"Rosie":1971 VW Campmobile bus restoration project

We started with $900 find off of Craigslist, that ran! We started by cleaning it and making sure the valves were adjusted. It also came with $320 in MidAmerica MotorWorks gift certificates and new fuel pump, carb., generator, pullies, stands...
So we found that it wouldn't start. Took it to 3 diff. guys and never got fixes. I found it was hot wire to "sink" was hitting (grounding) on back of the seat, so I removed the wire from fuse panel. Started! Rewired a bit to get turn signals and parking lights and backups all legit.
Got furniture in it: back z-bed/seat, carpet, back cushion behind z-bed, cot/hammock for over front seat, and brackets for upper cot/hammock (no canvas). I made a plywood fort bunk up top for the boys first and threw pillows up there. They like climbing onto the roof rack, like a tower. Then we got the canvas for top. Got spare rim and tire (put on roof rack).
We sanded and pulled dents, rust killed, and fabricated: front bottom nose, rocker panel under sliding door, holes in sliding door, corner in door jam of passenger door and floor near it. Then bondo'd, primed puttied, prime touch up, & painted. We went with the original Chianti Red to match the nice interior paint. After looking at all the other buses we thought keeping it original was best!
Took off bumpers, rims, luggage rack, camper top and sanded, primed and painted with can paint from auto store.
Found extra parts in the VW graveyard (see other vids) and off craigslist and VW swap meets and shows, like cots, spare rim, lights, screen, & STOOL!
Bought after market great VW logo/emblem for the front and put it all together, and went riding all over Florida (see other vids).
Hit a couple snags when we had fuel pump problem, bypassed it and drove another 60 miles without fuel pump, ended up being fuel pump rod (see other vids) and we got like 43 mpg with NO fuel pump! Need to tune carb. just right, but running strong after 2,000 miles since April!
Had brake booster rebuilt, but must have faulted, so needs rebuild again (still under warranty). Replaced all hoses, and many wires that burnt out. Put in sound system (there was no wires to start with) all from the fuse panel. Found leak in brake line, just hoses. Headlight switch is still wonky, but working.
Fuel gauge just started working after about 1,500 miles (whew!).
And we have had a lot of fun in it! We have a little battery powered fan, and it's nice with all 4 of us. Got a small charcoal grill and a big 2.5 gal. water jug, a pee cup if really necessary. Small Coleman stove would be more practical overall I guess.
Keep it under 65mph-55mph and it's all good. I had a 71 Super Beetle and a 74 Beetle that I blew each up driving like 95 whenever I could, but I'm wiser now, and about a decade older : ) Bentley's Manual and VW for Dummies (aka How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive) keep me rolling. I spent some of that credit on extra accelerator cable, clutch cable, fan belt, etc. Got a lot of tools I ride with. I used exhaust sealant around exhaust leak, caulked window seals, hooked up extended cig lighter port in back seat.
Check me out on The Samba if you're there: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=255522
Hope you enjoyed, if you did, give a thumbs up!
Happy VeeDubbing!

"gainesville vw club" "Gainesville Classic V-Dub Club" "Gainesville V-Dub Club"

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Chianti
• red
• vw
• bus
• volkswagen
• camper
• bug
• beetle
• bugs
• florida
• fl
• vee dub
• parts
• yard
• salvage
• mechanic
• cars
• lot
• sales
• used
• rabbit
• auto
• westy
• westfalia
• wolfsburg
• kombi
• microbus
• van
• vanagon
• breadloaf
• type
• II
• III
• Transporter
• Combi
• hippie
• hippy
• split
• bay
• window
• Splitty
• Volksie
• campervan
• Vdub
• campmobile
• Punch
• Buggy
• automobiles
• restoration
• job
• video
• ride
• camping
• paint
• sand
• bondo
• body
• resto
• remodle
• restore
• fix
• old
• project
• gainesville vw club
• Gainesville Classic V-Dub Club
• Gainesville V-Dub Club

[jeremygeishert]

Awesome Vid! Same boat, 1200 bucks, fuel pump issues. Seen the rod vid, hope its easy. Great van, and lovely fam!

[harveybacon]

@jeremygeishert thanks so much! let me know if you have any trouble

[Bronson1886]

I have that book VW for dummies my father owned a VW beetle years back i always wanted one but never bought one.

[harveybacon]

@Bronson1886 now's a good time to get them! parts are easy to find, and usually pretty cheap. get on Craigslist and start searching!

[GoBlessYourSelf]

These are the best vans ever, except for their engines-what's the best engine to replace 2.0 L vw?

[harveybacon]

@GoBlessYourSelf not sure if you can replace for a smaller engine, because they changed the mounting bars for the 2.0. I would just get a good rebuild for that, I have heard that the 2.0's are great, but I am partial to the 1600 upright because of the access, availability of parts, and the classic nature of it, lol.

[WESTY70]

Nice '71 ;)

[harveybacon]

I have recently, also started a local VW club, now!

Gainesville Classic V-Dub Club!

email: GainesvilleVDubClub@yahooDOTco­m

Facebook: facebookDOTcom/groups/Gainesvi­lleVDubClub

website: solemndesignsDOTcom/Gainesvill­eVDub/?p=1

Keep V-Dubbing guys!

[sensibuddz]

i'm starting my own journey. $1500 to start but it runs! i used to have a westy like this one a few years ago, same year, same color.

so much fun

[mustie1]

nice job getting her back together, too bad I cant get my wife ta sand,