Ramona, you are loved. [1970 Riviera] *PIC HEAVY*

[Maz804]

SO... that nasty helicoil situation? I ended up going to Hall Tool Supply in SE Portland and got hooked up with a package of threadserts, a big drill bit, cutting oil, a big tap, and a sweet discount cuz I paid with CASH! Great folks over there, I highly recommend them.

Drilling...


Threadsert


Threaded!


That was a big roadblock and I was SO GLAD to get that taken care of! The mustache bar lined up perfect, and I started assembling all the motor bits together. I decided to go with my dual Kadron setup since that's what my motor seems happiest with. I futzed around with a brand new Solex 34PICT3 and vacuum dizzy on this motor and could not get it to run good. SO it goes.

I mounted up the bumper and scrounged up some over riders. They're a little beatup, but so is the bus. Still puts a smile on MY face so that's all that matters! Roof rack sweetness!



Tackled the brakes too. All new cylinders, turned drums, new shoes, new rubber lines, hardware, etc... Oh and master cylinder too. Ordered mine from Halsey and it was the correct one with the right number of ports. Remember Neal's master cylinder issue? Had to steal from my parts bus a replacement reservoir! It's in good shape too!



Here she is today. Only thing left to do is interior, pop top canvas (home made job almost done!), and register the bus...



Here's a video of it running! YAY!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoGEsscFTHA

[zabo]

nice- i love how the paint looks on the back

[Amskeptic]

We need a Bertha/Ramona photo-shoot, probably the two best patina buses in the country.
Colin

[Maz804]

That paint on the back... Montana Red wasn't a very durable paint I guess cuz I see a lot of red busses fade like that. This bus in particular was delivered to PORTLAND, OREGON according to the M-CODE, and where it still resides. Notice all the paint wear is exactly where the rain drips thru the rain gutter and down the back. It's got the Oregon rain patina. I love it!

[tristessa]

It's the pigment that was used -- red Volvos from that era had the same sort of paint fade:


side note: I would totally roll that car -- Tourist Delivery (gold-tone letters/badges) *and* 4-door? That's rare + rare right there...

[Maz804]

Dude, I'm in love with those old volvos now... :)

[zabo]

Dude, I'm in love with those old volvos now... :)

yea i never thought much abt volvos until I got an 86 240 wagon a few years back ( wish i didnt sell it)
and kinda got bit...
There was an old Amazon down the street from me i wanted to make an offer on but just couldn't scrap together any cash in time.

[Amskeptic]

Dude, I'm in love with those old volvos now... :)

yea i never thought much abt volvos until I got an 86 240 wagon a few years back ( wish i didnt sell it)
and kinda got bit...
There was an old Amazon down the street from me i wanted to make an offer on but just couldn't scrap together any cash in time.

There is only one Volvo that piques my interest . . .



NOW BACK TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING . . .

[hambone]

THE HAPPIEST CAR EVER BUILT!

[Maz804]

For Christmas my mother-in-law finished the replacement canvas for the poptop. I'm so stoked, its really well made and I love the color. Just gotta sew up the back seam to close it up and I think we'll run another stitch line along the screens.
EDIT: It's made from Cordura 1000 Denier. I picked some up off ebay for 7 bucks a linear yard which is about half what it usually costs.

[Mike Boell]

That is some impressive stitching.

[vistacruzer]

Save the old one if you still have it. I could use it for a pattern and then return it. If thats ok?

[Maz804]

Damn you're lucky Kirk I was gonna throw it out today! I'll let you throw it out though... It's really stiff and crispy. The new stuff is great, water beads right off it! I have to work another shift with UPS tomorrow, so not sure when I can get it to you. I'll stick it in the bus for now till my schedule smooths out.

[Amskeptic]

Damn you're lucky Kirk I was gonna throw it out today! I'll let you throw it out though... It's really stiff and crispy. The new stuff is great, water beads right off it! I have to work another shift with UPS tomorrow, so not sure when I can get it to you. I'll stick it in the bus for now till my schedule smooths out.

That is beautiful. Nice to see family involved.
Colin

[Maz804]

Slowly making progress here... I finally got a job back in March working the ol 8-5pm Monday thru Friday. Glad to be working, but man where did all my time go?! ANyway, I don't have a garage so weather limits my wrenching time as well.

I had to replace/repair the wood framing in the poptop and cutout in the bus. Using fiberglass and some oak my brother Eric helped me repair and prep it for the new canvas to go in.

The canvas could easily be installed in a day. I had to go borrow an air compressor and staple gun, do some shopping, grab some beer.... So it took me a couple afternoons. Got it done yesterday and I'm SUPER EXCITED that it's ALMOST finished (NEED A POPTOP SEAL), now I can move on to sealing the doors with plastic and making new door panels. The camper interior is a whole other beast... Not pretty, but functional for the moment.

BTW, I got an air-compressor and air tools on my wish list now.






For these little Riviera tops, is there some sort of system to snap the excess canvass out of the way when it is secured down? I think I have a solution for it, jus wonderin'. I had a huge roll of military grade heavy duty nylon strapping I used all over this thing. You can see some underneath the metal trim and poking out behind the poptop latch. I also used it around both perimeters when stapled to the wood. It's pretty solid.



This next paycheck I'll get title and registration done (Permanent Disabled Veterans Plates)
Then find some insurance for it. ALMOST THERE!