Vroooom!!!

Well, I put the battery in, and turned the key...and it started! I didn't let it run long, and it all brought a smile to my neighbor who brought over a gas can.

Monday I can get gas.

Bought a book from Amazon on restored buses...the rust is a nightmare. Mine's not so bad, but even a little is bedeviling to get rid of. 20.00 for the book.

New Battery

123.00 for a new battery. Brought it home from the Garage. Won't get to putting it in until Saturday, if weather is good...probably later. The engine isn't original, nor the transimission..both rebuilt replacements, some question as to the condition of the brakes and it does need gas. Info from previous owner who takes an interest in my progress!

Battey on Order

I put the old one in my ski boot bag, and hauled it to the bus and to the Garage. And the new one wont be in until next Wednesday.

Rust

I got the battery out...usual business of pounding, wiggling, prying...and swearing....and there's some rust where it sits in the engine compartment...I've read that's common.

This rust might determine what to do first if the engine needs replacement, which it will if it is too expensive to get running and pass the smog test. More expensive I mean than a new engine.

First, then, would be to have the Bus go to the body shop with the engine out and take care of the rust.

If I can get it running I'll drive it until the snow falls, and if the engine is strong, for awhile longer, into Spring and Summer when the roads clear. But eventually a new engine will be in order, and that's the time, when the old one's out, to have rust taken care of...

Tomorrow I'll haul the battery to the Garage...a bit of a chore as it's heavy! And if they have a new one, hopefully a little smaller!, I might turn the ignition on and see if it runs...I need to baking soda clean the cable connects, and just eyeball the engine and make sure oil level is okay and fuel line and gas...forgot gas...I haven't bought gas for four years! Heck, I'll need a gas can!

It hasn't run for two summers I think...previous owner showed me photos of it over on the East Side, and it looked like two summers ago...when there was snow!

The Battery Wrench

Well, a lot can hinge on putting a new battery in...if the Bus up and starts and runs, I can drive it to Merced for futher work. If not, an expensive tow will be in order.

I checked the oil, okay, and the engine looks remarkably clean, and I tried to remove the battery cables on the old battery with a little crescent wrench with wobbly jaws...it wouldn't snug on the nut, which is a little corroded, so rather than risk stripping it I walked over to the Garage and purchased a box wrench set, 20.00, and WD40 at the Store.

Tomorrow, I'll apply the WD40, and the made in India box wrench, and see what transpires!

Bus Arrives in the Backyard

Well, I had a photo, but I accidentally deleted it. I can get another tomorrow, it's not like it's going to move! I had it towed, 56.50, from Curry to the Backyard.

To get it there has been a culmination of months of looking at vehicles on ebay, yahoo, auto trader, etc., a walkabout in Merced of used car lots, hundreds of conversations on the merits of having a personal vehicle here....money concerns...it's just been a lot of work!

Next, I get some wrenches and pull the old battery, take it to the Garage and exchange it for a new one.

After it was parked for an hour or so, some young people, late teens early twenties, happened by on the way I think to the "beach" on the Merced, and stopped to look it over, peering in the windows...it's...it's like twice as old as they are...

Buses are attention grabbers...I could a bought most any car, but none, even in beat up condition, that has a VW Bus's charm!

Saw a coyote, first one since last Spring, riding in the big bouncy tow truck...reminded me of the dump truck I drove once for a little bit.

Crumpled Front

Well, it's still over in Curry..got so annoyed that the Garage wont work on it, that I'll put off the move to Tree in the Door 'till tomorrow..and it'll likely cost 60 dollars or so...expense to date...800 purchase and 76 registration as non operating...sigh. A new battery might make it go...dont know now!

Googled a lot of restoration sites...parts for the interior are readily available as kits, so I can do a lot of that...painting and engine work I'll have to take to shops...and read about how to fix crumpled fronts...cut them out and replace....or use chain and comealong, the chain wrapped around tree...plenty of trees hereabouts but one wouldn't dare to wrap a chain around them!! The slack liners carefully pad them. I could cover up the crumple with a bra... Headlights have a quizzical look, dont they??!!!

The deer were eating the apples fallen about it today!