Well i've had my bus for a while and i've been doing some work on it so thought i would post up a thread on it.

Her names Mai Ling 6:45 Love You Longtime (the plate)

Bought her from the US back in 04 saved from a junk yard. They had opened a cargo door run a chain through and smashed one of the pop outs the other side for the chain and picked it up like that So the roof suffered.

And then someone managed to climb all over the roof and turn it into something that resembled an empty fish pond.

Anyway some pics, how it was when i bought it.






The damage to the roof

When i got it back i had to do some metal work, as the tin worm had started to feast.




I think the list of metal i replaced in the first round of work was:

Sills inner and outer both sides
cargo floor sections both sides
Cargo floor section behind bulkhead
chassis sections behind out riggers
all out riggers
all jacking points
chassis centre sections (in between rails)
Lower "A"/ "B" /"C" etc pillar sections
Sections behind the front wheels above the jacking points
Tophat sections under cargo floor
Cab floor thirds either side

Some more pics of the metalwork

Then the running gear standard 1500 splitty box, and 5 and 3/4 inch narrowed lowered adjustable beam.
CSP dual circuit brake conversion.





Got me to this



Also did the 12volt conversion and fitted half leather recaros

I straightened out most of the roof dents, and had a basic go at the crumpled gutter edge damage and got it fairly ok, but left the metal alone after that for a few years and just drove the .... out of it going to the shows and festivals etc.

Was running a 1600 single port, but i did fit a CSP gear stick just transforms the whole driving experience, amazing difference.

I do love having a ratty bus, it give you a lot of freedom, and a lot less stress about using it and not damaging it.

Oh also fitted safaris up front, and a rear bench seat with a sheet of plywood resting on it and screwed into the bulkhead as a bed.
This was a look i was pioneering at the time that i called "bachelor minimalist"

My "Bud" bumper

I got hold of some bay roof supports and extended, and changed the curve, so that they fitted in the split, as i found that the large dents in the roof would pop back un supported.
And now they don't, so all is good.

Got my mate Jules to make the interior that i designed, out of birch faced marine grade ply.
Although it's a deluxe bus and should have a mohair headliner, i'm not recreating a stock deluxe so for me wood it is.

I also removed the petrol heater that was dealer installed.





It's in great shape actually if anyone wants it it's up for sale.

Artsy shot from the batch of pics of when it was in the VZI Brads cancer calendar for 2009

Loving ur 15w. Great work there
Daz

Very nice, well rescued that man!

The interior looks great!, is that 3mm or 4mm ply panels?