New Toy: 1972 Mercedes 0 309 Omnibus

[rbgerrish]

I did some work this morning! I drove it around the block to warm it up, and then drained the oil. Looked like tar! I'm changing the oil filter, and I added some diesel kleen to the fuel it's drinking to hopefully clean the injectors a bit. I've inspected the airbox and changed the oil in the oil bath air cleaner.

The truck has power steering, which is awesome. I've ripped out all the old wall panels now, and all the insulation:

I've purchased a bit or dense foam insulation from Home Depot in both 1.5" and 2" flavors, and I got some Plas-tex Ploywall on Hakans advice. (Looks nice!)

Here are pics of the oil bath, oil filters and engine:

The air intake piping removed:

More soon!

 

[rbgerrish]

Things I did this weekend:

- Removed 4 or 5 wires from the harness that didnt go anywhere.
- Got the horn to work, and found out how to actuate it! (push the turn signal wand)
- Removed grill, front bumper and rear bumper. Need to get new turn signals front and rear.
- Got 2 dash lights to work that didnt before. (Thanks to Eric for the help)
- Test fit the foam insulation. Works well!
- Began tearing out ceiling.

Pics:

Removing floor:

Rear bumper off:

Insulation:

Bumper off:

 

[rbgerrish]

Soldered Deans plugs to the LED strip lights I'll be using inside the bus. I have a 12v LED dimmer coming, and I'll run it all to a Blue Sea or Painless fuse box off the batteries. They are plenty bright, but hard to see it in the picture:

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Looks like an incredible and very unique project. I swear I have seen one of those sitting at a repair shop rotting away in tampa.

 

[catamundo]

Awesome! I've got the same rig! Sad to see all that Perspex glass gone, but it looks like you're doing some serious magic on that baby. The LED strips are a great idea.

My biggest hurdle is dealing with those rear swing doors, which have suffered a lot of rot, though that big beautiful rear window is still hangin' in! If anybody's got a line on body parts for this puppy, let me know.
--CAT

 

[rbgerrish]

Awesome! I've got the same rig! Sad to see all that Perspex glass gone, but it looks like you're doing some serious magic on that baby. The LED strips are a great idea.

My biggest hurdle is dealing with those rear swing doors, which have suffered a lot of rot, though that big beautiful rear window is still hangin' in! If anybody's got a line on body parts for this puppy, let me know.
--CAT

That's awesome! I wish we still had the glass, but you take what you can find with these. For parts, you can try Brax in Idaho or Jim Ince at Eurotruck.

 

[rbgerrish]

Already anixous to see your new 'Haffie-Hauler !
If you dont mind, I would like to come see it sometime,
And BTW, If that heater is a dead beyond fixing Espar X-1, I have one thats complete & will work but minus its factory controls & wiring harness. It can be yours cheap and I owe you a McMenamins dinner anyway.

Gotta' love LEDs !
I used LED lights from IKEA, They make a couple type that are 12v in strips that plug end for end, and a type that are disks about 2.5"dia.

Just being lucky maybe, I managed to find in their "as-is" dept. They were what been removed from in-store displays then sell for about 1/2 retail.
Both my Radio Box and Waggon are fitted.

H.A.

Thanks Hakan, you are welcome to come by any time you like! Feel free to call me on my cell: 503-999-6539.

The Webasto is in unknown condition. I might try to play with it later once a few other things are done, but it might no thave fuel/power to it anymore...

I got a new oil filter from Jim Ince, and filled it up with new oil. Started it and let it run for about 15 minutes, and it still smokes, but maybe it'll get better once the injector cleaner works its way through the system. I also started on the rear bumper:

Trying to keep it cheap and simple, sinc eI only paid $475 for the bus!

 

[nick disjunkt]

I don't have any experience of the 309, but I have travelled with some 407, 508 and 608 vans of the same age and they all smoke a little. Some smoked less when hot but certainly more than the later 307, 308, 310 type vans.

 

[rbgerrish]

I don't have any experience of the 309, but I have travelled with some 407, 508 and 608 vans of the same age and they all smoke a little. Some smoked less when hot but certainly more than the later 307, 308, 310 type vans.

That's good to hear! I'm hoping once I get this thing hot and womp on it a bit it'll clear out the injectors and whatever gunk is hibernating in the engine from sitting for 6 years.

This morning I sanded and primed the grill and shined the star. I sanded the nose of the bus a bit. Eventually it'll get a cheap paintjob. I bolted on the new Turn signals and brackets, and shined the bumper and re-installed it.

Stupid dent

Got a Euro plate on there I had laying around:

 

[rbgerrish]

More progress today!

I tacked the bumper on, as well as the light tabs and tow hooks. (Left over from a Unimog 404 Bed) I wired in the front and rear lights, and they all work, amazingly.

Next I will pull off the bumper and fully weld it, as well as attach a receiver mount, and paint it. At some point I can see building a ladder up to the roof, but that'll be later.

Pics:

More Monday!
Thanks.

 

[catamundo]

Hey, thanks for the intel. Your project's looking great! You're inspiring me to buff up old Heinrich, too!

 

[rbgerrish]

I sanded and primed the hood, and tried to pound out a couple dents. They are better, but not perfect... I might bondo them a bit. I also started sanding the nose of the bus a bit, and it'll get primed soon.

 

[rbgerrish]

I spent some time under the bus this weekend trying to repair the clutch system. I figured out all the lines and tried to bleed the system, but it still doesnt work. I suspect one of the cylinders has a leak.

Anyone know if these buses share clutch cylinders with any normal Mercedes vehicle?

 

[nick disjunkt]

Mercedes still stock parts for some of these old vehicles so if you get desperate you can give me some details and I'll ring my local commercial parts dealer. A part number would be ideal but they can usually work it out from the chassis number.

 

[rbgerrish]

I just picked up a camper pop-top for the bus! It's like this one:

I'll be grafting it to the top of the bus at some point for a neat second story! It'll give me standing room in the bus too!