Hi all, after many years of sitting forlorn in the backyard my daughter Greta and I are finally cracking into it with the aim of getting our low light bay done by christmas. Of course all the brainwashing I have done on my kids has payed off because I dont think they will ever drive anything else 🙂. Greta tuns 17 in november so she would love the bus to be her first car and even though her friends will have new mazda 2s or something I know who will have the most popular car at her last year of highschool.
This will be a budget rebuild and very much DIY but that is the great thing about old VWs, nice and simple to work on. We already have a rebuilt 1835 ready to slot in so no major expense in one hit.
First up this thread in no way is setting out to de-value anybodies trade because I know that people who do a certain job for a living should take pride in their work and it should not be under valued. Being a domestic/commercial/industial painter for the last 28 years I see it everyday (especially on those reality type shows, the block etc.) But I am out to show that you can do a sweet respray with a few basic tools for under a grand. So if your low on funds and have LOTS of time and want to give it a go then watch this space. All the qualified welders/panel beaters/spray painters can feel free to tell me how shit my work is but the job I do will do the job!
Starting with paint removal on roof. 125mm grinder with 36 grit disc (carefully) and then 60 grit disc. Finish off with random orbit sander and 80 grit disc.
I certainly used the mask/earmuffs/safety glasses when I use the high speed grinder while taking off the bulk of the paint. This bus has been painted poorly about 4 times so it is time to start fresh. It would be easier if it was only the factory paint to remove. Work has asked me to go west for a few weeks 😠 so buttercup will be delayed for a little while but that will give the daughter time to save up for some hi-fill and choose colours. Attacked the c.v. joints/boots tonight so slowly but surely.
Craig Torrens6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion
After an on again/off again resto that was to be finished by now (yeah right) we are tackling it in earnest now. After stripping the car back to bare metal and removing all the glass a fair bit of rust was discovered. Now, I can tackle basic welding of patches but rebuilding complex areas are best left to a friend of mine who has the skills and the sheetmetal factory to make just about anything. The trouble is that his shop is in brisbane which is an hour away but after a bit of logistics we were able to find some space out the back for buttercup and the rust repairs can be done properly.
While the panel beater is at it - get them to weld in the proper early bay rear tail lights - this is a wide 5 bus so it should have the late splitty style tail lights not the big ugly toombstone lights.
The rest looks quite typical of these old busses - have a look how much Kuchster has taken out and replaced in his lowie!
The bus was taken back to metal months ago but due to circumstances out of our control buttercup had to sleep outside in the weather that included a fair bit of rain over a couple of months.
Unfortunately surface rust had started to appear so my son Andrew came in to sand it all back again (80grit discs on random orbit sander).
A fresh application of etch primer will keep it sealed until all bodywork is done.
The original taillight holes had been butchered by the last owner when they fitted some universal trailer lights.
I like the original small taillights so I got Laurie to replace the whole damaged area which included some rust on the sides so this way fixed 2 problems at once
grinderman wrote:Hi all, after many years of sitting forlorn in the backyard my daughter Greta and I are finally cracking into it with the aim of getting our low light bay done by christmas. Of course all the brainwashing I have done on my kids has payed off because I dont think they will ever drive anything else 🙂. Greta tuns 17 in november so she would love the bus to be her first car and even though her friends will have new mazda 2s or something I know who will have the most popular car at her last year of highschool.
This will be a budget rebuild and very much DIY but that is the great thing about old VWs, nice and simple to work on. We already have a rebuilt 1835 ready to slot in so no major expense in one hit.
First up this thread in no way is setting out to de-value anybodies trade because I know that people who do a certain job for a living should take pride in their work and it should not be under valued. Being a domestic/commercial/industial painter for the last 28 years I see it everyday (especially on those reality type shows, the block etc.) But I am out to show that you can do a sweet respray with a few basic tools for under a grand. So if your low on funds and have LOTS of time and want to give it a go then watch this space. All the qualified welders/panel beaters/spray painters can feel free to tell me how shit my work is but the job I do will do the job!
Great job dude. Going well 🙂
And don't feel bad about the tradies. There are some good out there and plenty of bad. I've seen some shocking work from supposed professionals over the years and seen home brewed work turn out better than the pro's so don't feel bad 🙂
Thanks psimitar, I hung around panel shops when I was younger (when you could buy a splitty for $500 😁) and learned a few basic skills.
Greta likes the idea of a cream / jade green combo with red interior. We are keeping the jade pretty pale to give it more of a retro feel.
Look out Valla!
Well because of work and a certain 57 splitty project Greta's bus has had to take a backstep until now. I'm hitting it full steam ahead now and are trying to get it finished by action day which is in 17 days so I am going to be pushing shit up hill 😂 Greta says "just paint the bloody thing" and I reply " but you will see every dent or ripple every day when it's finished" so I keep on priming, filling and sanding........but it has to get finished SOON !
