The Restoration

Bruno was in fine operating condition when I first got him. the body was mostly sound with only a little rust in the usual spots – under the battery, bottom of a couple doors, under the driver’s feet. The engine was original, with 67k mile. It ran fine, but you could tell it was a 37-year-old machine, lacking torque and hp. the interior needed cleaning and a little fixing, but overall original and sound. Most of the lights worked, but I had to replace some and fix some wiring for the state inspection.

 

A few years earlier, after it was awakened from the barn by the Moulton family, it was painted by a decent local autobody man. Some of the rusty metal was replaced with sheet metal and everything was repainted. Unfortunately, it was not “glass out”. The seals were in rough shape and had shrunken to reveal the paint line around all the windows.

 

But, in-total, Bruno needed nothing to be an awesome daily driver! My wife and I even took Bruno camping for a weekend in northern NH. It was definitely slow going in 2nd gear up over Franconia Notch, but we made it!*

 

* little side story…Bruno was prone to vapor locks in the fuel system. So, if it was warm he may not restart right away. sometimes this happened at a gas station, or at a rest stop to cool down on a hot summer day. We mitigated the mechanical issue this with cards and refreshments. Usually after several minutes and a little cranking he would start up again.

 

Until….

 

HE’S DEAD JIM!

 

One afternoon in 2010 I was playing tennis with my friend Marvin. It was a great summer day in NH, so I took the bus! I stopped to get gas on the way home and the familiar vapor lock prevented me from starting. So, I pushed him into a parking spot and waited it out. But, I got a bit impatient. I cranked and cranked and cranked (good battery!). After many minuted of cranking, he finally started, but the engine did not feel right. I knew from experience…one of the cylinders had dropped, and probably the 3rd. I limped home and left the investigation for another day.

 

The next week, I pushed Bruno out of the vinyl garage and started diagnosing. I through the usual first – the 3rd cylinder exhaust value. So I popped off the value cover for a look-see. I was a little surprised to find that it was the intake valve stuck open. Could  all that cranking kill that? Apparently, since that is the last spot before the oil cooler and oil pump, and that starting cranking does not supply much oil pressure, that value was not getting much oil during my (apparent) excessing cranking.

 

So I tapped on it with a hammer to get it un-stuck…nothing. 2 hours, penetrating oil and a 2-lb sledge later, still nothing. I had to call it. The ol’ engine was no more. I slipped out the pushrods to that cylinder and decided it was time to get a new engine. I would only run this one as needed to get to storage or the shop. Later found out that the valve seat had come un-(umm)seated...if that is the term. It just sucked in and the wedged itself in the opening. never heard that happening, so must have been a small imperfection on assembly way back when. 

 

At this point, Bruno needed at least an engine. Since the engine would be out, then I wanted the engine bay painted, since I was painting the engine bay, the entire body should be painted etc, etc....Then end game was an entire restore...but without breaking the bank. I know a new engine (not a rebuilt) would be about $5k. I had no idea about the body, and there were plenty of unforeseen costs for interior stuff. All in all, a restore budget (without getting super crazy) might be:

• Engine - $3k - $10k

• Body - $5k - $20k

• Misc Mechanical - $0 - $5k

• Interior - $0 - $5k

 

Take into account potential costs and the value of the final product. In my case, a 1970 Camper might be worth $15k-$25k. So, you have to decide how much the project is work to you. I decided to go for it. I may have spent a little much, but if I ever resell, I would make most of it back. And in the meantime, I have an awesome bus to satisfy my mid-life crisis. :)

 

The Body

 

 

Bruno had good bones and very little rust for a New England bus! But, there were some things to take care of after 40+ years. So, into the shop for the complete spa treatment!

Engine

 

The original was still kicking after 40 years! But at 67,777 miles a valve got stuck. This is not a fatal problem, but given the age or the beast, and how underpowered the original 1600cc\52bhp configuration was, it was time for an upgrade!

Interior

 

The interior was in great, and all original! 

 

I pulled out everything for the body restore, as some of the rust was under seats and behind panels. I cleaned up all the cabinets, and fixed some minor water damage, put a new bamboo floor, new wall and ceiling panels and made curtains (well, my mom did :) ).

 

This is mostly a labor of love and cleaning, lots of cleaning. In the proccess we change and fix along the way. We have even found old Mad magazines and other stuff stuffed in the old nooks and crannies. Relics from family trips 40+ years ago.