58' still looking for help

Anybody reliable out there.
Still looking for help or a reference for
help with the 58'.

Is it just that it's not running? I can't remember what all was going on with it.

What do you need Michael? Did you call Robert Skinner?

I probably missed something, but do not
presently have his number.
I had someone who was helping me (of sorts) who
disconnect the fuel line to attempt test on engine,
utilizing a separate source of fuel. That is where that
sits.(the engine turned over a few weeks ago by
crossing at starter.)
Have put in new battery and new neg cable. Have not
tried anything since.
Still have it on stilts to work on brakes, but need someone
else to help with bleed brakes. Have new rear cylinders. No
new shoes yet. Would like to do all at same time.

etc.,etc..

Michael K.
Ph. (916) 987-2854

I'm better with brakes than I am with troubleshooting engine issues. I could help you with the stoppy stuff.

Robert Skinner's #707-449-4200

So, it looks like Greg can help you bleed the brakes, get the bus to stop. As for the engine, if it ran, it sounds like maybe with good gas and you will be able to drive it?

I assume that the tank was full of old gas when parked. If I remember correctly, it was parked since the 1980's? So, that would be why they used another source. If it was a bug, you could simply pull the tank and clean it out, but you will have to pull the engine in the bus in order to do that. Are you up for pulling the motor yourself to get the tank out and probably replace some fuel lines? That may be all you need. Otherwise, do you have the funding to have someone do it for you and have it towed to a shop?

If it's been sitting for years, then you need to replace all the soft fuel lines period. If you are lucky you can clean out the tank and us it. I put chain into mine and sloshed it around with kerosene (harder to ignite) to scrape out the gunk. Drained and repeated until it looked clean. Be sure to remove the fuel sender and filter. I suspended mine from the rafters so I could easily slosh stuff around.

As for bleeding brakes, you can do it yourself with a simple method. Run the drain line from the bleeder UP and over the tire and then into a container. Running the line up forces air bubbles to go up and away from the cylinder. Then when the brake pedal is let up, it sucks up a tiny bit (if any) of fluid not air. Keep an eye on the master fluid level. The only gotcha is like any bleeding if you loosen the bleed nipple too much air can get sucked into the cylinder. It works great as a single handed method for blake bleeding.

Thanks for getting back everyone.
Hope everyone had a great day with family.
Appreciate the number Dawn. I will give him
a call.
Greg please give me a ring as to when you
might be available.
Any idea on cost to pull engine & tank ?
Have never done that before and do not
feel comfortable doing it unless I had some
guidance. My repair book also got wet and is useless.
Have not found one yet at various resources.
Sound like it needs to be done ? I had a fair share
of gas that was in there. Drained it. Took days to
completely drain out, thick and stinky like kerosene !
Are there tank shops ? who could use some sort of
solvent to clean it out ? I need to do this as well with
my crew cab Chevy. I think someone told me there was
someone who could clean tanks in Rocklin???
Thanks Jeff for the tips.

You can clean the tank yourself. It's easy to do. I'll give you a call as soon as I can figure out my schedule and I'll getcha all learned up real good on tank cleaning. Lol.

A chain like Jeff explained will probably suffice. I used rocks, LOL. Mine has ran for 10 years after the rocks treatment and I never had a problem. The "proper" way to clean a tank would be to take it to someone, and considering it's a BUS and you need to pull the motor to get to it, it's not something you want to do a 2nd time.... so maybe a price quote would be worth checking. I'll ask Ray who he uses, we were going to do that with Velvet's tank, but it ended up not being necessary.

Since the bus isn't a roller yet, Robert may know someone that would come and do your basic stuff (pull motor, brakes) at your house. He has a ton of employees and bus enthusiasts surrounding him.

always look forward to a learning session.
just give me a call
I believe someone told me they spray them
out with hot water as well ????
reason for rocks/chain etc. is to remove
gummy portions of residue ?

I called Robert. No answer or message machine ?


thanks,
mk

The best do-it-yourself way to go Is to buy the kit put out by POR-15. It runs about $100 for the kit but it's AMAZING! I used the stuff on a '51 Ford I had that hadn't run in 33 years and was left outside with no fuel cap. It was in horrible shape and there's no way your tank is worse than that one was. It was all clean and bright shiny new-looking metal inside when I was done.

http://www.norcalvdubs.com/t745-aircooled-repair-service-restoration-customizing

The foothills chapters monthly tech day is set for the third saturday of each month.
Tech day: 9:00am to 3:00pm @

Alta Sierra's Smog Stop
15563 State Highway 49
Grass Valley, CA 95949

See also the highlighted underlined portion of my sig at the bottom.

I'd offer some mobile stuff but getting tools together to do that and putting them back everytime is to much of a pain.

Just a couple ideas.

sounds like good stuff. rocks/chain sound way
cheaper ! Have misplaced that pot a gold I had
layin around. How were you able to look inside
the tank ???
Was able to talk to Robert. He was going to
think about who might be available in my area.
Sounded like pulling the engine and tank is
usually only a couple of hours job. This is
driving me nuts. If I had done it before it
would be done. I have tools, floor jack etc..
But no vw brain behind them. Heck , its only
been 23 years or so since I last went through
the brakes. What's the prob !
tech chat sounds interesting. if it's a Sat., I'm
usually working at farmers market. Unless I
were to get a job ! I could actually support myself
with. Woah what a concept .
Keep it comin. I'm smarter on this today than I
was yesterday

Michael,

When you had dinner with us a couple months ago, Rich Duncan was driving a yellow bus that night and he says that he gave you Jason Lindquist's #. I don't have it, but you may want to look it up if you never called him.

You can also call Rich, he can either give you Jason's # again, or maybe even be able to come over and help you himself. He's in between jobs at the time and could use a few dollars thrown his way.

Rich 916 212 2977

Thanks, I will give him a call.
I did have his number but my wallet
decided to get lost.

How's it going Michael?

Rich was going to go by his place yesterday, but I sidetracked him and he went to Robert Skinner's for me to get Velvet a new spring plate... But Rich lives right near Michael and has a split bus too, he's in touch with him and gonna take a look at helping soon.

Oh ok. Good.

I didn't see any reference to the hard line. Make sure that's also clean.

As for brakes, you'll need to replace the rubber lines. If they're old and sat unused for years, they'll swell when used and be sticky, or ineffective, one bad, the other worse.
They have a 12 year life expectancy.

thanks everyone,

Rich has come over to help. We replaced all the rubber
brake lines with ss. We're not real happy with the ss.
I did have 1 german rubber one for rear. the ss were
a wee bit different on ends and had smaller diameter
interior line. But Lines are now clear !!
Will be finishing hopefully tomorrow on brakes.
meanwhile had been fidling with electric, finally got key
to turn and engine turns over, lights started working !
Happened when my eldest son was helping me. He was
in it last time I drove it 25+- years ago ! Quite magical.
just picked up new 6v coil. we were not getting any spark.
mk

That's awesome!

OMG, I am sooo excited for you! Please keep updating. We are meeting at the NAG meetup this Saturday (the place that you rode with me to a few months ago) and Dennys. Hope to see you.

The coil is in oil and they don't fare well sitting for that long. Used regularly, they can last indefinitely, but once old, then left to sit, not always good for them.

Good to hear you're getting it sorted out. Yes, if the car sat for 25 years, the rubber brake lines were shot.