A long 7 years

[Kombi Trip]

A lot of body work / rust repairs etc have been done on this bus.
A lot of additional changes (mostly subtle) have been made - including tail lights, wheel arches front and rear (shape), dash vents, gauges, parcel tray, speedo pod, gutters, body seams filled , front seating - 2 single seats with a metal console (hide electronics) , rear cab divider, and many major jobs that most won't notice - like all of the interior walls not being covered and fully prepped and painted to display like the outside of the car, fully re-wired, Dynamatted to the max, floating floor, new motor, wheels etc
Blinged out too - 10 chrome popouts, front safaris, and front door panels, deluxe trim (more than one set ), modified US spec chrome bumpers, custom side body spears - Cripes add that cost up
I guess I killed a rat.
Maybe it can now be called my bus.

[Cam Biscuit]

Classic mate can't wait to see the finished product

[brad@busnbug]

What Colin said.

Nice work as always mate.

[FrankenCab]

don't hide it in the shed once its done ,drive the shit out of it ....let the new paint get sun aged
oh and nice work

[Kombi Trip]

One of the major issues we needed to address was the roof join.
A consequence of joining 2 buses is that the roofline on the front (well the most forward bit left!) of the back bus, and the back (well the most rear bit left!) of the front bus are both tapering downwards towards each other - so they meet creating a ‘v’ in the roof (see last pic).
This was previously disguised by a roof rack and boards. ,but with the clean look I wanted a roof rack wasn’t an option so it had to be fixed.
Turned out good enough to paint black even! This was a real turning point. Sorry this sequence is out of order, but you get the gist with cutting, a wooden buck being made and used, and a new piece of metal going in.

[Kombi Trip]

One of the upsides in a long project is there is plenty of think time.
I thought the shape of the front guard could be nicer than standard. I wanted the gap below the door to be the same at the front and the back.
Most folk probably wouldn't pick the change but I really like it.

[greenmachine]

B ready for revolks?

[Kombi Trip]

not sure about revolks

but....motor is nearly there though!

Mounting of remote oil filter, cooler etc to sort out.

Long block and carbs from CIP1 when the exchange was really good and there was a 10% Christmas special. Exhaust is vintage speed.

[Kombi Trip]

and some exterior pics

[morts]

This bad boy is lookin' fantastic.

Are you going to be putting it to work?

[Cam Biscuit]

Thats going to cost a lot to do the trim!!

[Kombi Trip]

Cam , the trim is getting sorted - I am doing it in bits and pieces - like most stuff! The cab divider, steering wheel and console are my favourite interior bits.
I am trying to keep it with a 'factory' feel in a colour scheme I really like but we didn't get here in buses (they did O/S I think?) - my oval had it though.
I am compromising and using exterior arch moulding to do the interior chrome strips.
Have an idea for the headliner too although it will only be on the roof section - the interior will have metal sides showing from roof to window surrounds.

Morts - working it was my plan 7 years ago and the reason for buying it, but 2 businesses have established in the time I have been doing this - so considering all options ....... including sale

Gotta finish it one way or the other - I sold my ute to make it happen

[kombi1976]

Wow, I'm impressed. This really does look pretty awesome. Do you have a planned rear seating outlay? And what about maximum seating/load rating? I reckon drop sills are the best, perhaps the only, option for a high load bus like this.

[brad@busnbug]

That pool table makes a great work bench.

[Kombi Trip]

That pool table makes a great work bench.

It's a FULL SIZE (12' X 6') table too!