4X4 bus project

[motorbreath53]

Thats gunna be AWESOME. Can't wait to see it finished.


Just curious....How well do you know the "code enforcement" folks in your town?

I love the harborfrieght jack stand leaning precariously on the steel rim...

OH, and the discarded airfilter being crushed by the Goodyear Mudder...

Your yard has a very, "what are you looking at" feel to it. I like it.
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Shameless buildthread plug:
..."cut n' turn in progress"...

[jeepguy]

cj-7s are everywhere i hope u guys are kidding. they made a ton of them.

i think it sounds like a great project. with v8 power and 37s you should look at a dana 60 14 bolt combo though. i would put the motor in the back and run the rears upside down. just grease the pinion bearings like you would a wheel bearing and you should be ok.

heres a link to a pirate thread were a guy put a bug on a cj-7 frame

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=664806&highlight=lift+kit+beetle

[stever70]

Ya im afraid that my back yard is in a bit of disaray
Just not enough room for my stuff...really wish I had my old shop, would make things soooooo much easier.

I thought about putting the motor in the back, but after some serious considerations, it would not perform that well, not enough weight on the front and would want to tip back on a steep incline with the body up that high. If I were making a street rod, then I would love to take something like a Northstar package and put it in the rear. Thing would probably do wheelies
I am really hoping to have the bus body on the frame Sunday or Monday. I will definately get some more pics up when I get there. I just cant wait to drive this thing through town and get some funny looks.

[stever70]

Cant wait to get a couple of days off and get some more work done on the bus. Hopefully by monday or tuesday, the bus will be on the frame

[stever70]

update on the build BLOG...maing progress

http://offroadvwbus.blogspot.com/

[olmer2]

AWESOME!!!!!! er, I meant, it's ok... I guess.. LOL That is going to be SWEET!!!!! nice work.
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MAGIC SMOKE. The mysterious internal component of all electrical parts that allows them to work. If you let it out, the part will no longer work and could start a fire
'64? http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5...highlight=
Buggy (sold) http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=399142&highlight=
74 bug http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=547777

[stever70]

Thanks, now i need to fit the body mounts, re-do the power steering box and fit the motor..seems easy....doesnt it????

[thext94]

wow that looks really cool, what color scheme are you thinking? I vote white!

Tyler

[stever70]

Havent settled on a color scheme yet. thinking of a yellow on the bottom, and white on top

[thext94]

That would be cool, especially with some beefy bumpers

Tyler

[stever70]

im working on some custom bumper designs. that will be downt he road a bit. trying to get the functinal stuff done first.

[stever70]

welded on the body mounts and was able to get rid of the support stands;

welds dont look too bad. still need to sand and get everything painted

front view:

front quarter view, no more support stands. would be a lot easier if I had my old shop

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my build log
http://offroadvwbus.blogspot.com/

[olmer2]

Please tell me you are going to mount a full size spare on the front!!!
_________________
MAGIC SMOKE. The mysterious internal component of all electrical parts that allows them to work. If you let it out, the part will no longer work and could start a fire
'64? http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5...highlight=
Buggy (sold) http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=399142&highlight=
74 bug http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=547777

[stever70]

My current plan is to get the chrome VW emblem for the front and mount the spare on the rear. I want more weight on the back. But it might go in the front...havent really decided yet. Maybe one in teh front and back????
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my build log
http://offroadvwbus.blogspot.com/

[krautwaggen]

Hell, make a floor for the engine bay in the back and slide it in there...if it'll fit!

Cool build! Turned out way better than I thought (no offense) Let's see interior mods for the engine!
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Half Bus, Half Truck, What the _______?

[stever70]

Thanks...I think

Haven't done anything with the interior yet. Next step is to modify the power steering box to the bus steering shaft so that I can steer it. That way I can pull it out front to the concrete driveway where it will be much easier to fit the motor. The plan is to cut out the floorboard between the front seats. The front of the motor will stop at the front edge of the seats so that that the front leg room area will be open all the way across. I am hoping to start the motor installation in the next couple of weeks (still need to find an automatic transmission). I am also planning on modifying the sliding door and have it hinge up with hydraulic lifters. It "just" clears the rear tire as it is, and I haven't put my fenders on yet.
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my build log
http://offroadvwbus.blogspot.com/

[krautwaggen]

Cool! That's a pretty heavy door for hydraulic struts isn't it? You could get Barn door hinges and have it hinge to the side! Ha!

What I meant about turned out better than I thought was the body mounting that you've done. Looks pretty decent.
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Half Bus, Half Truck, What the _______?

[greg mgm]

Good job! Thanks for the update posts and pics!

[stever70]

Thanks, I can use all the support that I can get
I thought about going sideways, but the weight of the door would put more strain on the hinges (side loads). I know that it can be done. My other though was that when we are just hanging out, the door up would act as an awning, giving some shade. I might even put a linear actuator on it in the future so that it will go up by remote control...but that will be down the linie a bit.
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my build log
http://offroadvwbus.blogspot.com/

[old dirty]

Hi Stever,

Great build log! Motivates me to get mine going too. Are you planning to title this as a Jeep or a VW? (Assuming you are going to drive it on the street of course) I'm planning to title mine as a Blazer, then apply for "Street Rod" tags. In Maryland, that designation is for a vehicle that has been modified "beyond the original factory intent" and gives you the most leeway with street legality. It worked for a Manx buggy kit I had in college, I hope they haven't changed the law since...