Volksarama "Bonneville Bus" to become reality

boxrod · Post by **boxrod** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:34 am

Through a strange series of events, it looks like the Bonneville Bus will come to reality. This bus was always one of those what-if projects. Chris Clark, of Clarks Customs, penned this awsome rendition of this way cool dream bus. Now, dream no more. I have become the new owner of the KCW "shop truck" project. Photos of the chassis work can be found here http://kustomcoachwerks.com/gallery/mai ... emId=23646 . The torsion housing has been raised and narrowed, front beam narrowed, 5 inch dropped spindles, raised box, wheel tubs, barndoor rear decklid and engine compartment. A great start for this project. I plan on building this as I have time and money, and plan to actually take this to the salt flats and/or the dry lakes to make real top speed passes. I'll start documenting the progress soon and will start a new folder in my gallery to show the progress. I'll keep you up to date. Here's the artwork

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boxrod · Post by **boxrod** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:35 am

In an effort to reduce costs and speed up construction time, I am searching for companies that would like to contribute to this build. In exchange for parts, labor, cash, or trades, your company can be associated with this high profile build. A logo on the bus, link on our website, and recognition in all magazine and web features would be your return. I anticipate this vehicle will catch the attention of all types of magazines and websites. Plus, the bus will be taken to many shows around the West and hopefullly be entered into the 2008 SEMA show. If you are interested, contact me at derek@volksarama.com or PM me with your phone #.

Parts needed:
Engine internals: case, crank, rods, cam, lifters, heads, pistons/cyls, and all other long block parts
Engine externals: tin, alternator, pulleys, clutch/plate,
Ignition system: Distributor, ignition box, wires, coil
Fuel system: tank, pump, regulator, lines, fitttings
Oil system: cooler, filter, lines, fittings
Turbo system: intake, carb, exhaust, turbo, wastegate
Flush mount windows
Rubber and seals
Porsche 944 brake components
Electrical system: wiring harness, battery, lights, starter, alternator
Sheetmetal body panels: front nose skin, pass. side rocker panels (in/out)
Safety equipment: harnesses, fire supression, racing suit, helmet,
Paint materials.
Steel tubing
Sheetmetal work
Interior work

Labor needed.
Interior work.
Electrical install

Contact me to donate anything. derek@volksarama.com. Thanks.............Derek

boxrod · Post by **boxrod** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:36 am

Please support the shops that support this project,
Let them know you saw them on Volksarama.
Go to http://volksarama.com/BonnevilleBuildup1.html to see what we still need if you want to get involved in this project
R/C Trans- (702)221-4363 - http://rctrans.com/ - rebuilt HD transaxle.
The Wagen - (702)699-wagn - sheet metal install
Sand Freak Fabrication - www.sandfreak.net - Safety cage/roll bars
KCW - http://www.kustomcoachwerks.com/ - body and paint labor, front beam, raised box, narrowed torsion housing
Type 2 Parts.com - http://www.type2parts.com/ - sheet metal repair panels
Chirco VW - http://www.chircoestore.com/catalog/index.php - Crow 3x3 safety harnesses, Crow gloves
Old Speed - http://www.oldspeed.com/ - 944 Porsche rear hubs, backing plates, calipers, cables etc.
Econo International Supply E.I.S - http://eisparts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc? - new bus nose skin
DPR Machine Shop - http://www.dprmachine.com/ - 84 mm C/W crankshaft.
Speedwerks - http://www.speedwerks.net/ - MSD 6AL box with soft touch rev limiter.
Engle Cams - http://www.englecams.com/index.php - Engle turbo camshaft
MOFOCO - http://www.mofoco.com/ - 050 heads, 42x37, dual springs, opened for 94s, fully ported and polished
Mooneyes - http://www.mooneyesusa.com/Store/index.php - complete set of moon disks with dzus fastner kit.
Big Wig Race Cars - http://www.bigwigracecars.com/ - A set of aluminum front door panels and kick panels
Bugpack - http://www.bugpack.com/ - chromoly H beam race rods, a set of race lifters, and a set of their straight cut cam gears.
Dynamat - http://www.dynamat.com/ - Sound and heat absorbing materials.
Dolphin Gauges - http://www.dolphingauges.com/ - cockpit gauges
EZ Wiring - http://www.ezwiring.com/ - complete wiring kits
Sway A Way - http://www.swayaway.com/ - HD race axles
Vee Dub Parts Unlimited - http://www.vwparts.net/ - 94mm long cylinders, 94mm Weisco pistons

boxrod · Post by **boxrod** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:37 am

ok here's some pics. The trailer pics are from when I picked up the bus from Kevin (AKA Pigpen). Of course my little helper is there supervising the work. Note the sweet KCW camo paint job.

As soon as we got it home the project manager went to town taking the camo paint off

Here's the bus with Carlo's bad ass ol'skool Triumph

Here's the bus end of Oct. All the grey primer areas was where KCW had already done body work when it was John's project. The roof is super-d-duper fucked. The front skin is also thrashed.

That;s it for now. See ya

boxrod · Post by **boxrod** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:31 am

Alright here's the latest. Shawn(sp?) from E.I.S. has said he will donate a brand new front nose skin !!! As soon as I get it, the bus is headed over to The Wagen for all panel replacements. Thanks Shawn....................Derek

5PL1TDCS10N · Post by **5PL1TDCS10N** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:49 pm

Hi mate...this is going to look insane! Thanks fer sharing and keep the pic coming-Wayne:)

boxrod · Post by **boxrod** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 6:31 pm

I got a couple new sponsors this week !!!
Russell from Old Speed offered up the rest of what I needed for my 944 front and rear disk brakes. If you want to run some Porsche pattern wheels and want to go disk, call Russell and he'll hook you up with a kit.

Next Andy, from Grease Monkey Racing , offered to sponsor the aluminum high roof engine case!! Andy already sponsors a few drag racers and owns a mobile auto repair service in So Cal. He's got a bunch of positive feedback on the Samba and is in demand because of his come-to-you mobile service.

Thanks Russ and Andy for your support

boxrod · Post by **boxrod** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 5:16 pm

Got a few more sponsors for the project this week.

DPR Machine Shop - http://www.dprmachine.com/ - donated one of their 84 mm C/W crankshafts. These guys always donate a crank to the Las Vegas VW Club raffle. These guys know how to support the hobby. Give them a call if you need parts for your botton end. Thanks Jose.

Speedwerks - http://www.speedwerks.net/ - Speedwerks decided they wanted in, so Noah conrtibuted a MSD 6AL box with soft touch rev limiter. Noah builds some super clean motors and can do any import engines including rotary. Thanks Noah

Engle Cams - http://www.englecams.com/index.php - I called up Engle and they tossed one of their cams into the motor. I've always run Engle cams and really believe in their products. Thanks guys.

I still have a bunch of stuff needed to make this happen. I you are interested in getting involved go to http://www.volksarama.com/BonnevilleBuildup1.html to see what we need. Thanks......................Derek

boxrod · Post by **boxrod** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:35 pm

MOFOCO - http://www.mofoco.com/ - roy at MOFOCO stepped up in a big way and offered up a new set of their 050 heads. 42 x 37 valves, dual springs, cut for 94s, and ported and polished !!!!. These heads should work awsome for a streetable/raceable turbo 2332. Thanks a bunch roy for your support.

71split · Post by **71split** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 3:34 pm

Awesome...

What are the wheels on the front of your bus

kombi1976 · Post by **kombi1976** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:15 am

Very cool project.
Nice "bobber" out front with it too.
Incidentally, how much trouble is it to narrow the rear torsion housing?
I'm guessing you also have to get shorter torsion bars.
And does it foul your engine at all with the wider rubber underneath?

boxrod · Post by **boxrod** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 2:11 pm

I picked up a couple more sponsors today:

Mooneyes - http://www.mooneyesusa.com/Store/index.php - complete set of moon disks with dzus fastner kit. These are a must for the right "LQQK". Take a look at their website for tons of kool parts and accessories. Thanks to Bob and Chico for the support.

Big Wig Race Cars - http://www.bigwigracecars.com/ - Ric and crew donated a set of aluminum front door panels and kick panels for under the parcel tray. These guys do some awsome work with steelmetal. They can do wings, door panels, firewalls, dash inserts,etc. Thanks guys

Go to http://volksarama.com/BonnevilleBuildup1.html to see what we still need if you want to get involved.

boxrod · Post by **boxrod** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 2:00 pm

Here's the newest supporters.

Bugpack - http://www.bugpack.com/ - No stranger to anybody in the VW community. Rick, at Bugpack, has offered up a set of their chromoly H beam race rods, a set of their race lifters, and a set of their straight cut cam gears. I think they put out some high quality products and am proud to have them on board. Thanks Rick.

Dynamat - http://www.dynamat.com/ - Dynamat is considered by most to be the industry leader in sound and heat absorbing materials. Go to their site to see all the uses for their products. Thanks Ben.

Go to http://volksarama.com/BonnevilleBuildup1.html to see what we still need if you want to get involved.

boxrod · Post by **boxrod** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 8:17 pm

Alright, I'll post a couple pics. So far I've been busy gathering parts. The stuff I have been working on are not very interesting. Basically I've just been stripping all the paint, rust, interior headliner and glue. I wanna get it cleaned up for when it starts going to the shops to get work done. Not very interesting but necessary.

And my other assistant taking care of the engine bay

boxrod · Post by **boxrod** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 3:48 pm

Chris did another rendition. He's is DABOMB. It kinda makes we wet down there. That shit is sexy.