Just purchased this '66 Split California Roadrunner Camper

rallytwo
Posts: 16
Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2016 9:50 pm

Just purchased this '66 Split California Roadrunner Camper

Post by rallytwo »

Bus is pretty beat up(rattle can and brush painted) and the camper interior has been re-done but very solid bus with original pans that are in nice shape. Spent it's entire life in California, Washington, and Oregon only. Now lives in Columbia Station.
Has dual carbs that I might replace with single carb since I am more of a purist. Will probably try to sell the dual carb set-up.
Gratefully, Bruce Amacker is helping me get the electrical straightened out and a few other things. We'll post some pics of the progress.
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1972 Ghia
1973 Thing x 2
1985 Vanagon Westy
1987 Vanagon Westy
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Ken
Posts: 1919
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Re: Just purchased this '66 Split California Roadrunner Camper

Post by Ken »

Nice bus :o
1963 Single Cab
1964 Bowman & Sons Camper (Vegas Bus)
1966 Westy S0-42 Hardtop
1967 Westy SO-42 Pop Top
1968 Single Cab
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Dual Port
Posts: 1305
Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2010 10:06 am

Re: Just purchased this '66 Split California Roadrunner Camper

Post by Dual Port »

Yes, Rob bought a nice bus with really solid original metal underneath. The harness was whipped so it's getting the same deal Sean's got.
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Anytime you see duct tape on a harness, it's usually not good news. :D
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This is the iggy switch and his starter was intermittent. You don't think this would be the problem, do you? I didn't shoot a picture of it but the trigger wire on the starter was spliced with a smaller gauge than the factory harness.
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Took his speedo apart and did a minor refurb- clean up, new gels, clean all connections, bead blast the can and light sockets etc.
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Afterward it looks real nice:
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Sorting out the interior lights without any kind of a schematic was fun. It turned out most of the accessory lights were AA battery powered. :? There was a battery maintainer that put out 10.5 volts and other stuff I'd never seen before. It does have a 110 shore power plug and 110v lighting inside in addition to 12v lighting. We're eliminating a bunch of BS and making it simpler. Simple is good.
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These are riveted below the cargo doors. The one on the left says "California Road Runner" and something else, I think.
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Out with the old, in with the new. I'm starting to get good at this. :mrgreen:
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Last edited by Dual Port on Mon Aug 20, 2018 8:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Bruce Amacker
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
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Karl Kombi
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Re: Just purchased this '66 Split California Roadrunner Camper

Post by Karl Kombi »

Looks nice! :)
Six Volt
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Re: Just purchased this '66 Split California Roadrunner Camper

Post by Six Volt »

Nice Rig! :D Looks way better than the turd I bought! :lol:
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Flamingo
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Re: Just purchased this '66 Split California Roadrunner Camper

Post by Flamingo »

Holy smokes! That thing is beautiful!
I don't weld. I don't fabricate. And I can't even fix most of the things I break. But I do have niche-iness to offer. You're welcome.
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Dual Port
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Re: Just purchased this '66 Split California Roadrunner Camper

Post by Dual Port »

Not done yet, but here's some more pictures:

There was a dent in the nose from a PO lightly hitting something in a previous life.
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Professional bodymen have rubber bladders to push out dents like this, hillbillys use a football. :mrgreen:
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You flatten the football and slide it in place just behind the nose, this is best done with the harness out as the main harness runs right through here.
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There's enough structure just behind it to push forward and push the dent out. While the football is expanded you take a body hammer and lightly tap all around the creases to remove fatigue and help keep the dent from returning when the ball is deflated. It's not perfect but it is much better.
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The area just inboard of the LR taillight was also crushed in a bit and the taillight would not fit well.
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We fix 'em up. A little time with prybars and a hammer and dolly makes it much better and the taillight fits well. It was probably rubbing on the decklid, too. On both of these I could have done better but I tried not to sacrifice any paint.
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Before and after for the fuseblock.
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Bruce Amacker
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
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Dual Port
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Re: Just purchased this '66 Split California Roadrunner Camper

Post by Dual Port »

A couple of unique problems- Bill and I both noticed the oil spray everywhere in the engine compartment which can be a bad sign. I removed the breather hose to find it plugged with something- like maybe a bug nest.
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The fitting in the top of the air cleaner was also clogged.
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I changed the hose and cleaned the fitting which will probably take care of his problem. It's possible the new dual Empis might go away and back to a 34 Pict. Don't tell W5. :D

The Alt hot feed was rubbing on the throttle cross bar and just making its way through the insulation.
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It had a funny little shadow where it was trying to ground and by the melted/swelled up spot on the backside it was caught just in time.
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The eyelet was loose on the end of the wire, too- I could pull the wire in and out a bit. Yech. By the deformed insulation it looks like it was getting hot, too.
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More to come. 8-)
Bruce Amacker
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
sweeth20007
Posts: 205
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:17 pm

Re: Just purchased this '66 Split California Roadrunner Camper

Post by sweeth20007 »

Great find! Bruce never ceases to amaze... great report!
TRL
Posts: 612
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Re: Just purchased this '66 Split California Roadrunner Camper

Post by TRL »

What kind of motor did this come with?
The Rick Lang
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