The Mammoth is being reborn

BUSSBOY · Post by **BUSSBOY** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 7:05 pm

Well finally work has started on the body in the last few weeks the brakes have had work and motor serviced so today in the sunshine work commenced. First item the left hand front door had a bit of jack the dancer so out with the tools cut and make then weld in. Son (16 year old) asks where I bought the repair panel, their our future!!!!!
Next step is to start on the body which is not as bad as it looks, the problem was that the original builder did not prep the panels befor the filler so after 25 years the filler has cracked and water has entered and as they say the rest is history. The work that was done was excellent all hand welded and has stayed together for the last 25 years, living by the sea. As time goes by I will add more pics.

IN2VWS · Post by **IN2VWS** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 7:32 pm

Good one Paul, can't wait to see it on the road again.

warb · Post by **warb** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 7:54 pm

nice one mate, will follow this one!!

frenzix · Post by **frenzix** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 8:16 pm

im hanging to see this beast.. good work

muzza72 · Post by **muzza72** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 9:05 pm

nice work keep the pictures comeing

kombino · Post by **kombino** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 10:49 am

The mammoth rejuvenation. Even the Russians haven't managed that. Love to see it 'in the flesh' one day.

BUSSBOY · Post by **BUSSBOY** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:19 pm

Raining today so into the shed for a bit of thermo nuclear metal melting. With the Mammoth the only unmodified panels are the front doors and the upper tailgate all the rest is modified in some way or another. Wider,longer fatter etc. So of with the cargo door, only one on this bus. Of to the local sheetmetal guru for some new folded pieces for the bottom inner and outer, then I make the pieces for the window area, just weld in,easy if you say it quickly, so all day to this point. (The pointy items hanging out the door skin in the last photo are Avdel clamps which are a aerospace item for taking panels on and off easily while you build, basicaly a reusable pop rivet.) So with a bit of luck weld up during week and refit next weekend.
Thanks for the comments guys will try to keep photos coming.

beerdoc · Post by **beerdoc** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:24 pm

Great to see others using different methods

Nice work

BUSSBOY · Post by **BUSSBOY** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 6:04 pm

Well the door turned into a bit off a drama. As there is only a single door in the body the edge had been modified as there is no second door to overlap. So onward and upward. Lots of filler in this vehicle but unfortunately the underlying panels are not in that good condition (Not rusty just damaged). Not that the vehicle is not worthy just that to do a proper job on the body would be costly and take forever. All that is needed on this door know is a rub and recoat but will do this when I do the rest of the body. Just need to buy rubbers any body got any suggestions? Have to stop for a couple of weeks as have a 1957 Chev to finish for a mate. But that gives me some cashola for the bus.

warb · Post by **warb** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 6:08 pm

nice updates mate!...

digyalater1 · Post by **digyalater1** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:46 am

everything you do this unique ''ONE OF'' is of high importance,to the presivation of the original owner's dream. i think what you are doing to this bus,would put a welcome tear in his eye,and i reakon his son would be proud he sold it to you,''the right person''.
excellent work my friend,and once finished,it will be a crowd puller at any show. i beleive it was well known over there as the ARMADILLO,the name of the MAMMOTH is also very descriptive of what it is.

ONYA CHAMP!!

BUSSBOY · Post by **BUSSBOY** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:36 pm

Thanks for the nice comments, what i wish to do with the vehicle is what the original owner did, use it as a camper and travel around. It is unique and a split to boot as time progresses all will see it as my wife and I travel around.
Cheers

BUSSBOY · Post by **BUSSBOY** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:40 pm

Luckily I had a day off today (doesnt happen offten) so into the shed. Work on 57 Chev and make some money or work on the VW, yep you guessed it the vw won. So today was spent ripping out some filler and making things look very ugly. Too far down the track to go back. Found some interesting things the bus is registered as a 1964 model (No body no only VP number) has had fried eggs added and has had semaphores welded up.The body has been made up from many pieces of many kombis so who knows what year it is..

brad@busnbug · Post by **brad@busnbug** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:15 pm

This is certainly one to watch. As digyalater said, it's in the right hands. Love yer work. What sort of info do you need re rubbers?

BUSSBOY · Post by **BUSSBOY** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:08 am

With the rubbers i am looking for a place to purchase,not after cheapest more so service as i have some unusual requests,I.E I need 3 windsreen rubbers so I can cut and shut to make wider, the white door rubber i need in a continuous length so I can do the cargo door. Got any sugestions at the moment am leaning towards Wolfsburg in hoppers crossing, anybody dealt with them? Thanks for any advise coming.