ran since I pulled it out of Bus 1 about Feb '15, I hit it with a shot of ether and it started right up and ran great.
I'm building a 1600DP with a CW crank and a mild cam for this bus, I have a lot of pictures of that process that I haven't posted yet. I was going to just wait until I got the fresh engine done but I didn't want to rush it, and I want to be able to drive B2 whenever. Once I get the new one in I'll have TWO spare engines that need to be gone through so I know what I'm doing the rest of this year.
This afternoon I decided it was time to retire Spare Engine 1 and resort to Spare Engine 2. Once again, this is somewhat of a mystery motor, a regular old 1600DP. I bought it off of Glenn Agney (is that his name?) about 10 years ago. Supposedly he did the top end a few years before that, it was in a rotted Beetle when I saw it at his place. I put it in my Ghia for a year or two, then it powered Bus 1 for a year or two. I don't remember having done any work to it, but a few years ago it developed a heavy (main bearing) knock once or twice on startup if you don't run 20w50. If you run a heavy oil it's quiet. So, not a healthy motor, but (hopefully) not ready to grenade like SE1. End play is shit and if you pry the flywheel it goes up and down so I know the case is shot. But, it runs, and actually pretty good at that.
So, get to the shop and rack the bus. Note the clock says 12:35. Yank SE1, note the clock says 12:48. Change the clutch, throttle tube and some other stuff, jam SE2, note the clock says 1:42. SE2 is running in this picture but doesn't have a tailpipe on it. Put the tailpipe on, pull it off the rack. The clock says 1:51. Still enough time to enjoy the beautiful weather today, how about a road test to Hinckley Lake. I put about 50 miles on it today, no leaks, no issues, I didn't even change the oil or anything, just stuck it in and fired it up.
I have to confess this is not the first engine I've changed. There's something to be said for having a spare fully trimmed engine ready to stuff in on short notice. SE2 hasn't ran since I pulled it out of Bus 1 about Feb '15, I hit it with a shot of ether and it started right up and ran great.
I'm building a 1600DP with a CW crank and a mild cam for this bus, I have a lot of pictures of that process that I haven't posted yet. I was going to just wait until I got the fresh engine done but I didn't want to rush it, and I want to be able to drive B2 whenever. Once I get the new one in I'll have TWO spare engines that need to be gone through so I know what I'm doing the rest of this year.
Bruce Amacker
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
Re: '65 Standard
That reminds me. I have a spare 1600 SP mystery motor on the test stand that runs but needs to be checked out. Hmmm, Sounds like a project for tune-up day .
1963 Single Cab
1964 Bowman & Sons Camper (Vegas Bus)
1966 Westy S0-42 Hardtop
1967 Westy SO-42 Pop Top
1968 Single Cab
1964 Bowman & Sons Camper (Vegas Bus)
1966 Westy S0-42 Hardtop
1967 Westy SO-42 Pop Top
1968 Single Cab
Re: '65 Standard
Very cool Bruce. Will this be your camper?
It's Marla with an " L"
(My list of assets is just too long...)
(My list of assets is just too long...)
Re: '65 Standard
Yes, Bus 2 will be my swap meet bus, crap hauler and "camper". Bus 1 will be my people hauler and family bus. I took 7 guys to the Piston Power Show in Bus 1 a couple of weeks ago, that 1904 was needed to haul all of our fat asses.
Been busy messing with engines- tore down 3 cores and trimmed out a spare so here's a bunch of pictures:
Core #1 was a dual port, it turned but that's all I know.
It had an AutoStick intake manifold. Crap! I thought it was an AE or AH, it's a stinking H case, single relief, small oil pump studs. I get the heads off to find 87mm slip-ins. Junk. The heads are so-so, but I try not to use helicoiled heads. The rear bearing is loose in the case, and who the hell uses red RTV building a VW? I didn't even bother splitting the case on this one or even pulling the jugs. Boat anchor.
Been busy messing with engines- tore down 3 cores and trimmed out a spare so here's a bunch of pictures:
Core #1 was a dual port, it turned but that's all I know.
It had an AutoStick intake manifold. Crap! I thought it was an AE or AH, it's a stinking H case, single relief, small oil pump studs. I get the heads off to find 87mm slip-ins. Junk. The heads are so-so, but I try not to use helicoiled heads. The rear bearing is loose in the case, and who the hell uses red RTV building a VW? I didn't even bother splitting the case on this one or even pulling the jugs. Boat anchor.
Last edited by Dual Port on Wed Mar 28, 2018 10:28 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Bruce Amacker
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
Re: '65 Standard
Core #2 been setting outside fer a whiiiiiiiiiiiiiillllle, but it turns.
It needs line bored and the thrust cut, but it might be a usable case. Heads are not so great.....
At least it's an AE case, dual relief, later model dual port.
Yep, in the barn fer a good long while........
It needs line bored and the thrust cut, but it might be a usable case. Heads are not so great.....
Bruce Amacker
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
Re: '65 Standard
Core #3 doesn't look much different than the others on the outside, it's another AE.
I'll be tearing down heads looking for usable cores..........
It must have been a AutoStick at one point to have this oil pump, but the secondary was not hooked up.
After teardown, the case looks usable as-is. It's already been cut .5mm on the bore and the thrust is zero and tight, so let's clean it up and use it. 500 hours cleaning time later, it looks like this:
Here I'm mocking it up, it's getting a CB forged counterweighted crank and an Eagle cam, the same grind I have in the 1904 in Bus 1. I like that cam in a bus.
The cam bolts (5/16NF gr8) need a little grinding to clear the CB filter pump.
Here I'm dry fitting it again, I probably bolted the case together 4-5 times before being happy with everything.
I'll be tearing down heads looking for usable cores..........
Last edited by Dual Port on Tue Mar 27, 2018 9:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Bruce Amacker
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus