Thanks Rhys,
I'm happy with the way it's coming together. You'll probably notice a few custom changes, like early Type 3 bullet indicators, 1418 Mercedes truck headlight rings, Number plate recess in bumper etc. Seeing how I can't claim this as a restoration because of all the other changes I've done, I decided to incorporate all the little custom things I've always wanted to do to a Splitty.
It is not being built as a show car, but a purpose built Offroad Kombi that will take us most places that we want to go and have people scatching their heads wondering how we got there.
Most people who know me think I'm nuts anyway so this will probably prove them right!!!
Cheers, Ian.

Have taken 3 weeks leave to build the Desert Bus. Everyone thinks I'm nuts. Breif specs: '67 MB Originally Factory black, full 1600 Bay IRS conversion using '71 spring plates and angle arms and brackets, '77 Army Kombi 1600 gearbox and hub assemblies and brakes. Using '71 front g/box mount adapted to modified Splitty mounting point and '77 1600 rear engine bar and mounts and no top g/box mount. Fitting Bay gas shockers to new top mounting position, fitting modified '77 bump stop. Up front '69 beam '77 disc brakes and booster and pressure limiter, in fact the whole '77 braking system. Fitted with Gas shocks and Beam tilted forward at bottom 10mm for extra castor and clearance at back of wheel well for 205R16 ATs on 16x6.5 modified BA FORD One tonner rims with 245/70x16 on same rims on the back (no mods to rear gaurds at all).
Started on it Mon 2nd Feb should be back on wheels Friday 6th Feb.
Pics of day 1 & 2, Put hubs and wheels back on to move out of Graveyard then strip out and pressure wash and find RUST!!, Bit more than expected in some areas and not as much in other areas. Roll onto side to make it easier to work on (wish I had time to make a rotisserie) and remove front and rear ends.
Update in a couple of days.

[Edited on 5-3-2004 by Desert Bug]

[Edited on 22-4-2004 by Desert Bug]

mood = exited

soon will be tired!!

watching with interest...

looking foward to see how this turns out:thumb

of all the 11 window splitbusses growing in Ian's paddock I always sorta thought this one had a lot of potential!

Looks like we're about to see some actualization/realisation!

Go desertsplit!

RobK

If you manage to do it in 3 weeks ,,,, it will put my last 3 years to shame.

good luck

Dave

good one mate:thumb:thumb:thumb
is it back on it's wheels yet?

Ian,

Thought about this today after the first quick read and am still not quite on top of your tranny mounting scheme. BUT if you are using the stock splitbus lower tranny mounts you have to clearance the buggery out of the supporting arms if you use 71 (or later) springplates and control arms - to the point its dangerous - esp so if you using this and no upper mount on the 1600 tranny?

You need 68/69 springplates and control arms (or you can use 68/69 springplates and later 70-79 control arms which are shortened and tweaked a little for more bend...). You can use the later hubs and axles with the 68/69 springplates.

regards

RobK

Thanks for the comments and interest Folks, and Rob, I'm sorry I caused you to be thinking about VWs when probably shoulda been working. IRS done! well almost, P/S shocker mount finished today, and hand brake tube from '77 fitted so I can use '77 cables and handbrake lever, bump stop mount to make and fit then install front end then tip it over onto P/Side to complete shocker mount and bumpstop on drivers side.
Rob as you will see in pics I've completely removed original gearbox carrier and support bar and mounting motor and gearbox exactly the same as '68 to '71 (nose mount and rear bar). Hope to be back on wheels Sat 7th Feb.
Pics.

This pic shows 245/70x16 BFG AT sitting in place, note clearance.

It looks great desert bug, good to see anthor splity being bought back to life.doesn't like it has to much rust either.Are you planing on goin low.
Good luck and keep the pics comin in.

He's planning on goin up!!!

(much to my disgust)

Yeah I'm going up as the name Desert Split implies (offroad).
Todays plan of being back on wheels didn't quite make it!! for a couple of reasons, 1. while cutting the hole for drivers side bump stop mount I cut thru the wiring loom, WHOOPS!!!!, and after dwelling on it for a while decided it was only a minor setback, so let's move on, fix it later (probably when I want to start the motor). Also had to go to Bendigo to help Rhettro pick up a set of Semaphores, only problem we had to take the half a Beetle they were attached to, but worth the couple of hours it took.
I did manage to complete the p/side rear and pulled the '69 front end out and clean it ready to go in tomorrow.
Pics: 1- completed p/s rear with new bumpstop mount in and shocker mounted.
2- next time check to see if any important bits are behind where I'm making holes.

Sunday 8-2-04. BACK ON WHEELS!!!!
Had a big one today, Disc brake front end in and completed incl fitting brake booster.
Gee I love Kombis, all the bits from different models basicly just bolt together to acheive what you want. '68 beam (shift steering damper bracket to other end so as to make room for brake booster, cut booster braket off later model and fit to '68, fit '77 booster and front conector rod from '71 (shorte than '77) and it fits up to Splitty brake arm.
Pics: 1. disc front end in.
2. Booster in place.
3.+ 4. Back on wheels.

Todays update, sorry no pics today.
Have rolled it onto other side to do drivers side rear shocker mount and bump stop and lots of other bits. Made up adaptor plates to mount '71 front gearbox mount to torsion bar tube. Extended clutch cable tube up over brake booster following accelerator cable tube. Removed all old brake lines (rusty) and started fitting lines of '77. Tomorrow fit steering box and fit '77 hand brake lever and mechanism.
Cheers, Ian.

Too cool! I've been looking for a cheap split to cut up like that for ages going 2L or Jap motor??

so when can i book my kombi in for the 3 week transformation???
looks good dude cant wait to come down to your place and ponder over all your VW stuff!!!
cheers
rhys

goddam!!! you have blown me away. wham bam thank you maam. i know its not the case, but its like youve just gone out there and gone *ok lets jsut put this here that there and whalla*. mate i would ve loved to have been around to have more of an idea of what went on. but hey i probably woulda set ya back a few days.

basically did you jsut graft bay window running gear to your split?

Hi Folks,

Wibble, no Jap motor but am hoping to build a 2lt with upright kit before the big trip in July, but for now a 1600 will do the job.

Rhys, Come on down!!!, welcome anytime, now let's see, I reckon allowing for one major project like this per year, with what we've got planned I could probably fit you in about 2010.

Twoguns, it sorta looks a bit like that, but in reality I built this Kombi on paper over 12 months ago, so it makes it much easier to do it once you start because you allready know what you need.

Todays update,
finished d/side shocker mount and bumpstop and did a fair bit of cleaning up underneath ready for painting with Bitumis chassis black paint when rust repair completed.
Coupla pics of mount adaptor plates:

ok just scribbled that date into my 2010 diary!!!! ahahahah man i might have to do a few years yakka with you to learn all this stuff ur a man of many ideas and its good to see u proving people wrong!!
love ya work!
cheers
rhys

Update!
Couple of days of patchy weather and a couple of mornings in Bendigo (about 30ks from home), a little behind schedule, but still going strong. Moved Kombi into shed now and have started on rust panel replacement (good fun!). Both sides bottom of B pillars, d/s floor approx 200x200mm, p/s floor same plus bottom of A pillar, outer sill under double doors and sections of d/s sill and sections of load area floor, mainly 4 corners.
Not much really considering what Rob (Splitbus Australia) has done on his Twin Cab.
Cheers, Ian.

good luck with it all! looking great,
I had planned a maxfx build within a couple of months but it kinda got out of hand (and budget!) if you pull this off your a bloody legend!:thumb:thumb

Does the Kombi have the same stud PCD as a Ford? Makes wheel selection a lot better if so.

NB kombi is 5x112 PCD and ford is 5x114.2 PCD but ian(aka desert bug) has a jig made up the allow ford rims to be modified safely to 5 x 112 PCD and also cut to the 45 (?) degree angle in the wheel nuts so u can use VW ones!!! i currently have a set of steelies 16" rims which are great!
cheers
rhys

So you just drill the holes out larger. I was thinking it would be good to be able to fit up different Mag wheels to a Kombi.Couldn't do your mod to them though.

its only 2.3mm differance that u have to make up somewhere but if its not done right then it could cause stress on the wheel studs/rims!
cheers
rhys

Rhys, thanks for replying to the wheel question.

Update!
With Sat & Sun being Total Fire Bans here (temp 40 degrees plus and very low humidity) I wasn't able to use the Angle grinder or Welder so the rust repair got put on hold. So I fitted up a dummy motor and the '77 1600 gearbox to set up the rear engine mounts. Also small modification to the shifter connecting tube to cater for the angle of the gearbox. Also did some panelbeating (hammer and dolly) on a few dents and sanded down some panels and applied some primer.
And every few hours went and jumped in the pool to cool down.

Ian.

hey
well that sucks but i agree i couldnt stand working on my kombi in the shed. sanding and hot whether just dont mix!!!!
so i went and jumped in the biggest salt water pool in the world!! (beach)
keep the updates coming ian!
cheers
rhys

G'day all,
Update: I keep forgeting to take pics, tomorrow I will I promise!
I hate rust repair!!! but percivering. D/side nearly done, have been playing with the motor (1600 TP) with help from my Father-in-law Ken (he has just bought his first Beetle, '70 1500).
Pulled dummy motor out and boxing in chassis rails at back where engine mounts fit up. Fitted crush tubes cut from Beetle steering link tube, perfect size. Fitting early Bay bottom panel (modified)across engine bay and Bay engine lid to give more clearance above bumper (approx 45mm). Today also cleaned and painted engine bay and fitted '77 Bay 60lt fuel tank, absolute perfect fit, just had to fit longer straps fron '77 and cut '67 filler neck to suit and fit using rubber sleave from Bay. Also fitted front flexible heater tube from '77 in place of steel tube to cut down transfer of engine noise thru heater tube, fitted perfectly, just cut steel tube out leaving approx 30mm at each end facing each other (at crossmembers) and cut flexi tube to length to suit and fit using hose clamps, then tie up underneath with long zip ties or hose clamps in 3 spots.
Cheers, Ian.

sounds all perfect what day we upto?
cheers
rhys