Parts Sources

The bus has required many new and used parts to bring it to life and keep it healthy. I paid $400 for the bus and it was in a non-running condition. Many of the engine parts were missing and/or worn out. Most of the interior was missing. The rest was torn up. Over the years, I have discovered many Internet based sources for parts, as well as a few traditional stores and salvage yards. Below is a quick list of the more common parts sources:
www.ronsvwbus.blogspot.com

www.Wolfsburgwest.com
www.westcoastmetric.com
www.mamotorworks.com
www.busboys.com
www.cip1.com
www.countryhomecampers.com
www.gowesty.com
www.eBay.com

Roscoe's Auto Salvage - Ventura
Napa Auto Parts
Conemac Machining - Canoga Park
Rimco (Riddle Machine Company) - Santa Ana
Rancho Performance Transaxel - Fullerton





www.Wolfsburgwest.com
www.westcoastmetric.com
www.mamotorworks.com
www.busboys.com
www.cip1.com
www.countryhomecampers.com
www.gowesty.com

Roscoe's Auto Salvage - Ventura
Napa Auto Parts

More VW Bus Photos

I found a few more old photos of my Bus.  The first one below was taken while camping in Mammoth Lakes in 2008.  As you can see, it was a bit cold, although the bus ran well.  No, I did not tow the trailer:

These next couple of photos show the bus sometime around 2007:

Next. some interior shots.  I made the cabinets myself.  The interior includes a Westfalia chest style refridgerator, stove, and sink with an RV demand pump:

In the next interior photo, you will notice the shower.  Not fancy, but enough to get the beach sand off:

No bus photo montage woule be complete without a shot of the engine:

This is what it looked like a few weeks ago as the new engine and transmission were going in.  I took the opportunity to replace the shift rod bushings and fuel tank hoses:

How about a bumper sticker:

Okay, that's enough for now.

Old Photo

Here is an old photo of the bus from 2002 before a lot of work was done to it.  The boys were much younger then.





Here is another one from another trip in 2002:

Pathos

A little bit about VW Bus ownership and life: I have owned a few VW's over the past 30 or so years, including 2 buses, and have learned a little about life. First, life and bus ownership both take maintenance. Bus maintenance means you start at the front and work your way to the back, only to start all over at the front again. In life, if something breaks or comes loose, fix it right away or the repair list gets too long to handle. A relationship with your friends, family or your bus is messy with a lot of love and hate all mixed in together. When things are smooth running, the love is evident in your stride. When you suck a valve or spin a rod bearing, heat, friction, and four letter words happen. Don't trade your friends, family, or your bus in for a Honda. You will miss out on maintenance.  Keep tools nearby. You will need them. And, one last thing: VW bus ownership is a disease, for which there is no cure. So is life. None of us will make it off the earth alive. Enjoy the ride.

First Blog Entry

This blog is set up to chronical my experiences with my 1978 VW camper bus.  It started out as a delux passenger bus, and is now a camper conversion, with a ASI/Riviera poptop, some Westfalia interior hardware such as a the refridgerator and fold out bed.  The rest of the cabinetry containing sink, stove, cabinets are home built.  The bus has nearly 250,000 miles, but nearly everything has been replaced and refinished.  There is a new complete drivetrain down to the wheel bearings and brakes.  About the only thing left to complete is a new poptop tent and front ball joints.  I will post some pictures in the next few days.
Ron