1970 Westy Camper

[ghiastein]

Over the long Turkey Weekend I yanked out my Westy Interior.

What a STINKY MESS

Someone before me removed all of the plywood subfloor except for the area under the Sink/Cooler. After removing the stubborn vent pipe and drain. I found rotted wet wood under the cabinet then I was worried about my floor.

After a good cleaning the cargo floor looks very good with no holes just a bit of surface rust. Its just going to need some wire wheeling and then paint.

I also picked out and purchased my fabric for the rear seats things are starting to look good.

This is the details of my interior.
Wood paneling in finished oak for the Driverside panel and the slider door.
My checkerboard table will attach to the oak panel
All of my rear seat cushions will be redone in a light gray cloth material.
The whole floor from noes to tail will be in a medium gray carpet.
The same material of the rear cushions will be on my front door panels.
Driver and Passenger seats will be original gray vinyl.
All cabinet doors will be made from solid oak.
Sink will be replaced with oak countertop
Top of jump seat will be replaced in oak
All original cabinets will be painted in gray.
Ceiling panels will be painted white.
Extra 110 volt and 12 volt sockets will be added.
Undercabinet lighting will be used to light the interior similar to the Ghia.

Its a long list but it should be neat and comfy ready for the 2010 camping season.

[Dustin]

Sounds pretty nice AJ then you'll have to get the outside cleaned up

[Southpaw]

What about the tranny ?

[ghiastein]

Transmission and I are not on speaking terms right now.

Currently I don't have the room to yank out the transmission / engine and just have it sit in the garage. So until I find the transmission that I want and my bank account is happy. That is when I will do the swap and mess with the engine.

Yea I still have some more rust repair to do on the outside nothing as major as the rear corner. Then I will have to have it painted. Currently I am thinking of having it Rhino-Coated up to the beltline in Blue and an off white for the top. With the Rhino-Coating who cares about a rock chip.

[blue71]

AJ,

I don't remember his # off the top of my head, but Chuck Spence in LEAKOIL told me that he has a dozen or so spare bus transmissions. If I can find it I'll pass the # on to you.

[ghiastein]

Thanks just PM me when ever.

[ghiastein]

I have ordered carpet and it should be arriving in a week all 100 square feet. Here is a pictures of my samples.



The larger one is the carpet the smaller piece is the seat fabric. Also in the picture is one of my new grab handles.

[Southpaw]

So what you have a big hole in your seat from where you took the sample ? LOL

[ghiastein]

My carpet has arrived. My 3 rib transmission is sitting in the garage (Thanks Patrick). I just picked up New retractable front seat belts and matching rear seatbelts. I have my finished oak paneling for the interior. Now my bank account is empty.

I still need to pick up a sub-floor for the bus. A piece of 3/8" plywood and some carpet padding. I also need some insulation.

Now I need to shift my butt into gear and brave the sub-arctic temperatures to get stuff done.

I would show pictures of my seatbelts but Photo Bucket is not being nice now. Maybe later

[ghiastein]

Ever have one of those Duh!!! moments. Well I did today.

My front seat belts had an extra bracket riveted on that needed to be removed before I mount the seat belts in the bus. So I broke out the drill and attempted to drill out the (hardened) rivet. Destroying 2 drill bits I then attacked it with a chisel and a hammer. After many hammer swings and wasting a hour. I was starting to get discouraged. There just has to be an easier way to remove this rivet. Scanning the garage to find a new tool / idea to inflict pain. I look to my left and spotted my BENCH GRINDER that I forgot all about.

It took just a few seconds to grind off the rivet

in the end I did manage to install my front seat belts and they work excellent.

I also removed my large driverside rear panel and all of the nasty fiberglass insulation. Then I was trying to plan my routing for my new electrical and found that my B and C pillar are not completely hollow. So now I need to figure out how to run my electrical to the headliner for lights.

Then I have something else come up about laying down my carpet. My floor drops 3/8" after the sliding door. My original plan was to install 3/8" plywood subfloor, 1/2" carpet pad then carpet. That combo will put my carpet 1/2" higher than my slider door floor.

Should I forget about the Plywood subfloor and just lay the carpet pad down then carpet? Or should I forget the carpet pad and just lay the carpet on the wood subfloor?

[bren]

Why do you need the subfloor? Is it really necessary?
Pad then carpet would probably make it quiter than subfloor and carpet. I would not want to eliminate the pad I don't think. But then again I have never been in a bus so what do I know?

[VDub63 ( Steven )]

The pad will collect moisture, I think. If you get it wet. What about like 1/4 inch plywood then Dynomat ( sound proofing ) then the carpet?

[ghiastein]

Its been a long Bus working weekend for me now its picture time.

First up my cool new retractable seat belts


Here they are installed


Well I have finally removed all of my Westy interior I waited until the last minute because I was scared of hidden RUST. After removing my side cabinet this is the worst rust found on the inside of my Bus.

It just seems to be on the interior plate that is just riveted to the other interior panel that makes up my engine air intakes. I plan on removing the panel and treating the area behind the panel and the panel its self. The cool part is that no one will ever see it because its hidden by the side cabinet.

Here are the rest of my naked Bus interior for your viewing pleasure.




This is what I accomplished today now my floor is sealed and rust treated ready for an other 40 years.



I am still undecided about the new floor install. Wifey said that she wants the carpet to be soft and warm. I just want user friendly.

Currently my Bus interior is spread everywhere. My cushions, jumpseat and cooler combo are sitting in Indiana waiting for covering and modifications/rapair. My rear seat frame, side cabinet, and head banger shelf are sitting in the spare bed room. Sparks will fly when Wifey finds out. I think I will keep the door shut. Out of site out of mind kind of stuff.

[vintagevwnut]

Do laminate hardwood, and put in a throw rug.

[ghiastein]

Back to work but because of the arctic weather outside I am now forced to work indoors. This has given me the opportunity to work on my rear seat covering. Thanks to my Grandparents especially my Grandma my rear seats/bed is all recovered in new fabric. My cooler cabinet has also been fixed. Now comes the task of replacing rotted wood and repainting my cabinets.

Here is my only finished piece of Westy furniture

Before


After


I still need to get out to the garage to run tons of wires, install insulation, and lay down the floor. Then I can start assembling the interior.

Please bring me warm weather soon.
I hate cabin fever.