I will survive! Tale of a 67 split window bus

[NaveedRizvi]

@nmsaikh What would/should a good denter charge for an A class denting job in pakistan.

[NaveedRizvi]

OK where do I start...

I have been looking this thread very closely since it started and have kept my thoughts to myself. As a matter of fact I have been silently following the rescue op. on this bus long before you took control on this one. I am talking about the days when Pheonix was with Babar.

At a point in time this bus was offered for sale here on PW for 350,000/- in the state you took it to start with...the state it is in, in the coming two pictures in below.

I always wanted a split screen bus but then it was quite a mess even after being worked on (and I would momentarily be explaining "why"). But still I wrote to @romano on details on the documents when it was for sale but he didn't respond even though at that time I knew that whatever body job had been done will have to be redone from scratch but I thought at least I could have a split bus.

@nmshaikh

As you know I am no busman but then I have learnt a lot on the subject of split screen buses and to this day I have not really spoken on what has been going on with Pheonix. But since this thread is born and I believe we are a go for expressing whatever we felt about this restoration since its in public domain now so I reckon it would be a crime to keep mum and not speak what could be spoken to make things better on this one.

I would like to start expressing what I think about this job from the following two pictures:

I am sure you would know where am I gonna point a finger at but others dont so I rather would.

What you see in the first picture is a pathetic specimen of work of a money monger, a panel beater who would cut deep into your pockets and manipulate his words so well that you as a client would find yourself ending up agreeing with his verdict because you some what are blind folded once he casts his spell. Babar might have been a good panel beater on the bugs but buses are no domain of his.

Look at the long side panel...does it even look straight to you? Have had I not been following the bus rescue I would have thought there were tons of bondo on the side and still the job was so pathetically done that there was no real straight surface to paint on.

The dogleg/front cab door mating line is a mess. The V and the Cab door seems are not even aligned with cab door sitting lower than the starting point of the V at the front panel. The cargo rocker is crooked and wavy. I mean who would call it even a fair body job? Would you? At least I wont!

If you are not sure about what I am talking about have a close look at the second picture...do you see a wavy/crooked cargo rocker? Even the front jack point isn't aligned with the B pillar not to mention the rear splash panel which sits at a wrong angle in the rear wheel well.

I hope you see what I see in the above two pictures, because if you dont, then the fate of this bus/the final product is doomed.

@ Reezwan
Please use the Red Marker :)) for us the mango people...

[speedster_101]

Dharma Initiative van

[reezvaan]

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[reezvaan]

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[NaveedRizvi]

@ Reezwan

I'll be starting a resto of my 1302 soon.... please be ready for giving lots of input

[reezvaan]

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[NaveedRizvi]

Would gladly do...but please do not start a resto unless you are all equipped with all the required spares & parts that would "complete" the project, instead wait until the things are in order to start the resto. Don't want to see another half baked VW project.

And if you really want an A-class panel beating done on your bug, pay in terms of panels instead of whole project.

Forum tau start kar loon naa :))) just for kicks
I have collected some stuff will see what else is needed... if I get the balls to use the workshop of my choice you'll not be disappointed.

[Basharatu]

These are vintage busses now, very few are surviving around the globe, we should also keep looking for them!

These buses were in service with the GTS at some point.

[Basharatu]

Very skillfully done, excellent!

Sorry for not updating the status here. I was busy reporting the progress on the FIAT but work on Phoenix goes on. The front has been painstakingly rebuilt panel by panel, layer upon layer and welded together. Arshad has now moved on to the doors, cutting off the shoddy patch work done earlier on the doors brought in from Canada and rebuilding the area. The progress is slow but he has another 5 weeks of allotted time for this project plus a few grace days as he asked to work on the Westfalia (replacing all seals)

Here are a few pictures of the nose rebuild to give you an idea of the hard work that is going into providing the near perfect panel for the painted to work on when the time arrives.

[reezvaan]

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[nmshaikh]

Phoenix has had a lot more work done since the last time I updated this thread. I have taken more pictures too but did not get a chance to post.

I spoke to Arshad the other day and he tells me that the body is about done and ready for the paint stage. I will be in Islamabad next week, Inshallah and will decide if it is so.

[fouadhafeez]

What a wonderful project!

Bringing back such derelict masterpieces to the roads, is surely one of the MOST noble things you can do, in our "sport". The fact that these classics can be ground into absolute nothingness, suffer decades of neglect, be subjected to the worst abuse imaginable, and STILL have the resilience to bounce back with aplomb, after minimal TLC speaks a lot for what MAKES them classics in the first place. I dare say, such a painstaking labour of love also speaks volumes about the character of the person undertaking the restoration.

Kudos.

I'll be following this thread super closely. All the very best of luck with it!

[nmshaikh]

What a wonderful project!

Bringing back such derelict masterpieces to the roads, is surely one of the MOST noble things you can do, in our "sport". The fact that these classics can be ground into absolute nothingness, suffer decades of neglect, be subjected to the worst abuse imaginable, and STILL have the resilience to bounce back with aplomb, after minimal TLC speaks a lot for what MAKES them classics in the first place. I dare say, such a painstaking labour of love also speaks volumes about the character of the person undertaking the restoration.

Kudos.

I'll be following this thread super closely. All the very best of luck with it!

Thank you for your kind words of appreciation. VW's are a passion and I enjoy restoring and preserving the dwindling number of VW's in our part of the world.

Stay tuned for regular updates once I return to Pakistan.

Regards

[naeemmasood]

What an idea sir g

[nmshaikh]

Back after a long break but work on the bus continued while i was away. The front of the bus was rebuilt by Arshad and now looks like this.

[nmshaikh]

[nmshaikh]

Here with the front bumper fitted

[nmshaikh]

The front bumper was dented and out of shape so it was heated in spots and beaten into shape. It looks fairly decent now and would be like new after the paint job. The idea is to get everything to fit properly before the paint stage so its just a question of fitting the parts after the bus comes back from the painters.

[nmshaikh]

The pop-out window frames on the sides were rusted and covered in several layers of paint. It was decided to get a complete set of new window frames. Arshad installed a new set of seals on one of the window frames and proceeded to fit the frame in each of the windows to check the fit and adjustments if any. As mentioned previously, the idea is to check that everything fits before the bus goes to the painters. At this stage the hammer and dolly work can be done without a care but it won't be possible once the bus returns with a fresh coat of paint.