Update TheSamba

Well we finally picked up a 1974 Bus with sunroof off of craigslist. It had minimal rust, one small point about the size of a dime in the outer most mid seat mount hole. It had a clear title, and still ran. The engine smoked a bunch. The shifting was hard to find reverse. The exterior lights did not work at all. The PO had a junk stereo wired hot, an aftermarket ignition switch under the dash (a real hack job), and the sunroof was sitting down below the roofline. For the lack of rust we paid and drove it home. The trip was less than 10 miles and burned ½ a quart, lots of smoke.

It took about two months to disassemble, clean, inspect, repair, and reassemble about everything in the bus. The interior is a custom camper, our own layout. We will do exterior paint later. I'm sure I forgot a few things.

In no order the list of parts and fixes:

front bumper
rear bumper
exhaust (Empi extractor)
heater fan flapper valves (repair)
2.0 L engine (balanced long block)
distributer
alternator
empi progressive carb
airtex fuel pump
clutch
two oversize exhaust studs
transmission shift input seal
shift linkage bushings
three cv joints, all boots
wheel bearing lube, seals
rear brake shoes
rear brake wheel cylinders
front brake caliper seals
four tires and rims
spare tire
spare tire mount
spare tire cover
steering column (repair)
turn signals (repair)
high beams (repair)
steering coupling
outside mirrors (repair)
ignition switch and cylinder
instrument glass (repair)
oil psi gage
cht gage
volt meter
interior lights (repair)
start relay
fuel pump relays
thermostat
interior panels
slider door handle and alignment (repair)
riviera bed
stove, sink, icebox, cabinets, table
wood floor
front seat covers
retractable seat belts
door window scrapers
windshield seal
windshield
windshield wipers
back window seal
sunroof hardware
sunroof debris seal
battery clamp
battery cables
transmission ground strap
fuel tank cleaned (no rust)
fuel quantity sender
all fuel vent lines
fuel filler neck
charcoal canister
tail light housings
front side reflectors
back side markers
aux power socket



Vendors:

www.importmotor.com
website engine purchase

JCS Volks Machine
www.jcsvwparts.com
Engine builder

The Bus Depot, Inc.
www.busdepot.com
Many parts.

Cip1.com
many more parts

Por-15
www.por15.com
rust treatment and fuel tank sealer

Wolfsburg West
www.wolfsburgwest.com
The only place we found the one piece sunroof seal

Discount Import Parts
www.discountimportparts.com
Local parts, great people. Great source for restoration stuff.

Always V-Dub
avparts.qwestoffice.net
A drive into the big city, but worth it. They carry used parts as well.

EBay
www.ebay.com
great for pictures and some parts. Sink, stove, and pump from here.

Information sites:

The Samba
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/

Richard Atwell
http://www.ratwell.com/