Author Topic: Howdy From Gavin :) (Read 8896 times)

Custom76Bus · « **on:** August 21, 2004, 02:30:03 PM »

Hey all, my name is Gavin, the proud owner of, you guessed it a 1976 Westy B).

It's completely gutted. Bought it mid-customization from Geody in Pt Coq. It's going to be a lot of work but a lot of fun also. Went to the show on sunday to check out some other busses to get some ideas.

major items to note:

Engine swapping to a water-cooled 1984 Jetta GLI motor
re-doing the interior, porobably in a tweed.
it's already lowered, have to wait until she's all toghetrher before i decide if i want to lower more
mounting some 16x7 inch mags on it
installing custom stereo/alarm
tinting the glass(plannin to use solid glass instead of the jalousies - am I crazy?)
re-gelcoating the fiberglass poptop
mounted some porsche 914 seats.. they'll work fine for now but i think i'll change em somtime
Have to deal with the 'custom' dash also - gonna confuse me i think :wacko:

thats all i can think abouts now. My intention is to have it runnin/legal-ish by hopefully october now

... who knows though. i'll try to keep yas updated on it

...

oh my vw website(not updated that much) has some more photos

Talk to yous all soon

.... oh, and don't hate me cause i'm watercooled :blush:

Custom76Bus · « **Reply #1 on:** August 21, 2004, 02:32:46 PM »

oh yea, its my first vw. It'll be a fun jigsaw puzzle for me lol.

Black-Back · « **Reply #2 on:** August 21, 2004, 03:06:27 PM »

sounds like some fun! keep us posted on how things are going

Mike

Needles · « **Reply #3 on:** August 21, 2004, 03:11:45 PM »

Welcome!!!

The question really is will you come out to play with the rest of us type 2s @ Mission?

Yes your'e right that greeny, is 76BUS and well thats me Needles/Butterball :lol: :lol: :lol:

As for the solid glass, I went for that because I prefered the look. But lets just say, that when its a hot summer like it is this year, and your 85 year old mother is sitting in the rear seat next to a amp/sub woofer, 2.0 litre engine...... it gets a little hot back there...

Geoff · « **Reply #4 on:** August 21, 2004, 04:12:10 PM »

Nice to see that bus will get finished, Geody put a lot of hard work into it.

We love Bay windows here so you should fit right in

Chris · « **Reply #5 on:** August 21, 2004, 04:16:29 PM »

gkafer loves rice!

Custom76Bus · « **Reply #6 on:** August 21, 2004, 06:00:45 PM »

Oh yea, I'll be taking her out for a run or 2 at mission... don't you worry

. Thanks for the welcome

I'll keep ya updated. looking forward to getting the rest of the parts together from geodyt's place so i can really get an idea of wht i still need. It'll be fun :DD

Shane · « **Reply #7 on:** August 23, 2004, 01:58:19 PM »

Quote

Engine swapping to a water-cooled 1984 Jetta GLI motor

You other Bays look out.... and I am glad you chose \"Custom76Bus\" as that is a way cooler name than \"76 Bus\"
B) B)

Chris · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2004, 03:43:02 PM »

go back to bed old man

1969deluxebus · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2004, 04:20:17 PM »

Nice to see another bay on the form can't have enough of those on here . Btw Nice

Matt Street

Shane · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2004, 05:03:10 PM »

Hey Matt, Props Brotha, You should start your club now.... 4 Bays that is enough, you guys could have a Mad Props get together at like a Zellers or Walmart parking lot as they are big!! Or maybe the new Best buy....

Jump on this Matt, Now is the time for the BAYS to RISE!!!! werd
B)

Hansk · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2004, 06:00:27 PM »

Welcome Gavin! Looking good

Custom76Bus · « **Reply #12 on:** August 27, 2004, 02:22:02 AM »

Got the wheels back from the machine shop for thier modified fitment, used to be on an A4. I think it's looking alright, still need to install my new gr-2s. Gonna do that tomorrow. Car is virtually empty so the interior and power train should make it a little lower too mebbe.

might not be evryones cup of tea, but it'll do me fine for now

71BUS · « **Reply #13 on:** August 27, 2004, 03:41:19 PM »

so you are sticking with the water pumper set up! nice thats the way that bus should be done. As for the dash put a speedo in the flat part or in a split window pod and then put a monster tach on the left side in the empty space. Geody was going after a clean look for it and he wanted to have a very minimal type set up like a split window bus. I will be stoked to see it drive when it is done

Custom76Bus · « **Reply #14 on:** September 07, 2004, 01:56:37 AM »

Yeppers, h20 baybee!

I'm gonna try and do the dash in a simliar way... we'll see how it works out

.

Here's some pics of the work i did this weekend, sandblasted the floors all out and painted..

That;s some \"Zero-Rust\" paint we've put on... hopefully that'll help. I'm probably gonna go over that paint again with the body colour... just so it looks all good. I'll see, may just leave it black as its covered anyways

...

Hoping to get the windows tinted this week, trying to find some charcol/gray tint B) ... so if i get those tinted and in, then its basically ready to start interior re-assembly/customizin. Although i'm planning to start working in the engine bay soon, as a good interior with no engine gets me no where!!

HeliMike · « **Reply #15 on:** September 07, 2004, 03:01:15 PM »

Zero-Rust paints = good stuff.
Nice choice, it's all I use.

Your bus looks pretty damned good man.

Congrats...

Custom76Bus · « **Reply #16 on:** September 30, 2004, 10:29:09 PM »

Well... finally got the engine bay all blasted to the point I wanted... and a nice big sandbox has been created under, on and around the bus!! hah. Been fiddling mainly with some interior pieces... trying to figure out where things go and what screws are made for what area!! BLAH!! long process that'll be!!

Oh oh oh... got my quaaaality brazilian smoked tailights and front turn signals last week... lined em up and they look great!! Still waiting to get a few pieces of glass from the tint shop - actually they';re waiting on me to drop off the front windows and vents... I'm trying to line up a new passenger piece of glass as mine has a harsh scratch.

Checking out the price of gauges now also... gonna probably just get some nice silver/white faced Autometer gauges... Gonna have to break down and buy new window seals almost all around too as the PO cut the windows out!! Poor seals.... need a few door seals too... :S... $$.... not to mention I've got to get the side door kits with the felt and seals and such...

OH OH OH!! Have you ever wanted power windows in your bus?? With any luck mine will have em!! I've got motors all hooked up and installed onto the regulator-cord-thingy all i need now is some power to test and see if they actually work!! I stripped em outta a 1986 Maserati Biturbo... this van's gettin all the options

... I think i'm gonna give up on the idea of power locks thou as I think the lockin mechanism would need too strong of a motor.

Thats about all for now... waiting on a shipment of B-Quiet Extrememe sound deadener. Click 'here' for their stuff. Wish me luck, i'll be posting more photos on my site soonish... i'll let ya kno.

BUGGER · « **Reply #17 on:** October 02, 2004, 08:20:47 AM »

WOW !!!

Its so kool to see so many baywindows around.!!!

Good luck!

Custom76Bus · « **Reply #18 on:** October 03, 2004, 11:05:29 PM »

Heya,

Just applied some of that B-Quiet Extreme sound deadener and have been pleased with the results so far, only done one side panel(opposite the slidin door) Man-O-man has it made it much more 'solid' sounding than anything else on the bus though. Greatly impressed so far! Looking forward to doing the whole bus basically, should make it much quieter inside... untill I crank the system

... hopefully the vibrations will be down too

.

I'll post some pics soonish. Baby steps right? :wacko:

kirin · « **Reply #19 on:** October 04, 2004, 06:15:12 AM »

Hey Gavin.
I did the complete interior of my bug in it and it turned out great. Really happy with how quiet it is and now its very very quiet cruising down the road. You can actually have a conversation with it.
Its held up well over the last year even when I guttend my upholstery out I was quite impressed with how it held up. Oh yeah cut any holes in it before you lay it down:p
-Kirin

Custom76Bus · « **Reply #20 on:** October 07, 2004, 12:26:28 AM »

Well I've got a few photos up of the process so far... I've put a few hours of work on it and I'm over half way through my 100sqft of sound deadener. Makes a nice difference. Fairly easy to apply too. If you're wondering why I put it all over the rear cargo area, its because it'll all be upholstered.

::More Photos::

I've selected fabrics now for the reupholstry of the interior... I'm gonna cover all the old wood paneling and door panels with two tone blue/wht probably. We'll see when it actually gets completed though!! Might be fitting the '84 GLI motor this friday. Looking forward to getting it on the road !! Oh, picked up all the remaining pieces of my glass from the tint shop today. Looks GREAT!! Can't wait to get the windows installed(probably next week).

Geoff · « **Reply #21 on:** October 07, 2004, 08:52:41 AM »

Looking Great! I like the wheels, are they 14\" or 15\"?

Custom76Bus · « **Reply #22 on:** October 07, 2004, 02:48:52 PM »

16 inch

They seem to fit fine... no apparent rubbing with the 205-55s either. We'll see once I actually take it up and down the street though :unsure:

epic3 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 09, 2004, 12:47:02 PM »

Hey looks like everything as comin along great. Looks like some kick ass progress over the past couple of months . You'll love the B-Quiet sound dampning on the road. If you're doin some big custom audio get a surpentine belt system out of a MK3 Golf CL 93 and up it will allow you to run the newer larger alternator and be much quieter at the same time. Most early alternators only put out 60 amps and the newer ones put out up to 90amps.

Custom76Bus · « **Reply #24 on:** October 09, 2004, 04:46:24 PM »

Quote

If you're doin some big custom audio get a surpentine belt system out of a MK3 Golf CL 93 and up it will allow you to run the newer larger alternator and be much quieter at the same time. Most early alternators only put out 60 amps and the newer ones put out up to 90amps.

SAWEEEEET! Thats good to hear, I've been wondering about a beefier alternator. I'm also gonna buy an aux battery and maybe inverter too... Whow knows where I'll end up..... Nuclear power? lol

That reference in no way means I am a terrorist or searching for any sources. Damnit. I know I'll be added on some super-secret gov't file now. I'll be tracked for the next 20years! [_[ :unsure: :wacko:

epic3 · « **Reply #25 on:** October 11, 2004, 11:55:45 PM »

Hey glad I could offer some usefull advice. Dual batteries is a great idea considering to add ons you plan. If you do dual batteries I recommend using a dual battery isolater it will protect your main (starting) battery from dying when you run the accesories (stereo,fridge,etc) for to long when the engine is not running. It will also prevent those annoying bliking lights when you jam the tunes going down the road.If you need a little help just let me know pm me or call 604-516-6214 Phil.

Custom76Bus · « **Reply #26 on:** October 22, 2004, 03:03:40 PM »

Well, got all the but the drivers/pass windows in now(Cause I'm trying to make em electric). Looking pretty good if I don't mind saying so meself!

Looking forward to actually being able to lock it if I choose.... although I guess I'll have to find a key for the locks :S.... of course out of the 2 keys I have one of them opens nothing and the other opens the engine hatch! Sweet

You can see, sliding window installed great on the sliding door - No More Jalousies.

::More Pics::

epic3 · « **Reply #27 on:** November 02, 2004, 01:23:16 PM »

Hey great progress once again. If you want to make your front windows power and your current tracks and mechs are all good I can sell you a set of aftermarket universal motors

Custom76Bus · « **Reply #28 on:** November 24, 2004, 02:51:07 PM »

16v Motor? Maybe? I'm thinking of changing from my 8v to a 16v before I get into all the fabrication for the 8v.

That'd be somethin eh? 16v bus lol...

... next step... vr6

Gotta go talk to my pal and see if he can work me into a 16v...maybe do a swap with him... that'd be good

As for progress... slow. Got the 8v in and started gettting all the extras put on the engine to see how fitment looks. Gonna be hard to keep the gastank where it is with this system... so I may yet have to relocate it. Hopefully i'll be getting the pop top painted in the coming weeks... once that's on... it should be sealed... watertight-ish i hope! But yea... as for when it'll be running... new estimate - Spring/Summer 2005. Only a year off... LOL... like all projects... always takes longer...

anyone got a cheap bus/sqback to sell me for a driver till then?

epic3 · « **Reply #29 on:** December 09, 2004, 12:12:27 AM »

Hey don't laugh I've seen 16V in beetles before and I've heard of a VR6 swap in a type3 notch. The VR in a notch sounds good to me tho