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Project "BOOM BUS"
55HAG - August 13th, 2011 at 09:13 PM

Hey Guys & Girls,

Here you will find the build of my latest project. I am sure there will be a lot of purists who won't like the modifications that will happen to my beloved bus but please keep checkin back to this thread and see step by step how this transformation will come to be. I purchased this '73 Westafalia around 2 years ago for a steal, it was one of those too good to pass up deals. The bus was in need of some tender loving care to be brought back from the dead! Since then she has sat in my front yard doing what Kombi's do best........ rusting in peace! Its now time to start this journey and build something I have been wanting to build for quite some time. Here is a pic from the day I got her


55HAG - August 13th, 2011 at 09:34 PM

First step was to remove all the original Westafalia interior. I think its buses like this that give Kombi's a bad name, it was definately like a commune of hippes had been living in it! Removed was all cupboards, rock and roll bed, roof top bed, curtains and a book titled "Marijuana and the affects it has on you"!


55HAG - August 13th, 2011 at 09:39 PM

Also in this attack I removed the ratty pop top canvas, cut off the metal partitions behind the seats and discarded all carpet.


55HAG - August 13th, 2011 at 09:41 PM

Here are the seats that were fitted by the previous owner, they are not staying! I am fitting a bench seat to the front and new rock and roll bed from Kustom Kombi which will make the bus a 6 seater!


SebastienPeek - August 13th, 2011 at 09:44 PM

Would be better if you used PhotoBucket to embed your photos into one big post ;)

Looks good thus far though!


55HAG - August 13th, 2011 at 09:48 PM

After many hours of scrubbing and high pressure washing all is revealed! The body is in not too bad a condition for its age with minimal rust


55HAG - August 13th, 2011 at 10:05 PM

This weeks mods include removing the hideous louvre windows and replace them with new sliders. Then I trial fitted the rear wheels, they are genuine WORK Euroline SE, 20x9.5" (ET40) and run a 245/35/20 tyre. I have been told that 9.5s won't work but I was stubborn and did it anyway. It was perfect fit, once the suspension is slammed I think this will give the desired look.


55HAG - August 13th, 2011 at 10:08 PM

More pics of the rear, here you will see the difference between the factory steel wheels and the new ones


55HAG - August 13th, 2011 at 10:14 PM

And now the front, 20x8.5" (ET35), have not fitted the new 225/30/20 tyres yet but wheel looks good! Had to slightly adjust bolts to give smaller turning circle but thats an easy sacrifice


STIDUB - August 13th, 2011 at 10:26 PM

nice wheels, dumped it will look nice, where abouts did you pick them up for? (always on the hunt for work/rays/ssr/etc)


55HAG - August 13th, 2011 at 10:57 PM

I went to buy some wheels from a friend of mine for my daily driven Audi A4 Avant and thats what he had, he used to own a tyre shop but due to bad business decisions by his business partner he had to shut up with a lot of debt. What was supposed to be just a set of wheels turned into 27 sets. I have sold most sets off now but kept a few for myself. I have the WORK Eurolines in 20s, AME Fin's in 18s, LIONHART's in 19s & a set of 24" Zumbo wheels left. These are all genuine wheels and a couple of them are wheels I have dreamed about for years.


11CAB - August 14th, 2011 at 06:17 PM

Are the tyres commercial rated? Might find you'll run into insurance problems


5lam - August 15th, 2011 at 05:04 PM

Hey, you live jut around the corner from me!! I drive past your Kombi everyday and have a squizz!!
I drive the old Turquoise HD Holden wagon. You might've seen me around....


Ollie - August 15th, 2011 at 06:31 PM

Those wheels on the bottom right (1st pic) would look tough on a custom bug


55HAG - August 15th, 2011 at 10:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BlackBug
Hey, you live jut around the corner from me!! I drive past your Kombi everyday and have a squizz!!
I drive the old Turquoise HD Holden wagon. You might've seen me around....


Yeah seen you a few times! I have a few projects in the build but the Kombi is the only one kept at home. Your HD looks awesome. i will have my turbo HJ GTS up here soon, we will have to go for a cruise sometime. What VW do you have?


55HAG - August 15th, 2011 at 10:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by 11CAB
Are the tyres commercial rated? Might find you'll run into insurance problems


I have owned a few cars with wheels way too big, load ratings are able to be adjusted. I will chat with my engineer and see what he thinks will work. There are insurance companies like shannons that will insure anything but it comes with a price


55HAG - August 15th, 2011 at 10:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Ollie
Those wheels on the bottom right (1st pic) would look tough on a custom bug


They were genuine WORK 3 piece wheels aswell. I sold them and they are now on a $100K Ford Hotrod, surprisingly it suited it really well and cause they are 3 pice they were a quality built wheel


5lam - August 16th, 2011 at 02:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by 55HAG
Quote:
Originally posted by BlackBug
Hey, you live jut around the corner from me!! I drive past your Kombi everyday and have a squizz!!
I drive the old Turquoise HD Holden wagon. You might've seen me around....


Yeah seen you a few times! I have a few projects in the build but the Kombi is the only one kept at home. Your HD looks awesome. i will have my turbo HJ GTS up here soon, we will have to go for a cruise sometime. What VW do you have?


I don't have a VW at the moment. Had a couple Beetles (58, and a 61) a few years ago, but keen as to get another VW. The Wagon is up for sale.


55HAG - August 16th, 2011 at 04:45 PM

Just thought I would give you all a sneak peak at one of my other projects. I know its not VW but it is pretty cool! As I work for an audio company and do a lot of events around the country we come up with the idea of building an SPL car that has the ability of playing music with a DJ. This little van has produced just over 164DB so far with 2 woofers. I will post up more pics as the paint is done over the next month.


55HAG - August 16th, 2011 at 04:46 PM

More Pics


5lam - August 16th, 2011 at 07:03 PM

Too cool!!
I love the rims too. Hard to find those LeadSleds!


55HAG - August 16th, 2011 at 07:36 PM

Yeah Lead Sled's I think I have only ever seen 2 sets in real life, and these are one of them. I needed them for another reason but, they are billet and strong, this little suzuki weighs around 2 ton.


55HAG - September 20th, 2011 at 09:53 PM

Ok guys here is an update, I have put together this mock up of an idea we are toying with. For the first build give it the semi rat look. The large gun looking thing in the back is actually a sub box with 9x12" subs and 9 x 6.5" speakers made to look like an anti aircraft gun, this will be motorised to come just higher then the roof line when the ragtop is rolled back.