Single Cab.

Best guess at what might be possible over the next ~3 months — what gets done when, and how payments usually land: parts bought direct from vendors, shop work wired to Jason. Large parts when needed.

1959 Type 2 · First week of August 2026 · Aug 3, 2026 → ~Nov 2, 2026 · ~$20,750 to roadworthy

Jason's first available week is early August — the calendar starts there. Phase 1: fully running, complete, and roadworthy (primer is fine). Phase 2: final exterior paint. Engine locked; transmission still open. We'll refine the timing with real shop availability.

Possible timing

Transmission scenario

~3 months to roadworthy · working end Nov 2, 2026

To roadworthy

$20,750

Avg / window

$6,917

Peak · Month 3

$11,400

Final paint+

$13,000

Working calendar

Owner’s best guess at timing and related payments — start Aug 3, 2026, working end Nov 2, 2026. Refine with Jason based on real availability.

Rollable & safe

Aug 3 – Sep 2 · Month 1

$3,850

Shop opens on this build the first week of August. Finish beam, shocks, brakes. Buy SLO tires (~$600) when needed and kick off Manny upholstery/carpet for the Single Cab.

Packages · Suspension, Brakes, Tires

Buy Month 1 parts from vendors when the stage needs them (Wolfsburg West brake kit, SLO tires; kick off Manny). Wire Jason for chassis/brake labor as that work finishes.

Transmission + mounts

Sep 3 – Oct 2 · Month 2

$5,500

Chosen transmission in; mounts and rear hardware. Confirm shop unit vs Rancho with Jason first.

Packages · Drivetrain

Large item (transmission): preference is pay when needed for this window — buy or settle with Jason’s source as the stage approaches; wire him for install labor as it completes.

1776, wiring, interior

Oct 3 – Nov 2 · Month 3

$11,400

Engine install, then cab wiring, then interior panels, seats, and Manny upholstery/carpet — phase 1 complete: running, complete, roadworthy (primer OK). Final exterior color after that.

Packages · Engine, Electrical, Interior

1776 agreed / spoken for — ask Jason if motor payment is due now or when install-ready (preference: when needed). Buy electrical/interior parts from vendors as needed; wire Jason for install, electrical, and interior labor as those stages finish.

Cumulative to roadworthy

Month 1

$3,850

Month 2

$9,350

Month 3

$20,750

Where things stand

Best guess from early August when Jason is available: chassis, drivetrain, 1776, wiring, then interior (panels, seats, Manny upholstery/carpet) — truck fully running, complete, and roadworthy. Primer on the exterior is fine at that point; final color is phase 2. Canopy stays last. Expect to refine timing with the shop.

Already done

DoneMost bodywork and metal work is complete.
DoneJason painted the undercarriage in his shop — looks great.
DoneJason painted the interior cab in his shop.

Locked in

LockAgreed to purchase the 1776 — it is ordered and on its way; Jason keeps one ready in the shop, and this one is spoken for.
LockUsual pattern with Jason: buy most parts direct from vendors (when he points to a source), and wire him from the bank for shop / labor work.
LockPreference on large parts (including the motor): pay when needed, not far in advance — still confirm what Jason needs for 1776 timing.
LockAll remaining paint stays in Jason’s shop (no outside booth).
LockJason’s first available week for this build is the first week of August.

Payment rhythm

How we usually work with Jason (confirm with him): buy most parts directly from vendors when he points to a source, then wire him from the bank for shop / labor (and shop-supplied items). Example: brake kit from Wolfsburg West via a link Jason shared. Preference for large parts (including the 1776): pay when needed, not far in advance. Open ask: when he wants the 1776 motor paid — now, or when it’s useful on the truck.

Ask Jason · 1776 payment timing

Agreed to purchase the 1776 — when do you need payment for the motor? Preference here is to pay large parts when needed, not far in advance. Wire now, or hold until it’s ready to actually be useful (install / needed on the truck)?

Parts from vendors

Parts from vendors: order and pay the vendor directly when Jason points to a source — e.g. Wolfsburg West for the brake kit, SLO for tires (~$600), Manny for Single Cab upholstery + carpet, plus suspension, electrical, and other stage parts as he calls them out. For large parts, preference is to pay when that stage needs them, not far ahead.

Wire Jason for shop work

Wire Jason from the bank for shop / labor work as stages move: beam/shocks, brake install, trans/mounts, engine install, wiring, interior install, then final exterior paint in his shop. Canopy last. Also covers shop-supplied items such as the 1776 (agreed to purchase) — preference is pay-when-needed; timing of that motor payment is still open with him.

Transmission

Default view uses Jason’s shop unit. Rancho is only for comparison — ask what the shop unit includes beyond the case, and whether anything is noticeably or materially better than a Rancho build.

Jason’s shop

$3,900

Transmission · with core · in shop

Rancho · compare

$2,400

Freeway Flyer · with core

Questions for Jason

1776 motor (agreed to purchase): when do you need payment for it? Preference on our side is to pay large parts when needed, not far in advance — can we hold off until the motor is ready to actually be useful (install / needed on the truck), or do you need it wired now?
If we use the shop unit at $3,900 with core, what does that include beyond the case? Is there something noticeably or materially better than a Rancho build?
Gear ratios, strength, noise, rebuild history, warranty, and fitment for this Single Cab?
Lead time and when the chosen trans needs to be on the bench for a ~3-month cadence?

Drivetrain line = selected trans + $1,600 mounts · viewing Jason at BusWerks (shop unit)

Phase 1 · Roadworthy

Suspension → brakes → tires → transmission → 1776 → wiring → interior (panels, seats, Manny upholstery/carpet). Goal: fully running, complete, and roadworthy. A coat of primer on the exterior is fine — final color is phase 2.

Suspension

B · Vendor parts · wire Jason

$750

Finish front beam · Shocks front/rear

Chassis foundation — truck must roll before brakes and drivetrain.

Brakes

D · Vendor parts · wire Jason

$2,500

Brake kit — Wolfsburg West (Jason shared the link) · Front discs / rear drums as called out · Install labor — wire Jason

Safety-critical with or right after suspension. Buy kit direct from Wolfsburg West when needed; wire Jason for install.

Tires

T · Vendor · when needed

$600

Set of tires — ~$600 total · Same San Luis Obispo shop as the bus tires

Needed to roll safely once suspension and brakes are on — buy the full set from the same SLO shop as the bus tires when that window approaches.

Drivetrain

C · Vendor parts · wire Jason

$5,500

Transmission (with core) — Jason at BusWerks (shop unit) $3,900 w/ core · Misc hardware and mounts — $1,600

Transmission ties into rear suspension; before the engine.

EngineLocked

E · Vendor · when needed

$5,500

1776 cc — agreed to purchase; ordered / spoken for · Misc install parts · Install labor — wire Jason when work happens

Agreed to buy this 1776 — Jason has one in build and this unit is spoken for. Shop-supplied: preference is pay when needed (not far ahead); ask Jason if he needs the motor wired now or can wait until install / useful on the truck. Install labor wired when it goes in.

Electrical

A · Vendor parts · wire Jason

$900

Turn signal wiring · Headlights · Taillights · Misc cab wiring

Wiring goes in before interior panels and soft trim so nothing gets buried or reworked.

Interior

G · Vendor parts · wire Jason

$5,000

Door panels / interior panels · Seats — foam and upholstery · Upholstery and carpet from Manny (Single Cab)

Part of phase 1 — truck should be complete and roadworthy before final exterior color. Cab shell paint is already done; soft goods and panels go in here. Exterior can wear primer until phase 2.

Phase 2 · Final paint

Final exterior paint in Jason’s shop once the truck is roadworthy. Canopy last — quote TBD.

Final exterior paint

F · Wire Jason as done

$13,000

Remaining exterior bodywork only (most metal already done) · Final exterior paint in Jason’s shop · Undercarriage + cab interior already painted

Phase 2 — after the truck is running, complete, and roadworthy. Same shop — no outside booth chase.

Canopy

H · Later

TBD

Canopy — quote TBD · Install last

Can wait until last, after final exterior paint.

Notes for the shop

Estimates from Jason at BusWerks. Full known excluding canopy TBD: $33,750.

Timing is a best guess

Jason’s first available week is early August — the calendar starts there. This is what might be possible, not a schedule to hold the shop to. Expect to refine based on real availability.

Two phases

Phase 1: get it fully running, complete, and roadworthy — primer on the exterior is fine. Phase 2: final exterior paint. Soft interior and mechanicals stay in phase 1 so the truck can be driven before color.

1776 — agreed to purchase

Decision is made: buying the 1776. It is ordered and on the way — spoken for in Jason’s shop. Preference on large parts is to pay when needed, not far in advance. Still ask Jason: does he need the motor wired now, or can payment wait until install / useful on the truck? Install labor wired when it goes in.

How payments usually work

Long working relationship with Jason: buy most parts direct from vendors when he points to a source (e.g. Wolfsburg West brake kit), then wire him from the bank for shop / labor. For large parts, preference is pay when needed — not far ahead. Confirm what he needs for the 1776 timing; nothing settled on that yet.

Paint stays in-house

Jason paints in his shop. Undercarriage and cab shell are done; remaining is final exterior color after the truck is roadworthy.

Interior in phase 1

Wiring, panels, seats, and Manny upholstery/carpet for the Single Cab go in before final exterior color — so the truck is complete and usable once it’s running.

Transmission is the open call

Shop unit $3,900 vs Rancho $2,400 (both with core). Decide after you know what beyond the case the shop unit includes — and whether it’s noticeably better than a Rancho build.

Tires from SLO

About $600 — same San Luis Obispo shop as the bus tires. Buy the set when that stage needs them.

Canopy waits

Last after final exterior paint. Quote TBD.

Talk it through.

Bring this page to BusWerks. Confirm the transmission difference, the roadworthy-then-paint order, and when Jason needs the 1776 paid — preference is large parts when needed, not far ahead.

BusWerks in the directory