"Helga" Matt's 65 bus restoration thread - Austin TX!

[Longboardluv]

Yep that's the stuff. Keep in mine it's by the windows, not the roofing stuff, so it's a little hard to find. Yes, i'd ask your friend for help and I use youtube a lot, I'm the same way.

I started cutting the mats. Having one of these long T Squares is really helpful to have when you need to make long straight cuts! I also had to go get a silver sharpie to mark on the mats. I actually made the seam of the two mats an inch and half to the side of the seam of the two boards so that they are off set. This worked out really nice!

I'm real happy with how it turned out! The mats are heavy enough that I don't think I'll have to glue them down. I can throw stuff without having to worry about denting or scratching the floor and it's kind of soft if you want to lay down on it!

I ended up cutting off 3/4 of an inch at the cargo doors to allow the mat to come over and down like a ramp instead of having the wood and mat be directly on top of each other at the edge.

i took little piece of the peel and seal and placed them in a few spots on the metal floor then went to the dollar store and got 5 rolls of cabinet liners. I don't want the wood flapping against the floor and i think this is going to work. They just happened to be exactly the right length, then the wood, then the mats.

got the fresh air flap all riveted back together with the new seal from WW!

and stuck that baby back in there. It's a little confusing because the two set screws actually pin up against the curve of the rod instead of the flat space. So in the position you can see the knob in incorrectly pointing down before i fixed it.

[Longboardluv]

LAGunner make sure you get one of these. You really want to press it on there good and get all the air out..

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A8W9JG6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Longboardluv]

got the battery tray painted and will be getting an optima red top!

started assembly of the bench. this is pretty nerve-wracking because there are so many angle and possible ways to screw it up.

cutting angle iron

this will be used inside the bench to connect the two short side pieces to the front piece (i painted them black after this pic)

this gives you an idea of storage space and how the hinges work

[Pinetops]

Nice work, that interior is looking good.
_________________
"A rolling bus gathers no rust."

[Longboardluv]

I was able to start filling the cracks in the steering wheel with POR15 two part epoxy

[Longboardluv]

got the brackets mounted to the fronts of the side pieces

this is mocked up and nothing connected, it will look close to this when complete

and also mocked up. will hopefully secure everything tomorrow with bolts and add the reinforcing pieces

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ended up having to do some trimming the widths of the back and bottom are actually different. the back is about an inch or more narrow

[Longboardluv]

The bench has been several days of work now.

my friend Eric has been helping cut the wood as I don't have a table saw. This time we took 3/4 inch off the front

The hinge kit comes with two self tapping screws to hold it in. That's too weak for me so I enlarged the hole and used grade 8 seat belt bolts

you can see that their mounting location is just where the wheel well meats the firewall, so I had to cut the washer to make it fit

and the red top came! I'll have to figure out a mounting bracket for it.

[Longboardluv]

So the rear bench is done! I'm happy with it, but it isn't perfect. It's something that takes time and practice and if I had to make one again I'd know how to do it way easier.

i still need to add the support brackets for when it lays down into a bed. I'll get done with that and then show pictures of it all layed out

I'll sound deaden this whole area soon

Now the tank can go in! and hopefully some real progress can be made!

[BarryL]

Attaboys all around. It appears safe and sound.

[Longboardluv]

a little more detail on doing the steering wehel

mix both the parts equal.

squish it in

rub it around and use water and a towel to rub the rest off

[url=http://imgur.com/pxq1g9Z]
got the sound deadinging on the fire wall area under the rear seat.

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got the support brackets and angle iron installed

and now it turns into a fully supported bed!

got a sheet of 3/4 inch radiant barrier foam board and cut it to size and held it with foil tape

led tail lights! had to go get longer screws, the stock ones wouldn't reach with these new seals. The lenses had to be "fixed' since the holes didn't line up exactly to stock.

We put on all the brake drums and adjust the pads! While bleeding the system one of the bleeder valves broke off! I'll have to order a new rear cylinder. Also got the batter installed and stared cleaning up the wiring!. Got the engine seal installed too. Was planning on getting the tank it but I forgot to order fuel sending unit.

[Longboardluv]

while I wait on parts I went ahead and insulated the top!

Real happy with how it turned out and should really keep a lot of the heat outside the bus!

[Longboardluv]

got down to the tax office and got her licensed and registered!

spent some time sanding, cleaning and taping. This is the Krylon Dover white

I'm not real happy with this paint, it came out in blobs on two different cans. I'm planning on using the same stuff for the window frames, and if i can't figure out why I might find something else.

[Longboardluv]

so i think i figured out the paint issue. It's too hot! Trying to paint when it's 100 degrees in Texas, the paint is drying before it hits the wheel! This weekend I'll give it another go on the steering wheel.

[Longboardluv]

got the fuel sending unit installed

and the that puppy in along with the felts and foam seal!

I was a little worried that my new output shaft seal looked different but turns out that it's just a different design

went to harbor freight and bought a seal puller but cut the bottom five inches off so i could fit it in the bell housing

new one in with a little permatex to seal it in place!

new throw out bearing too

putting this little booger on is a pain! I actually gave up because there are larger fish to fry right now.

made a new list! stuff is going to start moving fast! I've got a few days off and it's going to be go time!

[Longboardluv]

getting one of these tools is worth the 8 dollars!

got the new wheel cylinder on!

Also greased up the bowden tube. For some reason the clutch pedal was sticking and the cable seemed to move freely in the tube along the bottom of the bus. I think this helped. It doesn't seem to stick as bad now and once the motor is in, I'm hoping it's fine.

[Longboardluv]

I've got a few places that have small holes around the windows

so i cleaned them up as much as possible

and then put por15 on them. I'll go back after it's dry and squeeze the por15 two part epoxy into the holes and then sand it. Then paint over it all.

making a rear tray cover. first a paper template

transferring to baltic birch

I ended up cutting right down the middle because it was nearly impossible to get it in and out. I put poly on it last night and will do a second coat today.

also made the two panels that go above the front seats. I'll put poly on them as well and figure out some way to give them a bow shape to make them fit easier.

[Longboardluv]

got the putty in all the holes. i'll go back and sand it later.

i took some stone I had and used it to compress and give a bow to the front head liner pieces of birch. didn't want to use water because i haven't stained them yet and was worried about messing up the finish. the black plastic in the 100 degree texas sun really helped warm them up and bend them.

It helped quite a bit, before they were flat or bent the wrong way. Might need to do the right one a bit more.

got the engine hatch seals in, I love how easily the popped in!

getting a little ahead of myself but i have mud flaps ready for when that time comes!

forgot to insulate the rear hatch, i had just enough left from the rolls to do the job

and mounted the jail bars! I'll have to get another rod of aluminum tomorrow and finish it up!

[Longboardluv]

went and got more aluminum rod and finished the jail bars!

yes this is it! a really nice 1600sp

got the brakes adjust, chased down some wiring issues, hooked up fuel, fill gear box, lubed front beam

pre motor install, off of jack stands after four months! big day

got the motor in! I'm excited. Wasn't able to start it because of either an issue with the starter or starter bushing is missing. Going to pick up a new starter just incase and return it if need to.

[zozo]

Real happy for you. I've enjoyed your thread tremendously.

[65Bugsmasher]

What exhaust are you running on the 1600sp? Or I guess more importantly, what header are you running? It appears you're stilling running heater boxes and the header connects to them..I would like the same setup for mine as I am running heater boxes also. Thanks!