1977 VW Type 2 Bay High Roof

[Rusted Pistons]

Yes - so excited about this!!

So, out of nowhere, the opportunity to buy this '77 Type 2 popped up. We know the van as it's been in the family for a couple of years. Their plans changed, and it's landed in our hands!


















The Rusted Pistons fleet:

[Rusted Pistons]

It seems to be solid in all the right places from the brief amount of checking I've managed (only had it since Sunday afternoon) having been welded up in various places and undersealed. Found a little bit of rot in front of the front steps but the steps themselves are solid.

Drives really well! The gear change very much feels like there's 15 feet between the lever and the box but I'd imagine that's fairly normal?! Got used to it quickly anyway. I was very pleasantly surprised by how well it picked up speed and kept up with the traffic. Runs really well. Bit of blue smoke on startup after leaving it for a bit so probably needs valve stem seals.

[Rusted Pistons]

CB radio!

[Rusted Pistons]

Comes with a rock and roll bed that's not bolted in yet, an awning, a tent thing that attaches to the side, water containers, a 110v lead and socket on the outside, random tools and bits and bobs etc.

Still lots of stuff to discover in the cubby holes - find one of those acrylic sun visor extensions this afternoon! Sat in it in a thunder storm with a cup of coffee to assess for any leaks. Very cosy even without much going on inside!

The inside of the hightop has been carpeted but it's fallen down so that needs glueing back up.

So the list in my head prior to a proper inspection looks a bit like this:


Research rear seatbelt options (3 child seats to fit)

Change a few old looking tyres

Inspect brakes (they feel a bit weak)

Strip out interior to see what we've got

Double check how solid it is

[Rusted Pistons]

Chilling in a storm with a steaming cup of Joe:

[Rusted Pistons]

I've ripped the offensive wheel trims off and frisbeed them into the wheelie bin.

Came with these:








It'll look so much better with them on

[Rusted Pistons]

The van has a rock and roll bed and 2 'seats' behind the front seats. They're storage boxes I think - I presume the rock and roll bed lies on them when folded out? Need to have a play.

I'm trying to collect as much information as I can regarding fitting seatbelts. We need 3 child seats in it- I'm currently thinking that 2 shoulder belts fitted on the rock and roll bed, and 2 fitted on the rear facing 'seats' would be the most sensible way to do it?

Penny for your thoughts, RR collective?

[kevins]

I'm assuming you want 3 point belts?

For the rock and roll It should be fairly easy, the lower attachments through the seat and onto the floor with suitable spreader plates behind, the upper ones will need to go to the header rail or rear pillar, Just need to find somewhere you can get behind to feed a spreader plate in.

The 3rd one will be more of an issue, kids facing rearwards tend to throw up and a timber box is not really a good base for a child seat, might be better to remove the box on the LHS and get some of the floor rails and a seat with integrated seat belts they use on modern ford and VW busses, you can remove it and throw it in the awning when you get wherever you are going.

[Rusted Pistons]

Ah yes - sorry I didn't mean to keep the timber box, I meant replace them with singles of some sort.

Interesting idea re: the removal seat. I'll have a look into it now.


Good to hear the rock and roll should be fairly straight forward! I'm assuming the bed would still operate as normal with the belt through it? I need to find a bit of time to investigate the bed situation so I understand it better

[Rusted Pistons]

I'd like to glue the carpet back to the ceiling - it's a heavy carpet so I'll need something stronger than contact adhesive spray that I usually use. Does anyone have any experience of some good stuff? As you can see in the pics above, it's a long strip of carpet. Might work better cutting it into sections? I like the quality and feel of it so I'm keen to use it over any thinner stuff that might normally be used. Super strong, easy to use carpet glue recommendations anyone?

[Rich]

Jun 14, 2023 7:54:18 GMT Rusted Pistons said:

I'd like to glue the carpet back to the ceiling - it's a heavy carpet so I'll need something stronger than contact adhesive spray that I usually use. Does anyone have any experience of some good stuff? As you can see in the pics above, it's a long strip of carpet. Might work better cutting it into sections? I like the quality and feel of it so I'm keen to use it over any thinner stuff that might normally be used. Super strong, easy to use carpet glue recommendations anyone?

Martrim upholstery glue. 👍🏻

[Rusted Pistons]

Martrim upholstery glue. 👍🏻

Thanks man - I'll have a look for it 👍

[Rusted Pistons]

Spent some time on the camper tonight - first job was to reduce the jailer's key set to only the useful ones. Forgot to take a pic of the after but we're down to 6 keys 😂



Took the wooden box things out.









Had a play with the Rock and roll bed but couldn't get my head round it this evening.



Cozy




So this was a pretty well organised workshop before I emptied the van 😬

[Rusted Pistons]

Mucho hoovering later

[Rusted Pistons]

Found a structural elephant. Went to take it off and realised it's covering a big hole in the headlining

[Rusted Pistons]

So the next thing I need to do is to unbolt the box frame and then take the wooden flooring out to see what the actual floor is like. Assuming it's all good, I'll then work out the best plan for a seat. I'll be getting a minibus style seat as mentioned above by kevins (thanks for the idea mate 👍)

Then I'll work out how the bed works and bolt it in before I sort out some seatbelts for it.

Using it in the morning to go to work - can't wait 🤘

[Rusted Pistons]

Found out it has electronic ignition 🤘

Drove to work today and loved it. Drives really well - smooth and straight.

Looking at the rock and roll bed it's just not going to be safe even with belts. I'm trying to find a rock and roll bed that has belts attached to it that is safe but won't break the bank. If anyone has any leads or knows of anything I'd much appreciate it. I have a nice set of Rock and roll bed cushions so just need a frame really.

Apparently, they should have some sort of spreader plate under the chassis as well.

[westbay]

"Apparently, they should have some sort of spreader plate under the chassis as well. "

...and a test certificate to keep the insurance gods happy ...

[kevins]

You will get seat belts with the e mark label on them. The anchorage is vehicle specific and a destructive test best you can usually do is fix it to the most solid part of the underbody you can find and use large spreader plates. It may be for the VW there will be something out there with a TUV apptoval but it will cost...

[mungo]

Mine's a little earlier but I expect the seat belt mounts are the same ....have a look on my thread, they had all rusted out . The strengthening plates are all in the wheel wells so collect dirt.