Ross blake's Friends

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Describe your bus/van (if you do not have one, describe your dream bus/van): 73 year model vw bus...but it came out of the factory in late 73 so it has 74 style camper. i am second owner. bus had 30k on it when i got it. has been all over the country and now has 150 k on it. have started mechanical restoration but it needs cosmetic restoration. original 1.7 engine. still runs great.

At 8:09am on October 24, 2011, whc03grady said…: Hey Ross (or is it ross?)--

A bus built in late 1973 (anytime August 1973 or later, actually) is a 1974 model year bus. Model years and calendar years haven't matched up in years (notice all the 2012 Fords on the lot right now?). My '74 was built on October 24 1973, for instance. If you could provide your bus' M-Codes, you could find out all sorts of interesting things about it.
I really think '74 and '75 have the best camper layout--is yours a camper?

At 11:16am on October 24, 2011, whc03grady said…: Not to nag, but you should get the model year cleared up on your title. It could cause havoc between you and the cops and/or your insurance company if it got stolen or smashed into or something. The quickest way is to look at your VIN. If the third number is a '3', it's a 1973. If it's '4', it's a 1974.

I've taken the headliner above the cab off, and then taken the luggage rack off. If I remember correctly (I'm not near my bus right now), there are some screws on the headliner and then it slides out to the rear. The hardware holding the luggage rack down is, as you likely suspect, up in there (you'll have to take the insulation out too, but it's not attached to anything).

As for the tarp, if what you mean is the canvas tent attached to the poptop, yes I've redone ours too. It's not difficult, but it's kind of laborious--so many staples! I'd recommend a pneumatic stapler when it comes time to put the new canvas on, and a long-sleeve shirt for the whole process (unless you like that fiberglass feeling).