I started writing this post over four years ago, in April of 2018, just before putting the bus on the road. I don’t remember why I never finished, maybe I just forgot. As of June 2022 I’ve put around 12k miles on the bus and have had many adventures with it. I’m working on a new post to continue where this one ends.

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The bus is almost on the road.

The body work was finished last summer, decided on a two tone purple/green external color combination and rattle can sprayed it in my garage. I even setup AC units and dehumidifiers to improve the quality of the paint.

After that I went hardcore on the interior and electrical. I started with a generic 21 circuit automotive wiring kit and made a custom engine harness (since the kit’s harness was for a front engine vehicle). I cut out the old driver’s seat bulkhead and welded in a custom track to fit the driver’s seat from an Audi A3.

The dash retains an original speedo (maybe from this bus, maybe from a different bus), most of the original indicator lights, but that’s about it. Due to missing or broken original pieces, the dash also has custom turn signal and hazard flasher, custom light switch (GM style), a generic wiper switch, and a plethora of aftermarket switches that do anything from hi-lo beams, to swapping which battery the stereo runs from. Elsewhere in front we have an inexpensive plastic package tray setup, and LED light strips that come on with the front doors or by switch.

Elsewhere in the bus I reinstalled the original Westfalia Campmobile interior, minus the icebox/sink (awaiting a rebuild). Then I added a custom leisure battery system and charging circuit. This system is fully functional, but currently only runs the radio/amp, and some lights. The engine bay I cleaned up and painted white, then added a couple sets of LED lights to brighten up the bay.

In late fall I started work on the drivetrain, a very leaky 2000cc and 6-rib (091) transmission from a scrapped ’79. It ran okay, but definitely needed a rebuild, even if only because of how severely it leaked oil out. I also began work on the transmission which looks like it was in good shape. I started by stripping the engine of its tin and air boxes so that they could all be cleaned up and repainted. Part way through this there was a change in my financial situation affording me a rebuilt 2000cc long block and a new dual Weber 40IDF 2bbl carb setup.

Thanks to having that rebuilt long block I could finish this project sooner. I finished assembling the remaining engine pieces along with freshly cleaned and painted engine tin. The engine had its first test run this past weekend, quite successfully. Then I installed the engine in the bus.

To Be Continued in Part 2