ken
NUTTIER than a fruitcake
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Post by ken on Oct 12, 2006 0:37:38 GMT -5
OK. These next ones are from Day 14. I really don't recall what happened the days inbetween, but I'm sure something did. I try to work at least one hour a day on her, and not to lose too much steam. So Took the wheels off (have you even seen somebody paint a car with the wheels on, and paint the lugnuts and drums too?) and removed the shift linkage (harder than in sounds, they get very stuck) and removed the front beam. The shift linkage; at least the front part, must come out before you can remove the beam, as it passes through it. The frame behind the beam is something I made years ago to move buses around without thier drivetrain, but it has come in handy many times for moving a variety of things around.... Then the same for the transaxle.
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ken
NUTTIER than a fruitcake
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Post by ken on Oct 12, 2006 0:44:51 GMT -5
Day 17. Rosie goes for a roll. Today I mounted Rosie to the rottiserie. She will be on her for a few weeks, while her underdsides get fixed up. This is absoluteley the best way to do any repairs, rather than lying on you back, being burnt by sparks from the welder. The unit bolts to where the front beam bolts in and the transmission cradle in the back, and the rear apron mounts. I built it for another car, and then modified it to fit buses. It took 1 day and about $400 to make, it was so simple I don't know why I did not do it years ago. Oh and it makes the roof really easy to strip/sand... ;D And trevor's Favorite....
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ken
NUTTIER than a fruitcake
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Posts: 182
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Post by ken on Oct 12, 2006 1:08:07 GMT -5
Day 20, 21. The underside. This first pic is the other belly pan cut off, as well as the front and rear outriggers. The jack points will eventually have to come off as well. In this pic you can see I've started to remove the rocker, inner and outer. It had some pretty creative bodywork done to it in the past.. new metal welded over rusty, then bondo to make the shape again.... Here I've removed the rocker, and front jack point. I made an effort to keep the cargo floor as it is in pretty good shape. Basically now I'm just grinding the olr paint, rust, dirt or whatever down to bare metal. At that point I etch prime it to prevent any more rust. In this one you can see the edge of the tophat that connects to the outrigger I've repaired. Just a bit more to go on the dogleg close out panel... It's hard to clean in here.... I've got to keep going on the cleaning, and priming.... But after that is done I'm waiting on some panels to arrive, and I'll have lots to do for the end of the month!
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Post by Shayna Jaymie on Oct 12, 2006 9:53:02 GMT -5
This is a great contribution to the site, thanks Ken.
Chris wanted to give you a karma point for every day but I see that you are now up to day 20 something. Well even God only got 7 days so 7 more points for you.
Keep up the good work.
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coronabus
NUTTIER than a fruitcake
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What Happens In The Bus...
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Post by coronabus on Oct 12, 2006 16:29:54 GMT -5
Surprisingly, I like the pink! I like it better on my Passat though. Nice work Ken, I can appreciate it. The timeline your working with was similar to mine. I bought it end of October (b-day present for myself) and goal was to have it finished for FFH (6 months). I never would have imagined it was possible, but it is. I also worked just weekday evenings and some weekends. Keep us updated!!
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Post by dpeters81westy on Oct 12, 2006 21:46:39 GMT -5
Fantastic contribution to the site Ken! ( +1 Karma )
Makes me want to get out into a garage and help Chris get more of the DC finished.
I wish I had a heated indoor workshop...cause my Ghia would be much closer to finished.
The constant updates remind me of the KCW 30 day project beetle.
I can hardly wait to see what's next...
- DP
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ken
NUTTIER than a fruitcake
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Posts: 182
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Post by ken on Oct 13, 2006 11:46:31 GMT -5
I knew you'd like the pink Paul.... It's just not my thing. Also it was super badly done. DP. I'm no KCW.... in a lot of respects. I actually think all projects are completeable in 30 days...( 10 hours a day X 4 guys working on it X 30 days= 1200 hours) This is the big secret behind "overhaulin" and all those dumb shows. (...sorry but I hate TV, it's just a time eater) It took me +-600 hours to do my 356. I had some help at some points, and I did not do the priming or painting. (+100 hours if you are doing it on your own) Time is definately your enemy for all porjects. Well that and something I like to call "the stares" it's a horrible desease where you basically stand back and stare at things..... and nothing gets done. Sometimes I get them, and I just try to snap out of it and find a more inersting thing to do.... but still on the same project. Clean a small part, organize some bolts, anything but give up for the night. Burt, my good friend once told me his secret, the hour a day rule. Everyday at least one hour. This means at least 7 hours a week, this makes for some progress regardless. I came up with some rules of my own too. When a friend offers you help....take it. 2 people will get more than double accomplished than a single person will and keep up you motivation. You have to do the same in return when yours is done though... Also, know when to quit. Anything past 1:00am is not efficient work, and you should just start again the next day, after some sleep. Everything goes to crap after a certain time, and you will just end up re-doing the poor work you did the night before. Thanks for all the feedback guys, I'm stoked. Ken
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canbug
Slightly NUTS
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Post by canbug on Oct 13, 2006 12:38:03 GMT -5
Great job Ken, It is looking great. I know this is a bus forum, but we may have to talk about rebuilding the Ghia? Thanks for the constant updates and pictures. I feel guilty not getting to some of my projects. Thanks Ken . Tim and Penny
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Post by rareair on Oct 13, 2006 20:53:44 GMT -5
Also, know when to quit. Anything past 1:00am is not efficient work, and you should just start again the next day, after some sleep. Everything goes to crap after a certain time, and you will just end up re-doing the poor work you did the night before. So true! However you forgot to mention that once a person nears completion of that case of beer while working, then you may as well close shop for the night! ;D
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Post by bretto on Oct 14, 2006 17:16:05 GMT -5
you going with swr/bg? i'm going to miss "pinky" i love red/white deluxes. makes me wonder what happened to people in the eighties? who decided pink was cool?
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ken
NUTTIER than a fruitcake
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Posts: 182
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Post by ken on Oct 15, 2006 13:16:57 GMT -5
Brett, I'm not going to paint her Red/white only beacuse all of the buses from that era are painted those colors ( look at the front page of NUTS...there are 2...), and I find them a bit boring..... I've got something way better in mind. It will be like have done most of my projectcs, stock looking body, lowered, updated drivetrain, but nothing that can't be reversed. And Tim.... you should feel guilty.. Let's get started on one of your fine ghias this winter! OK so these photos are from yesterday, Day 29. The frist is a nice example of some of the sweet body work that was done in the past. This is the short rocker right after the cagro doors. First I cut out the offending section, then lift it up to show you the rusty panel that was still underneath!! That's right, welding an new panel right over top of rusty metal, then smearing the whole works with Bondo...... awesome. I got a bit more of underside done, and then had to flip her back upright. Only looking at the bottom gets a bit deppressing, and you start to lose focus. The last shot is just a clear one of her on the Rotisseire. Chris (commercial-air) is coming here to help me next week on Friday (fun!) and I'm willing to make a bet that he starts on his own rotis. the second he gets home. I mean they same you time.....the only thing you can't buy.
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Post by commercialair on Oct 15, 2006 18:01:01 GMT -5
The last shot is just a clear one of her on the Rotisseire. Chris (commercial-air) is coming here to help me next week on Friday (fun!) and I'm willing to make a bet that he starts on his own rotis. the second he gets home. I mean they save you time.....the only thing you can't buy I'm one step ahead of you Ken! I finished the loft storage in the shop this weekend(to buy some additional floor space) and I've already ordered the square tube! ;D I'll have to take some measurements of it when I'm there. Even with the extra room that the loft will provide, I'm really going to have to build it to break-down into small pieces when not in use. The progress on the deluxe is incredible! It's amazing what some people consider a "repair". How much longer would it have taken them to cut out the rust before putting a new panel on? I hate shortcuts that do more damage in the end..... Chris
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Post by rareair on Oct 15, 2006 23:18:05 GMT -5
Rotisierres are the only way to go. The first thing I did on my '69 after pulling the body was to build one and mount it on it. That one was kinda temporary, and the one I built for my '56 is a much better version. Not only does it speed up the process, but the quality of work you can perform is alo way better. I will have to make a 3rd version (for type 2's) when it comes time to do the '53. Next time I'm in town I will also be taking notes on your's Ken. Keep up the great progress...and keep us inspired.
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ken
NUTTIER than a fruitcake
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Posts: 182
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Post by ken on Oct 16, 2006 0:25:54 GMT -5
Day 30. Spent some time today remove some more of the badly repaired metal and griding out almost all of the remaining bondo. I also repaired a section at the front of the cargo floor, which is also the backside of the dogleg close out panel. This section had a patch over it and it was covered in tar... After cutting out some of the rusted metal. Fixed One of the rear wheel wells...... ...opened up! same awful technique of welding new metal right over the old rusty stuff.... Done for the night.... and one of my other secrets... the list (on the clipboard)
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Post by dpeters81westy on Oct 17, 2006 7:40:55 GMT -5
Ken,
Thanks for letting Freddy and me hang out and have a good look at the project when I was in town this past weekend. I always like to ge up close and help out if I can. The rotisserie was cool to see. You're doing a great job...keep up the good work!
Thanks again for the constant updates...
- DP ('96 GTI Bright Surf Green - Winter Car)
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