LEAKOIL Forum

Thanks for the response, Ted. I'll take a closer look but probably end up ordering what you linked.

Great work Bruce. This bus looks awesome!

Been mocking up lately- test hung all of the doors,


Machined the bell for 12v,


Put the adapter bushing in for the starter,


Put the motor in to look at the exhaust,

I'm thinking about modifying this exhaust and using a bus tailpipe.


Put the back bumper on. It looks like shit and probably needs to be replaced.


Wet sanded the rear hatch, and the orange peel came right out. Time for buffing.

Bruce that looks outstanding!

Time for an update. I installed the door latches, new WW handles, strikers and aligned the doors. I wet sanded the whole bus (except the roof, which I'll do soon) with 2000 grit which removed the majority of the orange peel. I did "go through" in a couple of places, typical of a rookie. I buffed the whole bus to a nice shine and it looks even better than before. I got the tires and wheels together so we're good to go there but the hubcaps are marginal, so if anyone's sitting on good ones they'd let go, I'm all ears. New ones are a C-note each so I might look for good Kraut ones.


The spare tire is really snug- do you guys run a smaller spare to fit the WT well? Tom from East Coast still has nose emblems available so get them while you can. It's stainless and really nice quality.



I disassembled the wiper motor, cleaned and re-greased both areas and bearings, and gently wire wheeled the commutator.

I hear bad things about sandpaper and commutators so I've always used a wire wheel with good luck. (Chuck- 3/8" drill, small wheel gently, not the monster flesh remover)



You need three hands to reassemble one of these so I used some mig wire to hold the brushes back while the case goes together. I hooked it to a battery and ran it through the paces for 90 minutes when done, it works perfect on both speeds and park and very quiet. I also worked lube into all of the pivots and down the wiper shafts.

I was sitting on some nice 1" foam pads from somewhere that were perfect for sound insulation- closed cell that absorbs no water, so I cut those and insulated all of the doors with 3M spray glue. ($26 a can? WTF?)

Too bad I ran out and didn't have enough to do all of the side walls.

The wood on the floor is temporary so I don't go crazy trying to roll my roller stool on a ribbed floor. Ugh!

I used the expensive Dynamat in the roof 'cause it will be behind the headliner and better not give trouble,

and the cheaper FatMat in the side walls when the foam ran out.


Huge difference in sound when you tap your knuckle on the outside of the panel. The uninsulated areas give a loud "boom", the insulated areas sound like knocking on solid wood.

Still some reshoot to do- the rear decklid was wavy and I don't think I could live with it. Even after 600 grit and wetsanding it didn't meet my standards so it's back in primer right now. I was working on stupid shit today like the dash tray, miscellaneous brackets and etc. that need to be painted to get the steering box in. I cobbled up a BS spray booth for parts- a big cart with tarps over it ducted to the exhaust fan so I can paint inside without getting overspray on my pretty bus. HeyEd and Mike Roecker stopped by lately to check QC.

Bill should be doing the headliner if he returns from Mehico so I'm keeping fingers crossed. I saw he posted here the other day so we know he hasn't drowned yet.....

Awesome work Bruce.

And early bus owners have an even more confined place for the spare (behind the front seat) so like others I use a beetle tire (165X15) for a spare.

I guess you could buy 5 bias ply tires!

I would like to know where I can go to get a 6v transaxle machined for the 12v flywheel like you have done, Bruce.

WOW! Great job man!!!

douge wrote:I would like to know where I can go to get a 6v transaxle machined for the 12v flywheel like you have done, Bruce.

I made the tool, you can use it, Bill donated a couple of bearings to hold the crank. It takes about 10 minutes and looks really nice compared to the old butcher method we used to use.

ingenious idea