Parker Beene Deluxe

[vw7266]

plywood the rear floor some sheet metal with screws in the front you'll be good

I'd rather just do it right at this point

ok good luck with your bus...

if you want to sell the roof rack off of it to buy some metal let me know

[parker beene]

plywood the rear floor some sheet metal with screws in the front you'll be good

I'd rather just do it right at this point

ok good luck with your bus...

if you want to sell the roof rack off of it to buy some metal let me know

I wish i had it, i used it to lower the price of the bus pretty much

[vw7266]

Can you still buy it from the person u got the bus from? id beinterested in getting it

[parker beene]

I'm far from an expert on the work, but I'm an expert on the cost from my own experience with multiple "ragged &%$" buses. You've got to keep your costs in line. If your front floor is your biggest concern, buy the replacement panel and weld it in yourself. If you don't have a welder or don't think you have the skill, see if someone in your area can weld it in for you. You can do the prep work yourself cutting away the old metal and grinding away the rust. Find the closest Harbor Freight in your area and buy a cheap 4" grinder. The hardest part of that job is dealing with the steering column & pedals. You can get a decent full front floor panel for $250 from WW http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/Detai ... 211801051D or go to CIP1 http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp ... %2D051%2DD

I would hate to see a young guy like you start throwing tons of money at a bus only to later get frustrated over the cost and give up. That bus is way too cool! If you stay interested in VW's, you'll kick yourself in 10 years for giving up on it when you try to find another. Remember, you're ahead of the game now because you actually HAVE a split bus in your possession.

Another thing I learned from the veterans on this site. You've got to learn how to do SOME of this stuff yourself, just to keep your bus on the road. It stops being a hobby or an interest when you're just paying people to do the work for you. Unless you're Jay Leno, no one can afford that. Even a mechanical idiot like me had to learn SOME fundamentals.

Hang in there and don't get frustrated and don't rush everything! There are cheap parts out there. As you go through stages of repair you can post requests on this site of what you need in the want ads and some members may have something you need at ridiculously cheap prices. Don't look for everything at once. You'll go broke. One nice thing about a regional site like LEAKOIL is you can sometimes arrange to exchange parts/cash at different VW events. You'd be amazed at how often many of us are on the road picking up or dropping stuff off to others. Some people have stuff they're tripping over in their garage that they'd just as soon get rid of that you need. Start a thread like Dual Port, or make this your thread, but take it one step at a time. Rome wasn't built in a day!

I have been going to VW shows since i was about 13 or 14 and I always liked the split buses the most, more than bays which i almost bought a cheap one whenever i was like 15? But I am glad i got one when i have, because prices for these are rising like crazy! But, i definitely am going to take my time. I was planning on purchasing the new floors from WW, total including taxes and shipping is around $1020. So currently i am going to save some for the shop and for the floors. I have got a lot to save up for

[parker beene]

Can you still buy it from the person u got the bus from? id beinterested in getting it

Oh, i am not sure. I'll ask him. He has a lot of VW's and prefers to have not too many people aware of this. He may want to or not, he collects a lot so he might want to use it! I'll get back to you on that

[slayer]

From past experience, and I am, .. experienced, (notice I didn't say old), if at all possible make your bus or vw drivable,
so you can enjoy it! It's really more about driving our vw's. Road worthy verses show room!!

For me, I can get it road worthy quicker than show room cond,!

[rcringwall]

Hello and welcome to the group.

If you are looking to get into welding I also recommend mig welding. I have a mig welder from Harbor Freight www.harborfreight.com this place is a great place for starter tools or one off tools.. I have had my mig for years and it still works great. I highly recommend using flux shielded mig wire so you don't have to mess with shielding gas.. that cuts out a lot of variables for a beginner. I would also recommend doing a lot of practicing before you take the welder to your bus.

I also recommend an auto darkening welding helmet.. harbor freight also has some "cheap ones" $50 to $70 but for a beginner they are the way to go.

good luck

[Busjunky]

Welcome aboard!! I just tackled a project like yours a few months ago. This is a GREAT CLUB and i couldn't of done it with out some of these guys helpin me out!! The best of luck with your new bus!!

[parker beene]

I have been working all week, but i was able to start removing some paint. Some idiot before me guessing in the seventies painted the chrome molding and the 'bump out' around the molding with two coats of blue paint.
But i used some paint stipper and some steel wool and it has turned out pretty good imo, although i scratched the og paint in some areas you can hardly tell from far away, but you can tell the bus looks so much better without the blue paint on there. I tried to get some pics of before and after, After i had already started but you can still get a somewhat good depiction of what it kinda looked like up close.

Just trying to keep busy cleaning this up somewhat before i start the major work.

[parker beene]

I have got some questions about my bus's rear hatch. I believe the hatch itself if straight and fine, but the right side does not look straight, it looks like somehow it got bumped or bent.
i'll include some photos of the hatch. What would be the name of the part that attaches to the hatch to hold it up? I'll probably buy a new one. I think that should fix it? rear hatch is pretty bad overall.