1966 bus subaru conversion

[Spike0180]

The only issue I can see with the flat floor is that in a front/back collision that is bad enough to get to the center section of the bus, The frame rails will not be assisted near as much by a flat floor compared to the original ribbed floor.

The benefit of the flat floor is that in a side impact (Much more likely of a situation) that flat floor will have more points welded to the cross members and I would think should actually be stronger than the original ribbed floor. (I'm not 100% sold on my own side impact analysis, id bet it is nearly a wash on which is better/worse)

Have any of your cars that have floors like that ever been in a serious crash?
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Brutis Patches Izabich: 1970 VW Transporter - 1776cc DP
Current State: Projects never truly end...
Location: Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Other cars: 2003 F150, 2003 Jetta GLI vr6-6sp

Sambastic: adj; the quality of being nit picky, elitist, expecting everyone to do things the way they believe is best with no regard to situation, "sambastic"

[Enkiel]

[mandraks]

[Enkiel]

[Stanleyn]

The answer to having a crash in any of my cars is no I haven't.Ireally don't plan on that but if it did happen I am very confident thay would stand up very well.When I get this construction of the bus finished then you can critique the finished product.As far as the taillights go my son is wanting round so as for right now that is what we are leaning too.This is not a radical custom it is what he wants.If it were up to me the top would of been chopped and some serious mods done,but as I said before this is my Sons dream and that is what were building.I looked at many finished or not finished busses and so far I really haven't been impressed but I commend them all for having there dream.

[Stanleyn]

Set in the side panels ,rocker panel and R/h dog leg.All fit and ready to weld up tomorrow

[cru62]

Hope you get lucky and the doors and doglegs fit together. Most guys wait until the doors are on and lined up to weld the doglegs. There are a bunch of adjustments and gaps that usually turn into a fuster-cluck.
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"My biggest worry is that when I die, my wife will sell all my parts for what I told her I paid for them"-Jon

Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.

Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Stanleyn]

going to put the side doors on before I weld up.Cant do the front ones because of the mounts.Will hope for the best

[skills@eurocarsplus]

if those are WW doglegs you will want to kick a puppy if you don't hang the doors first.....
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[karl h]

very nice work, but dont even try to weld the doglegs without the doors in place
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61 panel: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=465022
68 ghia vert
arctic alice (63 on irs): http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,27456.0.html
86 Caravelle
04 new beetle vert

[Stanleyn]

Welded up the one side except for the dogleg.Taking some advice from a few people who have been there.Thanks for the info.Turned it around to do the other side.Suppose to get the rear frame clip and suspension setup from a 69 and the front from a 71 this weekend.Also acquired a 2001 2.5 Subaru engine.

[cru62]

I assume you have seen this thread-
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=660250
You obviously have the skill. Why are you not going this route? The ability to build what you want to fit what you have would be hard to pass up, IMHO. A M-2 front end would remove a ton of problems you will be facing in that area. I'm sure it wouldn't be your first .
And a mid-engine setup would solve even more problems, like where to stick the radiator. The Subaru engine wouldn't stick into the cargo area much. And using the trans would be a sweet swap. I'm just sayin'!
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"My biggest worry is that when I die, my wife will sell all my parts for what I told her I paid for them"-Jon

Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.

Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Stanleyn]

Cut out bad panels on the L/H side.Installed center body panel.I have thought of building a complete chassis,but like my story is its for my son and what he wants.So I'm going to push ahead in misery and see if I can make a VW.

[cru62]

You just have to build it. He is the one that has to drive it.
_________________
"My biggest worry is that when I die, my wife will sell all my parts for what I told her I paid for them"-Jon

Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.

Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Stanleyn]

Went yesterday and removed the rear clip and front assy from a 1969 bus.Will strip it down and see how thsi is going to work out.

[Stanleyn]

Went out and stripped the rear frame clip.Not in too bad of shape.Need to fabricate new ends at the torsion tube.May turn the bus over tomorrow and see what we got for a fit

[edgood1]

This is awesome. Keep up the great work! !
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1987 Syncro Westfalia powered by Subaru
1963 Panel to Deluxe Bus project :::: (photo album)
'65 Westfalia

[Stanleyn]

Turned the bus upside down to fit the rear clip.Lots of trimming to do but it will work.Repairing the rear clip rails.The rails are rough but the torsion tube is solid.Looks like it shouldn't be too hard to get airbags installed.

[Stanleyn]

Finished the frame clip repair of inner and outer rails.Will grind them out and start getting them ready to try to set them up for airbags.Have to wait for the airbags to come so I think i'll head north to the camp for a few days.

[Stanleyn]