'78 Bus "Fozzie the Bus"

Story is:
A guy texts a bud of mine on Friday and states that the city is going to tow this bus off on Monday if he doesn't get rid of it.
3 flat tires, engine turns over, has title.
That was the message.
Bud is out of town, so I get the call to go and look.
As found (and Bought):




Washed (pressure and hand):


Paint was looking hosed, so I pull out the Turtle wax and a buffer:


Finished Product:


Bus has the OEM hydrolic 2.0 and has some paperwork since new.
I'm the 3rd owner.
Fuel pump and some vacuum hoses and it is good to go.
Need Tires.
KC

Nice score!

Nice man. Let me know when u wana part with it would love to have a bus to match my vert

Oh yeah, it has a working 8 track and 40 cassettes of 1976-1981 Rock.
Groovy.
KC

Got some new shoes for the bus...
Found an add on CL for some 300D Mercedes wheels: (got 5 of them!)




Looking good, and the BFG trail cutters on the back are meaty.
Front = 195 60 14's
Rear = 205 60 14's

KC

Awesome Deal! Good job!

Don't forget to consider changing those wheel studs. I was nervous with 1/4" of the lug nut grabbing the stud. Looks good!

It is only 2.5 threads exposed on the nuts.
I'm cool with that.
KC

Muffler Bearing wrote:Don't forget to consider changing those wheel studs. I was nervous with 1/4" of the lug nut grabbing the stud. Looks good!

Did you change your center caps out?
I was looking online and they are an odd size.
I am thinking about sanding the Merc. logo down and putting VW stickers on.
KC

Colors pull wrong and there are some other issues as well. Just about every slot was full of numbers on this one.
KC

I have 4 of the og Mercedes caps that came with the wheels. I ordered 2 off eBay and they were both wrong. It is an odd size cap. I still need 1 more. I like the merc logo. People look and get a look of wtf ? Also I like the kinda peace sign on them.

Muffler Bearing wrote:I have 4 of the og Mercedes caps that came with the wheels. I ordered 2 off eBay and they were both wrong. It is an odd size cap. I still need 1 more. I like the merc logo. People look and get a look of wtf ? Also I like the kinda peace sign on them.

damn hippies!

I am like you, have 4 with none for the spare.
I love the wheels, they have a bottle cap look to them.
KC

The problem was finding the AT tires I could squeeze under the rear that were not too old to run.

The BFG Trailcutter ones I have were studded snow tires that I took the studs out... (Pain). but they are only 4 years old and have been stored inside most of their lives.
205 60 14's fit great and clear by 1"+ on both sides.
Love 'em.
The ride is smooth, the load range is right on and they do not make alot of noise.
Was rocking out to Glen Campbell on Saturday (8-track).
KC

Sweet. I run LT27-8.50-14s load range C with just enough room. I have been happy with the ride. But I have nothing to compare it to. Never drove any other bus before and the old tires were shot as soon as I got it.

New Tats for the back of the bus:






KC

I picked this one up from Casey today along with the 63 ragtop. Drew went with me and we traded my truck for this bus and the 63. I drove the bug most of the way home and enjoyed it. I drove this bus the rest of the way and actually liked driving it. Unfortunately one of the 2 will have to go. I can't keep both. It will be a hard decision.

Let me know if you let this one go. I would like to add a 2nd bay to my fleet.

ASBug wrote:Got some new shoes for the bus...
Found an add on CL for some 300D Mercedes wheels: (got 5 of them!)




Looking good, and the BFG trail cutters on the back are meaty.
Front = 195 60 14's
Rear = 205 60 14's

KC

Wow! Looks good. So these wheels bolted rt up w/o changing the stud length or boring out the center???

Yep they did.
That bus is gone, but I have another set with good tires (2 new) that are for sale.
Complete with the Merc. center caps, $200.
I live in Dalton GA.
You can either get longer studs and different lug nuts to mount them or do as I did and knock out the little steel inserts for the Merc lugnuts, and presto, the standard VW bus nuts / lugs work great when the inserts are removed the angle is perfect for a VW lugnut..
They look good and are still 14"
Call me if interested,
KC -706-980-5313.

ASBug wrote:Yep they did.
That bus is gone, but I have another set with good tires (2 new) that are for sale.
Complete with the Merc. center caps, $200.
I live in Dalton GA.
You can either get longer studs and different lug nuts to mount them or do as I did and knock out the little steel inserts for the Merc lugnuts, and presto, the standard VW bus nuts / lugs work great when the inserts are removed the angle is perfect for a VW lugnut..
They look good and are still 14"
Call me if interested,
KC -706-980-5313.

Nice! I had picked up a set of these w/o any research on them thinking I would just slap them on and that would be the end of it. Didnt really pan out that way. Had to bore the centers on the front wheels and get longer studs for all of the wheels.