1961 Microbus

[Six Volt]

Bill Webner was kind enough to score me a set of 60mm to 50mm tubes for my '59.

[Mike Kever Kombi]

After the bushing replacements on the super, I was back at it on Saturday morning for a few hours.

time in: 3 hours. new total 111 hours.

Started out by repairing the area behind the drivers seat

before:




now




Next I moved on to the wheel wells

before:



now:



Before:



now:




Then with all the helpful info I have received from everyone, I was finally confident enough to move on to heater log

I started by tacking the tube to the log, then using a piece of 3/4" OSB to mock floor height





Then I broke the tack, and installed just the tube, so I can get the floor in, then I will attach tube to log.






Well, it took me a little over a week to get from this pile of parts, to where I am now



Other than replacing PVC tube with metal tube, I think I am ready for floor now, I don't have it yet, but soon. I wanted to media blast and POR15 the bottom, and have a question. Once I install floor, it will be almost impossible to get at the top side of torsion bar at the rear end. Would it be beneficial to hit that area up now before floor, and be careful not to strip it later, or is it accessible enough with floor in place?

[Dual Port]

Nice job.

If you're fussy about the top of the torsion tube you could hit it now. It's pretty hard to get at it with the floor in.......

[Mike Kever Kombi]

Not much to report, been spending most of the week doing little things on Kitty Malone AKA Ratty Dredd AKA 1302s AKA the 71 super. I replaced the control arm bushings, and stabilizer arm bushings last weekend, still have to replace idler arm bushing, steering dampner, tie rod arm ends, ball joints, then get new tires mounted and balanced, then a front end alignment. Hopefully after that the shimmy will be gone.
Still need a German Made camber. Bolt. Found a chinese knock off and a poor condition OEM on ebay, but don't want to go that route unless I have to

Now that I am done with that tangent, on to the van
1hour, new total 112 hours.

Spent an hour yesterday getting the long rocker set and welded. If you look at the earlier pics you can see where there was a big crease at the rocker, the crease is gone, and it is probably more solid than original

The only area that I was a bit unhappy with is at tge bottom rear. The stiffener and bottom lip on rocker were off by almost an 1/8". If I aligned them the contour was all wrong. In the end I went with the contour being right, and will address the rails at body prep.
I left the repair piece I made off (rocker was too short) and will wait till I do front dog leg before fitting it in.


Next week I will install heat tube, blast torsion bar and hit with undercoating, map out wiring locations, then move on to floor. Hoping to have floor in, in 2 weeks.
Would it be wise to run a new rear brake line now, or am I jumping the shark, because of all the underbody work that still needs done?

[TRL]

Brake lines are super easy to get in later. And id hate to see some freak thing happen and melt a new line or something.

[Six Volt]

If you're doing all new brake lines and going "all in" on the stock set up and replacing the grommets as well, those brake line grommets the lines run through are a pain to get in so I'd struggle with them before welding in the new floor. Just my 02 but I found them to be a real &^%$$ to get in. The absence of a floor may help your contortionist skills to get those grommets in. I ended up siliconing mine to get them pliable enough to get in.

[blue71]

The welding jobs you guys do are pretty amazing to me. Man I need to broaden my skills!

[Mike Kever Kombi]

Managed to squeak in about 4 hours today, new total 116 hours.

Took of the PVC tube, and discovered there was about 12" of original metal tube sleeved inside. I dug around in the bin of kit that came with the van, an found the rest of the heater tube. Welded everything back together and in place, now I have the original tube.

I then degreased the torsion tubé and prepped for undercoating. I find it kind of ironic that I am cleaning of 1/2" layer of grease, so I can spray undercoating to protect the metal from weather/damage. Grease was already in place, probably provides better protection, and is free. O well.

I also got the floor mocked up. Didn't get it fully installed this weekend like I had wanted, but should be done by Tuesday or Wednesday after work. After that its on to the left rear quarter. Then the only metal work left will be in the cab area. I will probably try to get her running after the rear quarter repair, then move to the cab metal.

I also have to get the 75 Westy up and running for my brother, as he wants to take it to KI this year.

No pix tonight as I left the camera in the garage. I will update later.

[Mike Kever Kombi]

Got in 8 hrs tonight, new total 124 hrs.

Not much to report. Camera is on charger, so again no pictures. Floor is all welded in, just a few spots that I want to clean up in morning.

After I get those couple spots cleaned up its off to get the Westy on the road (hopefully). Probably no updates here for the next week or so.

[Dual Port]

Camera is on charger

You stepped up and bought a camera?