As mentioned elsewhere, we have found a T2 with Swagman camper conversion, 1974 1800 auto. What initially attracted me to this van was the auto transmission - my 23 year old daughter Louise wants to do an east coast road trip, and while I am sure she could handle a manual, the auto makes things so much simpler for her. Looked good on our first check, the seller Tony seemed like an honest, straightforward bloke. I wanted to get my regular mechanic to check it out, so a week went by. Went back for a second look with Louise, we were both in love with the van, and even before buying gave it the name "Sam" after Tony's Cocker Spaniels. My mechanic picked it up yesterday without me knowing, called me to day to come and have a look. Unusually, he was pretty pleased with the condition of Sam. On the hoist for a check over... My knowledge of Kombis is slight, I was pleased it had a disc brake front end. Rust is minimal, and surface only. Interior needs a lot of love, but is pretty good and mostly intact. Got Willow the Cocker in for her opinion of Sam She gave Sam a pass!
One week in, Sam gets better. Very solid base, no structural rust, but everything that can perish has. Bought new light lenses, whatever you call the coloured plastic bits all round, went to fit them and the bulb holders, seals etc fell apart on touching. Have ordered them now. New glovebox insert, VW badge for his nose, looking at roof rack options. Front interior a bit of a disaster, but nothing major - need new seats, ashtray seized, crap carpet under the seats and kick panels has been removed. Have cleaned the stuff that was growing on his roof off, hopefully get a roadworthy next week. Or the week after...….
After 3 weeks of ordering and waiting for bits, indicator switch, wiper switch, heater control, heater box things that control it at the back, door cards, winders, shockers, brakes, tyres and more, Sam got his registration yesterday. Daughter Louise very pleased...… First cruise this morning - I'm pretty happy too. Basically no interior yet - no carpet, no sound deadening, no rubber mats, little furniture, temporary seats that make it very hard for us more generously proportioned chaps to fit behind the wheel. But had a great time cruising to the beach.
Lots of gaps to fill in, but I would like to say a big "Thank You"to Lucky Phil for supplying some what appeared to be impossible to find seats. And seat runners. Got them fitted in Sam yesterday. T3 items, but close enough, and has made a world of difference to the interior. Will get them retrimmed down the track sometime, but fine for now. And I can now fit behind the steering wheel.......
Should be illegal!!! Where are the T3 owners going to get future replacement seats, when they all been snaffled by Bay owners?
You know where they will be,only problem is those seats might also be bugged. Makes it easy for me to get T2 seats,people don't want.
Baffles me... The bloke I bought Sam from had sold it in 2012 (maybe) with the original seats in it. He bought it back in 2017 with (maybe) Commodore front seats in it, in really bad condition, bolted to the floor in one spot, that were so bulky almost no one could fit behind the steering wheel. The original seats, or frames only, were all that was required, but probably went on a hard rubbish collection to be replaced with really stupid seats. I would have happily bought T2 seats, but lots of internet searching, and I forget how I found them, only returned Luckyphil's seats. The runners being supplied too were the saviour. The old T2 runners, drivers side came off OK drilling out spot welds, but lots of work. Passenger side was severely rusted, lots of weld build up required getting the new ones in. Thanks again Phil. And if anyone wants to buy some T2 seat runners in almost new condition, just a bit rusted, bent, and melted, get in touch.....
My apologies then for my previous comment...... I figured, like so many bay window owners, that you were simply upgrading your stock bay seats, to T3 ones. Didn’t realise it was a “need”, not just a “want”.
Extracted Sam from the mechanic today, most stuff attended to to make him drivable, still missing a lot of interior mats, lining etc, and nothing in the back apart from the side run furniture frame and the new r & r bed in its' box. Enjoyed the drive from Sandringham to Dingley, went via Beach Road and Mordialloc to get a nice cruise in. Gave him a wash. Refitted my undercoated doors. (See Swagman Conversions thread if curious)
Hi Nozza, Bet it was nice to cruise. Just noticed those racks. Geez ....your kombi's got a rack (or two)! Cheers
A lot of work and thought has gone in to those roof racks. JustKampers racks, cut and shut, top rails left off to reduce weight on the pop top, every second slat left out for the same reason, front rack altered to match the back, new mounts welded on, powder coated, bolted down, plates on the fibreglass inside the pop top roof. As I said, gaps to fill in. Need to carry boards on the roof!
Back to Sam today, first job trying to clean blue covering off the new whitewall tyres. Not obvious in the pictures, but after washing, brushing, scrubbing, and today wheel cleaner it is still faintly there. Opened the pop top and tried to get maybe 20 years of grime and compost out from under it. Used upholstery cleaner on the canvas, scrubbed with a broom. Improved but exit mould will be the next step. Happily surprised that despite direct hosing, the canvas didn't leak. Much. Let he canvas dry (as much as Melbourne temperature allowed) Loaded board and wetsuits for a couple of days driving Sam rather than The Kombi. Went and met wife and daughter in Mentone, took Louise for a spin. Swapped over so she could have a drive. She did some driving with me, then took boyfriend Jack for a drive. Not at all perturbed by piloting a car 20 years older than she is. Went home and picked up The Wife One and Willow. Went for a cruise along Beach Road. Willow still not impressed with Sam. Going past the ex Beaumaris Hotel. Or the Beaumaris ex Hotel, a maybe 18 year old boy on the footpath spotted us, put his hands together for "Please", and knelt on the footpath. Never expected that reaction. Gave him a toot and a wave. Maybe there is hope for the kids of today.
Looking great! One thing to try on the white wheels is Jif or Ajax cream cleanser - it has bleach in it and is slightly abrasive.
