Volksarama "Bonneville Bus" to become reality
 

Through a strange series of events, it looks like the Bonneville Bus will come to reality. This bus was always one of those what-if projects. Chris Clark, of Clarks Customs, penned this awsome rendition of this way cool dream bus. Now, dream no more. I have become the new owner of the KCW "shop truck" project. Photos of the chassis work can be found here http://kustomcoachwerks.com/gallery/...2_itemId=23646 . The torsion housing has been raised and narrowed, front beam narrowed, 5 inch dropped spindles, raised box, wheel tubs, barndoor rear decklid and engine compartment. A great start for this project. I plan on building this as I have time and money, and plan to actually take this to the salt flats and/or the dry lakes to make real top speed passes. I'll start documenting the progress soon and will start a new folder in my gallery to show the progress. I'll keep you up to date. Here's the artwork
http://volksarama.smugmug.com/photos/140490420-L.jpg[/url]

In an effort to reduce costs and speed up construction time, I am searching for companies that would like to contribute to this build. In exchange for parts, labor, cash, or trades, your company can be associated with this high profile build. A logo on the bus, link on our website, and recognition in all magazine and web features would be your return. I anticipate this vehicle will catch the attention of all types of magazines and websites. Plus, the bus will be taken to many shows around the West and hopefullly be entered into the 2008 SEMA show. If you are interested, contact me at derek@volksarama.com or PM me with your phone #.

Parts needed:
Engine internals: , crank, rods, cam, lifters, heads, pistons/cyls, and all other long block parts
Engine externals: tin, alternator, pulleys, clutch/plate,
Ignition system: Distributor, ignition box, wires, coil
Fuel system: tank, pump, regulator, lines, fitttings
Oil system: cooler, filter, lines, fittings
Turbo system: intake, carb, exhaust, turbo, wastegate
Flush mount windows
Rubber and seals
Electrical system: wiring harness, battery, lights, starter, alternator
Sheetmetal body panels: front nose skin, pass. side rocker panels (in/out)
Safety equipment: harnesses, fire supression, racing suit, helmet,
Paint materials.
Steel tubing
Sheetmetal work
Interior work

Labor needed.
Interior work.
Electrical install

Contact me to donate anything. derek@volksarama.com. Thanks.............Derek

Please support the shops that support this project,
Let them know you saw them on Volksarama.
Go to http://volksarama.com/BonnevilleBuildup1.html to see what we still need if you want to get involved in this project
R/C Trans- (702)221-4363 - http://rctrans.com/ - rebuilt HD transaxle.
The Wagen - (702)699-wagn - sheet metal install
Sand Freak Fabrication - www.sandfreak.net - Safety cage/roll bars
KCW - http://www.kustomcoachwerks.com/ - body and paint labor, front beam, raised box, narrowed torsion housing
Type 2 Parts.com - http://www.type2parts.com/ - sheet metal repair panels
Chirco VW - http://www.chircoestore.com/catalog/index.php - Crow 3x3 safety harnesses, Crow gloves
Old Speed - http://www.oldspeed.com/ - 944 Porsche rear hubs, backing plates, calipers, cables etc.
Econo International Supply E.I.S - http://eisparts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc? - new bus nose skin
DPR Machine Shop - http://www.dprmachine.com/ - 84 mm C/W crankshaft.
Speedwerks - http://www.speedwerks.net/ - MSD 6AL box with soft touch rev limiter.
Engle Cams - http://www.englecams.com/index.php - Engle turbo camshaft
MOFOCO - http://www.mofoco.com/ - 050 heads, 42x37, dual springs, opened for 94s, fully ported and polished
Mooneyes - http://www.mooneyesusa.com/Store/index.php - complete set of moon disks with dzus fastner kit.
Big Wig Race Cars - http://www.bigwigracecars.com/ - A set of aluminum front door panels and kick panels
Bugpack - http://www.bugpack.com/ - chromoly H beam race rods, a set of race lifters, and a set of their straight cut cam gears.
Dynamat - http://www.dynamat.com/ - Sound and heat absorbing materials.
Dolphin Gauges - http://www.dolphingauges.com/ - ****pit gauges
EZ Wiring - http://www.ezwiring.com/ - complete wiring kits
Sway A Way - http://www.swayaway.com/ - HD race axles
Vee Dub Parts Unlimited - http://www.vwparts.net/ - 94mm long cylinders, 94mm Weisco pistons

Got a few more sponsors for the project this week.

DPR Machine Shop - http://www.dprmachine.com/ - donated one of their 84 mm C/W crankshafts. These guys always donate a crank to the Las Vegas VW Club raffle. These guys know how to support the hobby. Give them a call if you need parts for your botton end. Thanks Jose.

Speedwerks - http://www.speedwerks.net/ - Speedwerks decided they wanted in, so Noah conrtibuted a MSD 6AL box with soft touch rev limiter. Noah builds some super clean motors and can do any import engines including rotary. Thanks Noah

Engle Cams - http://www.englecams.com/index.php - I called up Engle and they tossed one of their cams into the motor. I've always run Engle cams and really believe in their products. Thanks guys.

I still have a bunch of stuff needed to make this happen. I you are interested in getting involved go to http://www.volksarama.com/BonnevilleBuildup1.html to see what we need. Thanks......................Derek

MOFOCO - http://www.mofoco.com/ - Roy at MOFOCO stepped up in a big way and offered up a new set of their 050 heads. 42 x 37 valves, dual springs, cut for 94s, and ported and polished !!!!. These heads should work awsome for a streetable/raceable turbo 2332. Thanks a bunch Roy for your support.

cool project

I picked up a couple more sponsors today:

Mooneyes - http://www.mooneyesusa.com/Store/index.php - complete set of moon disks with dzus fastner kit. These are a must for the right "LQQK". Take a look at their website for tons of kool parts and accessories. Thanks to Bob and Chico for the support.

Big Wig Race Cars - http://www.bigwigracecars.com/ - Ric and crew donated a set of aluminum front door panels and kick panels for under the parcel tray. These guys do some awsome work with steelmetal. They can do wings, door panels, firewalls, dash inserts,etc. Thanks guys

Go to http://volksarama.com/BonnevilleBuildup1.html to see what we still need if you want to get involved.

Here's the newest supporters.

Bugpack - http://www.bugpack.com/ - No stranger to anybody in the VW community. Rick, at Bugpack, has offered up a set of their chromoly H beam race rods, a set of their race lifters, and a set of their straight cut cam gears. I think they put out some high quality products and am proud to have them on board. Thanks Rick.

Dynamat - http://www.dynamat.com/ - Dynamat is considered by most to be the industry leader in sound and heat absorbing materials. Go to their site to see all the uses for their products. Thanks Ben.

Go to http://volksarama.com/BonnevilleBuildup1.html to see what we still need if you want to get involved.

Alright, I'll post a couple pics. So far I've been busy gathering parts. The stuff I have been working on are not very interesting. Basically I've just been stripping all the paint, rust, interior headliner and glue. I wanna get it cleaned up for when it starts going to the shops to get work done. Not very interesting but necessary.
http://volksarama.smugmug.com/photos/226386420-L.jpg
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And my other assistant taking care of the engine bay
http://volksarama.smugmug.com/photos/226386162-L.jpg

You do know that child labor is illegal, right!? :shocked:


:rolleyes:

Chris did another rendition. He's is DABOMB. It kinda makes we wet down there. That **** is sexy.
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/399266.jpg

Vee Dub Parts Unlimited - http://www.vwparts.net/ - The folks over at V.D.P.U. decided they wanted in the project. Greg offered up a set of their 94mm long cylinders and a set of high quality Wiseco pistons. What an awsome contribution!!! If you've never been to their website, check it out. It's very well organized and easy to find what you need. Thanks guys.


I also did some stuff on the bus this week. I finished installing the Moon discs. These are the Zdus fastener style and look bitchen. Alot more work than the hub cap style but good for high speed.
I took an old Moon disc and made it into an installtion jig.
http://volksarama.smugmug.com/photos/234773076-M.jpg
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That way I could mark where the tabs were to be welded in.
http://volksarama.smugmug.com/photos/234773134-M.jpg
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Then welded them on. They need to be placed at exactly the right spot and at the right depth and angle to fit right.
http://volksarama.smugmug.com/photos/234774225-M.jpg
http://volksarama.smugmug.com/photos/234773683-M.jpg

The rear wheels will be spaced out farther out to get the right look.
http://volksarama.smugmug.com/photos/234773459-XL.jpg
http://volksarama.smugmug.com/photos/234773548-XL.jpg
[img]http://volksarama.smugmug.com/photos/234773784-XL.jpg

Updates can be followed at http://www.volksarama.com/BonnevilleBuilduppage1.html

Vee Dub Parts Unlimited - http://www.vwparts.net/mm5/merchant....Store_Code=VWP - The guys over there felt like they wanted in, so they contributed a super nice set of 94mm long jaycee cylinders and a set of 94mm Wiesco pistons !!! With the big stroke, long rod, low compression, and turbo pressures the high quality set of plugs and jugs will work awsome. Thanks VDPU.


I also got the bus over to George and Kevin over at The Wagen. These guys specialize is panel replacement, slam jobs, complete restorations and general repair. They will do all the rest of the sheetmetal replacement and customizing.
Front sheetmetal R&R was first. Kevin removed the old buckets from the old skin and installed them in the new front skin from E.I.S.. He also shaved the front turn signal holes. Nice job KEV.
http://www.volksarama.com/sitebuilde...-1-383x264.jpg
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They also started shaving the dash and made a small tunnel from the drag link. Next they are going to convert the BIG back window to a small one and shave off the fresh air vent and overhang.
http://www.volksarama.com/sitebuilde...0_-393x252.jpg
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And off topic. I got a new design in stock now. Notch-O-Grande is a south-of-the-border themed Type 3 shirt with a little Day of the Dead mixed in. Available in red, black, and white and sizes from smal to 5X !!!Check it out at www.volksarama.com
http://www.volksarama.com/sitebuilde...53-391x361.jpg

Chris Clark wrapped up the metal fab on the roof this week. If you would like this done to your bus, either contact Chris Clark or The Wagen for more info on pricing. here's the final result

http://volksarama.smugmug.com/photos/248625672-L-1.jpg
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http://volksarama.smugmug.com/photos/248626081-L-1.jpg

Next stop is right next door to Jim's shop called Sand Freak. Jim is an awsome welder/fabricator. He's finishing this rail right now. All in house designed and built (except drivetrain). This will be his signature car. He also does roll bars/cages, bumbers. sheetmetal fab, etc. Great guy and great work.
http://volksarama.smugmug.com/photos/248630752-L.jpg
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so is GermanLook.com getting sponsorship for the free advertising they seem to be doing?