Engine assembled!

I completed reassembly of the bus engine today, after almost 9 years of disassembly. Still to do: reinstall fuel tank, transmission, CV joints and fuel system, carb, distributor... Then... who knows! Below is the assembled engine.

So the carburetor I have is a Solex 30PICT-2, but it has a funky attachment to the bottom, like a spout. I have no idea what it is and will have to post it to The Samba to try to figure it out. It looks like it might be some kind of vapor collector that receives a hose from something (the fuel pump?) and puts the vapors back into the gas getting spit into the intake by the carb. That's a guess, but it seems like the only logical thing. At this point, I would just as soon buy new stuff that I know will work and get this process moving rather than try to mess with an old part that very well may not function.

Long Absence

It seems like every weekend is booked up before I have a chance to decide if I want to make plans or not! This is leaving little opportunity for Bus work. I did stumble across this article about Trader Sam's, the new tiki restaurant at the Disneyland Hotel that I mentioned a few weeks ago. I want to go to there.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/07/inside-trader-sams-at-the-disneyland-hotel/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DisneyParks+%28Disney+Parks+Blog%29

San Diego Vacation

I may have been gone, but the bus was not forgotten. While in SD I went to the swap meet and spotted this classic Type II truck in full action as a junk vendor's primary utility vehicle. Later in the day I bought a bunch of wire brushes from a different vendor for rust removal.

After the swap meet we had beers and fish tacos with friends RJ and China, RJ is a former Type II Bay-Window Westy owner and we discussed bus traveling and his plan to eventually be a bus owner again in the future.

Interior

I think this is a good color scheme.

I found a guy who will make me an entire set of interior upholstery (not sure if that includes curtains... no matter, those are easy enough to make) for like $350 if I give him the fabric. Worth it? I think so. I wonder how much fabric he needs. This stuff is $39/yard from Wolfsburg West... Wonder if it would be too matchy with the astro-turf carpet I plan to put in??

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=231000020

Monkey Shit

I met a guy named Ferdinand at the VW show over the weekend and he introduced me to this stuff. He is pictured with the light blue split-window bus in my photos below and has taken his bus up to the arctic circle.

This compound never hardens but is a sealant/adhesive and he suggested it for attaching patches in the floor once I've ground out, primered and painted the rust spots. I like that idea.

It's called Butyl Putty Tape, but he only knew it by the name "Monkey Shit" so I had to do some internet research to find out what it's really called. It looks like this:

And it can be purchased here... http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com/Butyl_Putty_Tape_p/vts-419.htm

Headliner

I would like to make a nice new headliner like this...

They use birch plywood, I think 1/8" thick. Probably requires a lot of sanding and a nice satin varnish.

Camp Stove

The "Coleman PerfectFlow Insta Start Grill Stove" what a name.

I'd like to use this stove in the bus, and build a wooden mount for this which could affix to the top of the sink to allow for a full camp kitchen. I like the idea of a grill with a burner for cooking. Will probably need to put some metal flashing stuff on the headliner above the stove, but given its proximity to the sliding door, ventilation shouldn't be a problem.