The Journey of Jake - Lexi's Bus (Was: And one more added)

[Sneaks]

I'm going to try for a sticker this week so if that goes well, then the weekend after Tfest I'm game. I'll let you know.

So today between selling the truck and running to get baby stuff, we finished prep on Jake for paint. I broke out my new HVLP gun from Pep Boys, fired up the compressor and mixed the paint. Not sure why but I suspect the setting sun and the over-zealous brain of my camera screwed up the color. It looks blue but trust me, in person it is a deep purple, closer to Barney than Smurfett.

I'm pleased with how it came out, especially the rear corners which I had to rebuild due to significant old damage. The new gun works beautifully, the paint laid out nice and the weather was cool enough to keep the bugs away but warm enough so the paint would dry.



The fender was a real mess, I think it came out decent.









Not bad for about 2 weeks worth of evenings work. Tomorrow I jump into the wiring while Deb starts pulling the interior for paint.

Goal: to be able to deliver it for Transporterfest. Lexi, you coming up for that? I know, lofty goal but it gives us something to shoot for. No promises but if the weather gods are with us, we just might make it.

[ajdenette]

if you are looking for tires on rims that arent rotted the set i got with the syncro's new engine are good im getting lugs in the mail i like the look of the vgon alloys even on a bus she just cant keep them

[fusername]

oooh boy looks nice, I wnat ot see the real color soon! shame I don't have a buffer for that grinder I lent ya. Tfest would be impressive, but that thing looks a hell of a lot better than mine came out on spray day. and You flew through that body work!
it took me close to 5 hours to do a bloody clutch today, not what I wanted to spend my weekend on. I had planned on doing my lift spindles, but I opened the box to find 70-72 spindles, not 73-79, so once again, I am SOL. but atleast I have some pretty rims in the works...

Anyways, on this bus, when you replace those tinfoil intake boots, do the bay a favor and pull the upper cylinder tins, unlike a bug they come off very easy with the intake out of the way, and then you can pull the rats nest out that is always sitting on the oil cooler and between the fins on a bay that has been sitting. would be sad to see a roast motor in 50 miles. I don't know how they get in there, but they do. would also bea good chance for a compression test if you have aguage, I have one but I would need to get it to ya. not gonna happen this week i'm afraid.

anyyhoo, I need to drive back up to lowell and get some real work done, still at NLW/HS house and hte party is over...

[sparklingredpepper]

drool drool drool

It's purple.

I love it.

drool drool


It's. So. Pretty!

My goodness, I can't wait to drive that!!!!


I will be home for Tfest, as it happens to be over my "fall break" (where they give us a Monday and a Tuesday off, rotten payment for our hard work)! What do you think might be done by then?

And now I go back to staring at the pictures.


Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow

Have I mentioned that you're awesome?

[Sneaks]

oooh boy looks nice, I wnat ot see the real color soon! shame I don't have a buffer for that grinder I lent ya. Tfest would be impressive, but that thing looks a hell of a lot better than mine came out on spray day. and You flew through that body work!

I appreciate the response, especially since you've seen it a couple of times along the way. I have a nice little orbital polisher downstairs, I think I might pick up a head and bonnet for that grinder this week if things get a little better. Nice job selecting that paint brand, it laid down really nice and smooth. The pick above where it looks a little orange-peally was when it was still wet, the pic from the back corner is after about an hour and you can see how well it smoothed out.

it took me close to 5 hours to do a bloody clutch today, not what I wanted to spend my weekend on. I had planned on doing my lift spindles, but I opened the box to find 70-72 spindles, not 73-79, so once again, I am SOL. but atleast I have some pretty rims in the works...

You just can't win with spindles, can you?

What do you think might be done by then?

YAY. SHE LIKES IT!!

I'm hoping to start on the electrical work tonight as well as patch up that hole in the floor. I have headlights and ignition so it is just getting the rest of the crap working. Once I get done crawling through it for that, we'll start prepping to shoot the green inside and on the the wheels. Do you want to bumpers in green as well?

[Stray Catalyst]

With those colors, it really needs an orange interior...

It's coming out beautifully, though. If you need any help with the electrical work, I'm free Sunday.

Stray

[fusername]

I was wondering the same thing about bumper colors. the green bumpers shure would make it more festive, although black would probably contrast real nice as well. Personally I think the green may be too much on the bumpers (one to talk i know..) but the green rims and grill would really balance the whole thing out. White bumpers may be the best move? just throwign around ideas, ms paint is a good place to try em out, I sent you a link to the bus painter program, right lexi?

[sparklingredpepper]

YAY. SHE LIKES IT!!

Likes it?
...
She's in love...

I had run through a whole bunch of bumper colors in my head, that I promptly forgot about. Looking at it now, I think white might be the best choice if you happen to have it lying a round. Maybe for the grill too? Perhaps we should nix the green rims, it might be a little too flashy. Or it might look wonderfully cheerful. Thoughts? I'm not too picky about the trim colors, I think white bumpers would go nicely, but I'm not married to any particular color.


Fuser, I checked but I don't think I ever got a link to a bus paint program... you owe me a few e-mails, actually. Did you end up mailing me the swatch of purple, or is that still with you and I'll pick it up when I'm at home?


Er.. I apologize, perhaps this is overwhelming, but ... when can I buy him? Could I come pay a visit this coming weekend?

[Sneaks]

YAY. SHE LIKES IT!!

Likes it?
...
She's in love...

I had run through a whole bunch of bumper colors in my head, that I promptly forgot about. Looking at it now, I think white might be the best choice if you happen to have it lying a round. Maybe for the grill too? Perhaps we should nix the green rims, it might be a little too flashy. Or it might look wonderfully cheerful. Thoughts? I'm not too picky about the trim colors, I think white bumpers would go nicely, but I'm not married to any particular color.

I talked to the ladies about it cuz I suck at this stuff and the general consensus is white rims and bumpers would help lighten up and balance the darkness of purple. The grill is mixed. I say I'll do the bumpers and the rims first, then we can visit the grill after that.

Fuser, I checked but I don't think I ever got a link to a bus paint program... you owe me a few e-mails, actually. Did you end up mailing me the swatch of purple, or is that still with you and I'll pick it up when I'm at home?

This one? www.busselecta.com? Too bad purple isn't a color option:(

Er.. I apologize, perhaps this is overwhelming, but ... when can I buy him?

Well, this weekend?

Could I come pay a visit this coming weekend?

Most definitely. Deb just asked today if I thought you'd want to come up and visit him.

So, I did some more work tonight after I sold my truck. Please note the pic below.



Yeh, I know, it looks like the others, right? But what is different?

Think.
Look.

That's right, he's facing the other way. Why is that important? Because he got that way under his own power. Yup. I drove him tonight. Not far, up and down the street but I did. Major accomplishments tonight:

Now have brake lights.
Now have BRAKES!
Now have working wipers
Shifts fine
All 4 gears work
Clutch is good

Unfortunately, I was going to get video of this but when I went to make a second run, it was called to my attention the large puddle of oil under him. Hey fuser, remember that valve cover you pointed out to me as not being on correctly?

I forgot to fix it.
Oops.
The gasket is torn so I'm replacing it tonight, then an oil change was going to happen anyway so this saves me from draining as much of it No harm, no foul except for the puddle in the driveway. Still need to tweak the carb tuning a bit and replace the manifold boots.

[fusername]

shell rotella T, HD 30 if it has a thermostat, 10 30 if it doesnt. or maybe 10 40, do you have an oil pressure guage? only thing avail local that is even decent for a flat tappet cam.

i think green rims and whit bumpers would look pretty slick, but we shall see what the final vote is. green can always be painted over if its not loved. Maybe we will follow you home after t-fest. Doesn't have to be done, but an inaguarl drive may be in order.

[sparklingredpepper]

I think perhaps we'll stick with the green rims, given that the curtains will eventually be white (which fuser pointed out to me, since I had again forgotten). But white bumper, I think.

Sounds like a lot of work to do in the next week. I would love to buy him this weekend... though it may have to wait until Monday or something because I need to deposit a hefty check in the bank and they might not let me withdraw it right away. I'll be around 'til Tuesday.

When would be a good time to come and visit? I'll be home by Friday evening, so I could come any time Friday night, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday....

[Sneaks]

I'll do it up that way, if you end up not liking it we can alway repaint something. I think white bumpers are a good choice...classic bus look. I think the green rims with polished hubcaps will be a nice balance. I forgot the curtains as well...oops!

We should be around all weekend, except Sunday of course when we're at tfest

You are welcome to visit whenever you like

[fusername]

you decide what you bringing to the fest? the baja get a sticker or is the rally coming down on a trailer? I am seriously thinking about following you back on sunday, although since i am really leaning towards the buggy on sunday you may need to wait up a bit before I can swap cars and ride up w/ the little lady. Will need to talk to her and see what works. I really want to see how that paint came out in person. looks shiny enough, but this moniter doens't have any red (way to go tuition/fees money) so who knows.

[DannyK]

BTW, if you look closely near the bottom edge of your spare mount and can read upside down, you'll see the letters T-O-P !

[Sneaks]

you decide what you bringing to the fest? the baja get a sticker or is the rally coming down on a trailer? I am seriously thinking about following you back on sunday, although since i am really leaning towards the buggy on sunday you may need to wait up a bit before I can swap cars and ride up w/ the little lady. Will need to talk to her and see what works. I really want to see how that paint came out in person. looks shiny enough, but this moniter doens't have any red (way to go tuition/fees money) so who knows.

I still don't know what I'm bringing besides the Suburban. I was hoping to get a sticker this week but I still need to swap out the windshield and that isn't going to happen soon so dunno. I'm actually thinking of pulling the motor out of the baja before snow flies and putting in the back of the Westy until I can get that 1776 put together. If you do come up Sunday, can you bring mic\calipers so you can help me size my bearings for it?

Do you need a monitor? Can come up with one for you, I don't have any spare LCDs but I have a ton of CRTs.


Danny, just stand on your head and it will all look right...