proud to be a T25 owner

nils · 2014-03-16T05:37:50+00:00

A while back I bought a baywindow in the hope to relive some of my younger years 😂 I had a great time bashing around in mine in my 20's and think of how awesome it could be with more money and knowledge, Only one thing stood in my way......TIME...... After a year of pushing my baywindow around the yard to make sure it didn't kill the grass and the brakes didn't seize I didn't even get to make a start. I guess doing an engine and brake swap in my Baja did not help things along. I had saved plenty of money for this project and for awhile I did entertain the idea of having it built by someone else, but the thought of ten's of thousands of dollars on an old bus just for me to look at it and pick apart other peoples work. ( no offence to anyone, I'm just bad like that) I looked at a few ready built kombi's with huge price tags that where just not what I wanted. I never really considered a T25, though I remember bouncing around in the back of my parents '82 as a kid. Until just by chance I saw one for sale on AVD looking great and pretty original and the best thing......You get sooo much more bus for your money, there is no way I could get my, or any baywindow to this condition for this price. So I took a look at this van that was in the same town as me and it was everything the ad said it was and after 2 weeks of thinking about it, I pulled the pin. At first I thought it was maybe a little too original for what I had planned and that I was going to be a butcher, but after week of owning it, it's not totally unrestored original anyways. so chop, chop. The best thing about this purchase, is I still have easy $7000 for making it what I want. I started with some basic service stuff just to know where I stand, was a bit of a can of worms really. Though it ran well, at closer inspection it was only a matter of time till something stopped. Starting with a spark plug instead of a sump plug, the wrong oil filter, the wrong temperature spark plugs, mass amounts of corrosion in the ignition leads, burnt rotor and cap. A few new parts, ALOT of cleaning and a bunch of parts ordered it was time for a drive, Girlfriend riding shot gun, dog in the back off to the hunter valley for a day of indulgence.

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 25 Aug 2014, 1:48 pm

#998802

Just got off the phone with the insurance and they say they are 100% behind me on this, even the resomat IS covered. Will be off to the new panel shop in the next day or two to give the insurance their opinion on the repair. In the mean time I am looking for a big water leak because as it turns out the cut Hose I pictured a few posts up is the BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE!!!!!
Boy that will make the colour leave your face.

Quit calling rust patina

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 25 Aug 2014, 1:55 pm

#998803

Geebus......keep up the good work, I'm glad the Insurance Co. is on your side. 👍😀

Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 25 Sep 2014, 10:01 am

#1000836

I decided now is finally the time to update this, I kind of got sick of just writing bad reports.

But as of yesterday my van has been written off, due to the cost of repair being too high. I imagine there is a panel shop in Sydney that is getting so rather bad news in the next few days, karma is a bitch fellas.

As a result the van is in my garage at the moment waiting for me to have to time to assess my next step (here I was thinking that down sizing my life was an option 😵‍💫 ) In the next few weeks I hope to pull the whole front end apart, the dash and window out and get to the bottom of the real amount of damage that is in there because after taking it to the assessor last week I can tell you everything under the dashboard is not ok. The van will be back on the road next year, but at this point not in a hurry. So much for spending some time up in QLD camping over Xmas.

Quit calling rust patina

Boozo Back in the bug

359 posts · joined Sep 2007 · 26 Sep 2014, 6:39 am

#1000887

Silikon macht das schön?

'59 or Kombi?....feeling confused

'59 bug
'68 bug
'82 import T3 BUS. aircooled

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 26 Sep 2014, 3:54 pm

#1000904

Boozo wrote:Silikon macht das schön?

Apparently works in all languages now

Quit calling rust patina

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 29 Mar 2015, 7:16 pm

#1010546

Just a quick one, Rego on friday
First drive today.

Quit calling rust patina

vduboy Insano Dub Head

702 posts · joined Oct 2012 · 29 Mar 2015, 7:39 pm

#1010553

All fixed mate? Looking good! How much drama did you have repairing the repair?

It will all be OK in the end, if it's not OK it's not the end!

Scottkombi Officially Full-On Dubber

358 posts · joined Dec 2008 · 29 Mar 2015, 7:39 pm

#1010554

Very nice Nils.

Are you happy with the finish?

88 Caravelle Syncro Camper
89 Caravelle GL microbus - 5 speed
69 Microbus
05 Mk5 Golf 1.9 TDi DSG

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 29 Mar 2015, 8:11 pm

#1010558

vduboy wrote:All fixed mate? Looking good! How much drama did you have repairing the repair?

For the most part I left the metal where it was, but systematically pulled apart every seam, cleared it of glue and brazing (in some places even added metal that had been replaced with bog). Everything fits now and for the most part the front end looks like it just rolled off the production line.
. Strangely ever the paint colour was wrong and my front doors are a shade lighter than the rest of the bus, but that a project for another day. I just spent every spare hour of the last 6 months getting this far, I think the girlfriend and I may need to get to know each other again first.
. Scott I'm not sure I'll ever be 100% happy, but that's me and not the van. For now it is a better car than what it was before the accident, only because I spent all the money from the insuraance on it and did the work myself. I can't imagine what this would have cost to farm out.

Quit calling rust patina

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 29 Mar 2015, 8:13 pm

#1010560

Oh. I would really like some real hella front indicators

Quit calling rust patina

Scottkombi Officially Full-On Dubber

358 posts · joined Dec 2008 · 30 Mar 2015, 9:43 am

#1010577

I might have one of them.

My [parts storage system is crap and finding bits isnt easy.

I will check for you.

88 Caravelle Syncro Camper
89 Caravelle GL microbus - 5 speed
69 Microbus
05 Mk5 Golf 1.9 TDi DSG

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 · 30 Mar 2015, 8:30 pm

#1010606

So glad it is on the road again. Well done. Hope to see it on the road one day!

68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car

grazza7755 Wolfsburg Wizard

458 posts · joined Dec 2010 · 31 Mar 2015, 8:41 am

#1010628

Hi Nils,
Just looking at your dash.
Did you make it like that or buy it?
Also, who did your air con installation as I am needing one done?
Thanks
Grazza

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 31 Mar 2015, 7:23 pm

#1010660

grazza7755 wrote:Hi Nils,
Just looking at your dash.
Did you make it like that or buy it?
Also, who did your air con installation as I am needing one done?
Thanks
Grazza

All my own work on both accounts I'm afraid Grazza.

Due to the amount of broken bits a full underdash rebuild was called for, and since I can't seem to leave anything well enough alone. 🤪

I could probably make another dash and add whatever you may require, (mine is still due to go under the knife again for a nice pull out pair of cup holders)

The aircon, (a vintage air GEN 4) was a huge job and wouldn't want to think of the cost of getting someone to do it.

Quit calling rust patina

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 31 Mar 2015, 7:27 pm

#1010662

baghall wrote:So glad it is on the road again. Well done. Hope to see it on the road one day!

Thanks Baghall, Its really nice to have it back. The Baja is not really a suitable daily driver.
I saw you have plans to raise your bus up? This is one of my long term plans too, all the extra gear in the front has bought the front down quite noticeably.

Quit calling rust patina

Boozo Back in the bug

359 posts · joined Sep 2007 · 31 Mar 2015, 9:00 pm

#1010682

looking good, I see why you need the reverse camera...I thought my house and shed overlapped a lot.

'59 or Kombi?....feeling confused

'59 bug
'68 bug
'82 import T3 BUS. aircooled

vduboy Insano Dub Head

702 posts · joined Oct 2012 · 1 Apr 2015, 10:52 am

#1010689

I thought your dash was stock! Awesome job there mate! Happy with the air con unit?

It will all be OK in the end, if it's not OK it's not the end!

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 1 Apr 2015, 11:20 am

#1010692

Ha ha... Not much stock going on there Nathan. The air con is still waiting on a few hoses and bolts, but it not really hot here now so I am not in a hurry.

Quit calling rust patina