Hi there Gurus,

I'm a absolute beginner here, but have thrown myself in the deep end.

I have a 67 Splitty Microbus that I'm trying to restore.

I'm looking for some advice, roadmap and direction in general to getting her - firstly rego'd and then a path to a show-worthy bus.

Does anyone have the time and experience to assist me in this? By assist I mean anything from minor advice to mechanical assistance.

Cheers,
~Steve

I started one before a decision was thrust upon me.

Not a bus, but I think the process would be similar:

http://www.greebo.net/mrfasty/schedule.htm 

I'm also a beginner at these things, maybe someone who has done a few would care to comment? (please, pretty please?

Andrew

Do you know what a 'rat-look' is? Maybe you should build one of them...

Seriously, go to your local library and READ READ READ. Do you need to drive the car while you are working on it?

What you are asking is not much different to 'I have bought a block of land and now want to build a house. Can anybody help?'

I'm aware it's a pretty open question but that's where I'm at.

Ideally what I'm looking for is someone to take interest in the project. Maybe they've wanted a project of their own - but can't fund one. This'd be a way to get involved.

I'd like someone to say. " For starters, do the rust thing. Cut out any filler or rust and re-weld new bits. Joe Frost is good at this and reasonable. look him up at XXX-XXXX"

Once thats been done, you'll want a mechanic to overhaul her. Any mech can do this, should cost you 150$ provided no major work.

You'l prob be able to get her rego'd now. This place often regos vans, they're good and understand an old bus.

Now the fun, project. What's you're budget and timeframe and I'll recommend things. Including IRS, Disc Brakes, new pain, new sills, blah blah.

Anyone out there interested??

Thanks for the link vanderaj, that's a cool start for me to look at! Cheers.

~Steve

a great place to start is by joining a vw club theres a few in sydney go along to some meetings and outings talk to others with splitties and I'm sure you'll get all the help advice you need
heres the sydney clubvw website
http://www.clubvw.org.au/ 
marcel

Marcel is right, join a club, don't do anything untill you have looked and talked to other people who have restored a bus them selves, Club Vee Dub Sydney is a great place to start, all types of people from the amateur to proffessional VW restorer, and Dave Birchall .

Look at as many busses as you can, talk to as many bus owners as you can, then when your totally confused, (just kidding) you will soon have an idea of what are the do's and don'ts of a bus resto.

Have a plan of what you want it to be, and start collecting the parts you need, I always collect the parts before doing anything on the car, then you don't chuck out anything you may need later because its not avaliable.

Good luck

what sort of condition is the van in?
is it driveable? do the brakes work etc
if it is driveable, you might try taking it for a pink slip and see what they say.
It will give you an idea of what you need to do to get it registered
but only do this if its in reasonable mechanical shape
marcel

here's a few pics of the old girl.

I think she's pretty good by the by. There is a jack point that I think needs replacing and some filler has been used in the past which I think could do with removal or otherwise.

She brakes now on some old drums. And seems to be okay. I haven't really given her a good drive tho as the cars unrego'd.

~Steve

try again.

Good advise....definitely join a club......collect parts- swap meets, VW wreckers, here in BS&S, ebay....go to events to look at rides similar to get ideas.....buy mags, manuals and VW books.......go on cruises, get to know people a little better...see how different rides run and look on the road.....

You'll get a clear picture of how you want your splitty to look eventually...It can get confusing....so many diffent ways of doing things or looking at Vee Dubbing...stock original...old school...custom...rat look....You can be conservative, radical or somewhere in between:o:alien:jesus

You've done a good thing by coming here...lots of contacts, help and ideas :thumb

ppl can be very helpful but if u are workign by yourself u need a book to refference back to

haynes manuals are good
and i have found a body repair manual i purchased very very very helpful on doing body repairs.

i am sure there is alot of bog u havent found yet ......... there always is !

good luck !

Well, I'm taking the old bus to Indian Automotive tomorrow.

So hopefully they'll be gentle with her (and me, and my wallet)

Cheers