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The expat microbus

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 7:25 pm
by kombibob
Hey Guys,
Thought I better start a thread on this thing to help keep me motivated.
Most probably know that I bought Pats Samba off him, he was happy to sell to me as he gets to watch I come back to life and enjoy it again (AS A PASSENGER!!!) once she is back on the road.

Anyway I stated working on it in the last couple of weeks, and its coming along.
I started by stripping the rear pas corner, short side, wheel tub and part of the upper engine floor.
After that with a heap of bashing, pulling and straitening I managed to get the rear square again with good tailgate and engine lid gaps.


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Nice and bent in here

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So out it all came


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Managed to beat the inner closeout corner window panel back into shape to accept glass again :D

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Tacked the floor section back in and trial fitted the new tub today.

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Re: The expat microbus

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 7:34 pm
by kombibob
In the next couple of weeks I will get it up on a rotisserie after I weld in some supports.
then its off with the belly pans to see what it is like in there, fix what needs doing and por15 it all.
As for the front I will just work towards it getting every thing square and where it should be. what I would really like is to find a donor front to rebuild and graft on as the one on there is from a 67 anyway and was roughly attached after another accident in the 80'S
The poor bitch has been slapped around a bit in her life.
But on the plus side most of what I am dealing with is not rust! and she has a great cargo floor.

All advise, criticism , and encouragement welcome.

Re: The expat microbus

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 7:35 pm
by kombi niko
nice work mate, will be great to see this back on the road!!

Re: The expat microbus

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 7:36 pm
by splitbus
Looking good Bob, will be good to see this back on SEQ roads again 8) 8) 8)

Re: The expat microbus

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 7:38 pm
by flipflop
Bloody Hell, done in no time!

Re: The expat microbus

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 7:41 pm
by 067DUB
Nice work Bob

Re: The expat microbus

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 8:03 pm
by Ian 68
Well done Bob, good to see it getting some loving.

As always mate, I admire the skills patience and dedication that goes into keeping these old buses on the road, keep at it mate and in no time it'll be rolling again.

See you round the tracks sometime soon no doubt.

Expat bus...like it, very good ha ha

Ian

Re: The expat microbus

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 8:17 pm
by rodz
Good stuff, after seeing the pics on sat, glad your putting them up on here, will stop me hassling you and Ash for updates every time I see you. :roll:

Re: The expat microbus

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:05 pm
by Cam Biscuit
Good work Bob, keep sharing the photos!

Re: The expat microbus

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:40 pm
by MISS VDUB
Good to see you are keeping out of trouble while i'm not there! :P

It's looking awesome, can't wait to see it!!!!

Re: The expat microbus

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 11:51 pm
by GFresh
Great work Bob

I'm very happy to see this bus being tackled and not hacked up for parts

Small bites mate and you will have it knocked out in no time :wink:

Re: The expat microbus

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:46 am
by NorCalRiviera
Boy, there's some dedication! Great job!

Re: The expat microbus

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 5:51 am
by Ged
Great stuff Bob. What's the ultimate plan? Patch and roll or Resto?

Re: The expat microbus

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 6:13 am
by Leroy
Looking the goods mate! 8)

Re: The expat microbus

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 8:32 am
by matara
Nice to see its going to come back good Bob. Did the corner window area suffer some damage as well?

Cheers

Steve