Bus Restoration in photos

[appetite]

Hello all,

I thought I'd start a photo stream with pictures documenting the body work on my 69 bus. You can view the album here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23704155@N ... 505895223/

The initial images are of Colin's visit, where we tore the bus down in preparation to deliver to the body shop. Next are a set of the first steps of cutting metal and welding in new pieces.

I'll update with progress. Please share your experience in dealing with a body shop - this is my first time...

Thanks,

James

[Amskeptic]

Hello all,
I thought I'd start a photo stream with pictures documenting the body work on my 69 bus.
I'll update with progress. Please share your experience in dealing with a body shop - this is my first time...
Thanks,
James

Good to see the work begin.
Is that windshield channel graft too short?
Colin

[Mike Boell]

Looks good.
I am doing about the same thing on a 1977 Westy for my daughter so I will be following this thread.
Mike

[jonyem]

I love that color, are you keeping it or going with a new color?

[appetite]

In this photo you can see the nose is a different color than the rest of the body:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23704155@N ... 6505895223

The nose is the original color as per the VIN: Velvet Green, L512.

I am going to bring it back to original.

[appetite]

Here's some more photos of the work in progress:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23704155@N ... 408111633/

I am happy so far. I've had to stay on top of the shop to make sure everything goes according to plan, but the they have been responsive thus far.

James

[Amskeptic]

Here's some more photos of the work in progress:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23704155@N ... 408111633/

I am happy so far. I've had to stay on top of the shop to make sure everything goes according to plan, but the they have been responsive thus far.

James

Looking good. As I scanned down the Flickr page, I had no idea the shop was so very far way . . .
Colin

[appetite]

Ah, Peru had so many VW buses. All workhorses, in various states of shine and decay...

[appetite]

A new set of photos from the body shop. Slowly, getting closer to paint.

New ones at the bottom:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23704155@N ... 505895223/

James

[Amskeptic]

A new set of photos from the body shop. Slowly, getting closer to paint.

New ones at the bottom:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23704155@N ... 505895223/

James

Looking good. I am warning you and jackstar both to look so extremely closely at every single panel that joins up to another panel with a tack weld or seam, and L K! for any available paths for water to work its way between the panels. You want drainage on the floor/ground-facing side, yes, but you want a leakproof roof or sky-facing side. Pretty pretty is nice, but five years later rust bubbles coming up through the paint is not nice.
Colin