the Tale of the Beauty, continued...

We have been busy grinding on the Beauty, a 1966 VW Standard Microbus that was dragged out from a riverbed to be resurrected once again...

Kudos and major props go to Robert Skinner from Vacaville Auto Body Center, Inc at 938 E. Monte Vista Ave. Vacaville, CA 95688, website: www.vacavilleautobody.com 

The plan of attack once we brought the Beauty over to Robert's shop was to fabricate and install the heating components which were rusted out after years of sitting on the riverbed. We also smoothed up some of the body panels so it will be safer without having to cut us up while walking around the bus- it had too many jagged and rough metal edges all around the bus.

 Towing the bus to the Vacaville Auto Body Center

Clint (Deaf Volks member and owner of the Beauty) discussing the task 

at hand with Robert Skinner (shop owner in dark blue sweater)

Vacaville Auto Body Center, Inc

Patching up the rusted rocker panels with whatever scrap metal parts we can find.

 Work begins on the Heating ducting and system

 Cleaned up and ready to install new piece!

Fabricated and installed scrap metal hose so we have HEAT during Shasta Snow Trip!

 As you can see above, the front heater elbow piece was nonexistent. 

We added in donor metal piece, thanks to Robert!!!

 Cleaning up the area for install

 The donor elbow piece fitted in place, so the heated air can travel to the front cab area.

Welded in the piece after all the measuring and fitting.

Next up: Shaping the body panels to smooth it up.

Pounding away....

Whoo, you can see the rear corner taking shape. It was smashed in all the way in, and its amazing with the skills Robert got, it nearly got its shape back when it first left the VW factory!

Whew, burnt all the midnight oil, gotta stop for the Thanksgiving holidays.

Here, the Beauty is hoisted up in the air among its friends at Vacaville Auto Center...

Heres a parting shot for you all until the next update: STAY TUNED!! 

the Tale of The Beauty...

Hello everyone, lately we have been quiet only because we have been super busy! 

With Halloween over, there is Thanksgiving coming up soon and before you know it, it will be already New Year's day! Some things will need to be well planned ahead of time such as Thanksgiving and Holidays. There are lists to prepare, and shop for... the same goes with some hardcore Deaf Volks members who plan months ahead for a single event that occurs only once a year. Similar to the variety of annual events that are special and precious to you, such as birthdays or holidays, there are some spaces in the calendar that are already marked off for vintage VW enthusiasts...

We will focus on a particular event, the legendary Shasta Snow Trip. For more information and background of this event, please refer to their site: www.shastasnowtrip.com. 

Deaf Volks member Clint Dickinson opted to take up a challenge from a friend: Resurrect an abandoned bus (literally!) off a riverbed and get it in running shape for the grueling annual adventurous auto rallying through the tough back roads for few days.

AS FOUND:

IT WAS ON! We placed it up on jacks, rebuilt the brakes and installed our own wiring system because the original wiring system were just simply too messed up. We also tried to do some bodywork to make panels fit and close snugly. There were tons of parts that were donated or bought to make this effort possible. Motor was on loan from a friend, and using its existing transaxle, it moved under its own power!!! 

Check out this video:

Unfortunately the transaxle was not up to the task. It grinds when placed in 4th gear and would not stay in gear. Timing was not on our side, we could not budget or source a transaxle in time for the trip in 2011 However, it is not over. The next Shasta Snow Trip is coming up in Feb. 3-5, 2012, Team Deaf Volks are already starting the preparations and going through the Beauty once again to make sure it's ready.  

Check out the upcoming videos and photos as it will be sent to Skinner's Restorations from Vacaville, CA next week. Why? It will be on a frame rack to verify the chassis is not bent or twisted. From there, some work will be needed to finish the Beauty for a shipshape and safe trip without any breakdowns.  

We welcome any support or feedback from you... Just post a comment!