I will survive! Tale of a 67 split window bus

[nmshaikh]

If you check the old photos of the bus you'll notice a lot of waves and un-even sheet metal that was left as is by the previous panel beater. Arshad had to go over every inch with a hammer and dolly to make the panels as straight as possible. the painter should be able to do with the least amount of filler to achieve a smooth surface for the paint to be applied.

from this....

to this....

You'll agree that we've come a long way...

[nmshaikh]

This is the level of finish I'd like to see when the bus is painted. The Bay window picture is shown just for reference

[nmshaikh]

from this ....

to this.....

Its taken us almost two years, two panel beaters and about 100k in costs (not including the panels brought in from USA / Canada) but hopefully, in the end, it would be worth the effort.

[Basharatu]

Arshad is doing a great job on your bus, this is turning out to be a high quality restoration!

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.

[Basharatu]

This is next level, from where do you plan to get her painted? Also, from the bare metal what steps/layers you would like your painter to follow/coat to reach to this level?

This is the level of finish I'd like to see when the bus is painted. The Bay window picture is shown just for reference

[nmshaikh]

This is next level, from where do you plan to get her painted? Also, from the bare metal what steps/layers you would like your painter to follow/coat to reach to this level?

The bus is going to be inspected by Irfan painter who is located behind the Pangraphics near Mohtasib Secretariat Islamabad. Its always a good idea to NOT select a painter who works alongside the denter (panel beater) as they cover each others workmanship flaws. The painter is obliged if the denter passes him work and covers the errors of the dentor by liberal use of body filler. What i do is bring in Irfan who is a bad *** perfectionist when he wants to be. He knows the quality i expect so he goes over the vehicle like my math teacher with a red marker in hand and points out areas that need to be perfected. he has no sympathy for the denter so i benefit. Irfan has his weak points too..time management being one of them but i plan to sit on his head a few hours a day and devise a payment plan linked to progress so lets see.

[daniyalahmad]

Very nice!
Shows your extreme love for these VWs.
Thread subscribed!
Will be waiting for further updates!

[ansarghani]

Nasir Bhai Long time no update... what about the fiat van?

[nmshaikh]

Nasir Bhai Long time no update... what about the fiat van?

So much happening and I didn't get a free moment to update the thread. Work, meanwhile, continued on the van. The panel beating was completed and Irfan the painter came and inspected. As expected he found several areas for improvement and marked those. Arshad has since addressed those issues and the bus is ready to be shifted to Irfan's place of business in Islamabad. I spoke to him this morning and he would like the bus to be moved on Thursday.

..so Thursday it is!.

The Fiat van has found a new home and is awaiting restoration. Work would start as soon as the weather improves. We'll keep you posted.

[nmshaikh]

Contd. from page 1 message #13

Up until now it was routine shopping...maybe a bit off routine but really...what is special about buying parts...? That was the easy bit...all one needed was the imagination and a credit card. The exciting part comes next. I have not been able to post a lot of pictures so far but I do have pictures coming now. I have to warn you that they are intended only for mature readers 18 years of age or above. I have to admit that a VW was harmed in the process. i still have nightmares but I try and console myself by thinking that the demise of of one was the rebirth of another VW thousands of miles away....

Like I warned before, the pictures I am about to share with you are intended for mature readers 18 years of age and above.
The sacrificial bus was bought from Missouri and towed to Mississauga where a horrible death awaited the unsuspecting grand-ma.

Using the electric grinder and a reciprocating saw the roof section was cut clean off the pillars. The roof section of Phoenix was in pretty good nick so we didn't need to bring it back with us.

[nmshaikh]

The roof section after the amputation.

[nmshaikh]

Next to come off was the nose

The eyes were gouged out as we did not need the complete nose section. The headlight buckets were cut out as they can be grafted on to beetle fenders too and these were clean, never in a collision sections.

[nmshaikh]

The eyes of the bus complete with the sockets, cut out of the skin. (I told you these are gory pictures)

at the same time I salvaged other sections that could be used here in Pakistan. (on future projects)

[nmshaikh]

The complete Sundial camper interior was stripped before I started with the massacre. (the complete interior was brought to Pakistan for replication)

[nmshaikh]

spot anything of interest in there?

[nmshaikh]

The dismemberment continues....

Another clean section that is usually damaged when air intakes are widened after dieselizing the buses. (or after an accident as the fins are never perfectly straight after repairs)

[nmshaikh]

The floor pan was further stripped of usable parts by my partners in crime

[nmshaikh]

until it was just a rolling platform

[nmshaikh]

and the final 'janaza' was appropriately carried off on a VW flat bed.

[AsadIshaque]

Glued to this thread too......