Loophole's 1972 Bay

Well after moving Leon to a new home I decided to start working on another bay for the time being.  I had planned to sell off all three bays and just fix the split but I just like this 72 for some reason.  I found out about this bus from my uncle in October of last year.  I talked to the owner and he sent me pics and I knew I was interested as I have a 74 westy that needs a tranny and camping interior and this bus had most of what I needed.  So after talking to the owner and waiting almost two months for him to get back home from the road I made the short trip over to check out the bus.  After a little negotiating a deal was struck and home it came.  Pretty solid bus that had a few windows busted out and a little metal work needed to the rockers and a battery tray.  The bus is fairly complete with an locked up engine and tranny.  It also has a full length mustard z-bed, wall to wall rear pad covering the spare tire well, a table and jump seat as well. The bus also has a gas heater, locking glove box and a locking decklid.  M-code plate is pretty full of codes! Wûrzburg, Germany delivery destination in Chianti Red.  



I figured the best place to start was by cleaning up the broken glass and replacing the windows.  Apparently the windows got busted out while the bus sat on a property Yatesville.  The guy I bought it from did some trading and got the bus along with some crazy 1920/30s car that he is rat rodding.  I dug around at Bugeyed and found replacements for all four windows pretty easily. I started on the front door glass as I didn't need to buy seals to install the windows.  The other two windows (rear hatch and rear driver side windows) are still out right now as I just haven't had a chance to order seals until recently.  I would have replaced the drivers side window with the vent with a long solid anyway so no big deal.

On to the pictures.  I lost the pics when I first brought it home but the only changes are the two windows being replaced, front tire mount taken off, roof rack thrown on top and some trash thrown out on the inside. For some reason the rear hatch and front doors have been swapped with an orange bus.....I have a set of early bay front doors that I will probably prime, paint and reseal if and when I get to that point so I can use the door on here to replace the westy's doors.











I know your jealous of this big 8 track hole in the dash!

I have purchased new calipers, pads, rear shoes, wheel cylinders, rubber hoses, master cylinder, reservoir, brake light switches, battery, battery cables and new mustache bar mounts.  Most of which should be installed this week with some cooperation from the weather.  I plan to ditch the type 4 for now and do a type 1 with creative car crafts filler panel.  Reason being I would like to drive the bus to some upcoming camping trips in the next couple of months and I just don't have the time or money for a type 4 right now.  Really the main deadline is the Halloween Campout so October 30!  I am trying to spend as close to $1000 as possible to get it up and going.  

Budget $1500? excluding the bus purchase price

Already Purchased

71.96
-------  Battery

81.57
-------  2 Battery Cables
-------  2 Calipers
-------  Brake Pads

242.00
-------  Brake Booster Check Valve
-------  2 Rotors
-------  Master Cylinder
-------  Reservoir
-------  Master Cylinder and hose Grommets
-------  4 Brake Hoses
-------  2 Wheel Cylinders
-------  Brake Shoes
-------  2 68-71 engine mounts

$395.53 Total so far

To save money and upgrade the front disc brakes I went with 73 and later calipers and rotors. Of course I will also save money by using parts around here including the cosmic wheels and tires that came off the Sno-cone Bus, random window seals, roof rack off of Leon, and spare type 1 engine parts that I have in the shop.

I always enjoy following build threads (especially with lots of pictures). The wife and I have talked about picking up a westy, but haven't quite got to the committing part yet. Keep posting...it may just push us across that line.🏰

Love the 8-track.

Going to make a great looking bus..

Snow cone looks great.

JWILL wrote:I always enjoy following build threads (especially with lots of pictures). The wife and I have talked about picking up a westy, but haven't quite got to the committing part yet. Keep posting...it may just push us across that line.🏰

As progress happens I will be sure to post pics.

67vdub wrote:Love the 8-track.

Going to make a great looking bus..

Snow cone looks great.

I think it should turn out pretty good!

Started on the front brakes but after a couple of fitment issues with the later brakes I decided to go ahead and lower it.  It was the long term plan anyway.  I am sure I will go over budget now as I didn't figure it into the $1000.  I guess we will just see how much I spend/save.  The plan is to put a king and link beam in with flipped spindles and custom built caliper brackets.  The cost should still be only $350 or so more than planned as I already have side plates, bushings, adjusters, tie rods and a complete 64-67 beam.

Since the rain washed me out for the day, I came in and did a little more shopping. I went ahead and ordered the engine filler panel for the type 1 conversion from Creative Car Craft.  I also ordered a battery tray from Wolfsburg West and a set of 3.25" horseshoe plates from Airkewld. Mike priced a 20' stick of 2" schedule 40 for me today for around $40.

$251.80
-------  Engine Filler Panel
$32.00
-------  Battery Tray
$184.82
-------  Drop Plates

$864.14 Total Spent

Is it a 1.7 or a 2.0 engine

a 1.7 is in it

I haven't had as much time as I wanted to work on the bus but I have gathered a few things for it. Since I am trying to use stuff that I already have to save money I am going to build a king and link beam for this bus.  I started by pressing apart a set of 64-67 spindles and got most of the pieces degreased and blasted.  I just need to clearance them, paint them and press them back together.   I also went ahead and removed the sleeves from the 64-67 trailing arms so they would fit the 55-63 bushings I have.  Mike had to make a trip to the metal store so he picked me up a stick of 2" schedule 40.  In one of my previous projects I had bought stuff to build a beam so I dug around in the garage and found a set of dual pattern king and link side plates (for both split and bay beam bolt patterns), a set of 55-63  bugpack bushings, 2 bus adjusters and a new set of tie rods.





$40.00
-------  21' 2" schedule 40 tubing

$904.14 Total Spent

This bus is going to look great..!

Monday I picked up a set of lug nuts and a universal turn signal switch to use until I can find a 72 switch.  I ripped out the nasty headliner last night.  Today I worked on cleaning the rest of the spindles and trailing arms.  I also pressure washed the bus.  





$39.76
------- Turn Signal Switch
------- Lug Nuts

$943.90 Total Spent

Nothing to really update other than I got one horse shoe plate installed today.  It was a pain every bolt was tough to break loose.  I am hoping to get the other plate on and the rear brakes done tomorrow.

Well yesterday I got the other horseshoe plate on.  It was a pain.  I could not get the e-brake cable out of the backing plate and I ended up breaking the piece off that the cable slides into.  So I put the rear brakes on hold until I get two new cables.  

Before Stock height


After Installing Plates

That's a good tuck on the rear. Looks nice!

Today I got the beam pulled after removing the shifter, shift rod, brake lines on the master cylinder, vacuum lines to the booster, clutch cable, and drag link.  While removing the shifter I pulled the crumbling front mat and threw it out along with vacuuming up the rest of the mat and some rust.  After I got the beam out I bolted up my new side plates and slipped in my tubing.  Since I don't have a jig I had to use the bus as one.  I tack welded the tubes to the side plates and then pulled the beam back out to fully weld it up.  I then measured center and using a template off an old beam I made my slits for the adjusters and welded them in.  I also started pulling an old king and link beam apart but ran out of time today.  I need the leaves, center pin, and center block spring retainers.    

fluxcap wrote:That's a good tuck on the rear. Looks nice!

Thanks! I like it too but I am afraid it is not going to be low enough.....we will see

I think it's just right. Looking good and lots of good work!

Today I cut the donor beam up and pulled the center retainers, center pin and steering dampener mount.....I got the center pin welded on and the dampener mount but I goofed and forgot about the booster so it has to go on the other side of the beam. Now I just need to make a booster mount. I also got he trailing arms sand blasted. I finished the flipped spindles a little while back and forgot to post a pic.

Turns out my booster can was rusted out so I made a trip to bugeyed and picked one up.  While I was there I also picked up a set of cv axle boots.  

$175.00
------- Booster
------- CV Axle Boots
------- Booster bracket metal

$1118.90 Total Spent

Booster bracket made and welded on! Also relocated the dampener bracket to the other side of the beam. I installed new grommets and reservoir on the new master cylinder before installing on the new booster. Hope to get the beam and trailing arms primed tomorrow.

I'm not jealous or anything... Looking good OB1!!

Nice, a booster setup may be a winter project for me. Knowing me, probably winter of 2019, but I'll get to it eventually.

drvr8 wrote:I'm not jealous or anything... Looking good OB1!!

You can be doing the same thing.....just need lots of time and a pocket full of dollars.....lol

fluxcap wrote:Nice, a booster setup may be a winter project for me. Knowing me, probably winter of 2019, but I'll get to it eventually.

Get on it! You will be wondering why you didn't put a booster on sooner.

Today I got the beam and trailing arms painted.  I started by blasting the beam to knock off any flash rust.  I had already blasted the trailing arms earlier this week.  While I had the blaster out I went ahead and blasted the outside of the bumper I picked up from Pete.  Then I got everything hung up and sprayed some Summit Racing Epoxy.  I seam sealed parts of the beam that I felt needed it. After letting it dry I painted the arms and beam with Summit Racing satin black.  











When I picked it up


After blasting but I still need to work out some dents and smooth it out with filler

Friday I got the center retainers in the beam and the bushings installed.  I planned to reuse the original retainers from the donor split beam but they didn't fit inside the tubing.  I had to get Mike to turn them down for me.  

Today the goal was to get the beam installed and the bus back on four wheels. First I had to install the leaves and trailing arms so I could dimple and trim the leaves.  Then I installed the beam in the bus.  After getting it bolted in I started reinstalling some of the stuff I had to remove to pull the old beam.....drag link, brake pedal push rod, flipped spindles, brake hubs, tie rods.....Before I installed the spindles I reamed the tie rod holes so I could flip the tie rods for clearance on the frame.  I still have to replace the accelerator, clutch and e-brake cables and install the front shift rod after I pick up a new bushing.  The next big task will be building caliper brackets to go from the split spindles backing plate holes to 73 and later calipers.  

It got dark on me tonight so I will try and get some better pictures tomorrow!

Before



After