After a little digging around we realised the right side rear quarter panel on our Volkswagen Westfalia Camper had been repaired at some point but not only that there was more rust and corrosion than previously thought in the whole area. Read the rest of this entry »

So we bought a Westy over the internet, we thought the Bus looked ok in the 6 or so internet pictures, however, as always the truth up close was a little different. Here we start to go through what we’ve bought and there were some surprises in store for us. Read the rest of this entry »

Another new project – this is Easley, leaving the factory on 15th January 1970 as a Pearl White model 231 021 VW Camper. Of interest is the original delivery country of Belgium, which would suggest it being a US military delivery programme, where servicemen would be able to order a vehicle new and then have it transported back home, maybe after a quick tour of Europe – and why not. Read the rest of this entry »

If you have small pinholes in your rocker panels there are several options to repair, either cut out the whole rocker and replace the panel or if the holes are small why not weld them shut again and avoid the bondo body filler route. Read the rest of this entry »

Our VW Buses are now over 40 years old, and this in the lifetime of steel that can corrode is a long time. Some of the sheetmetal steel can be replaced, for example rocker covers or sills etc, here we take a quick look at a Brazilian made rear apron for a 1966/67 Volkswagen Camper – sometimes also called a rear valence. Read the rest of this entry »

So whats it like driving a big engine in a Volkswagen Bus – even better a Rat Style Camper. The stock engine generates about 30-50 Hp on a good day and in good tune, which when used to push a Bus around makes for slow progress. Our 2276cc engine should make around 150 hp – that’s about 3 times more powerful and as such should feel quite different. Read the rest of this entry »

Hazet tools have always been synonymous with German auto manufacturers and Volkswagen is no exception. Here we take a look at how to date a Roundbox toolkit into 4 main date groups and then show some fantastic period ads showing how Hazet and VW worked together through the 50’s and 60’s through the medium of official Volkswagen advertising materials. Read the rest of this entry »

A Rat style Bus would not be Hoodride unless its lowered and this was on the plan from the start. So out with the old gearbox and in with a upgraded Beetle based gearbox. Read the rest of this entry »

The Bus is now sort of painted and our attention turns to the engine and drivetrain. With a keen eye on the BWA club in England www.buseswithattitude.co.uk – we’d like to prepare something that is along the lines of fellow members rides. To be a member of BWA is reasonably involved but the essentials are to run an observed and timed sub 18 secs on a 1/4 mile in a Volkswagen Bus. Read the rest of this entry »

Keeping the theme of a Rat Style the finish of the paint has to be either original or very close to original – well we were out of original paint on our VW Camper, what with the extreme rust and pitting, plus the numerous panel replacements. So.. Read the rest of this entry »