Slow Going

[RWebb]

More light is definitely needed on these things...

[syncroid]

I found a couple of pics of my 78 Bus and my 87 Syncro. (both long gone but not forgotten)

[RWebb]

nice! I had a '73 Bus but I'd have to scan the film slides...

[Jagshund]

We always had them when I was a wee lad. Had my first accident in one- a large flatbed truck delivering sheet rock missed his turn and backed into me without looking behind him. Our last one was ordered straight from the factory and said "transporter" rather than "vanagon". Recently saw one in a shop lot that had a giant monster tach on the dash.

Great vehicles.

[RWebb]

raining again...

[RWebb]

Added sound deadening to doors, and Remote Locking (fronts only - the slider is too much hassle to do right now, or maybe ever).

[RWebb]

[RWebb]

Made plywood mounts for larger speakers, DynaXorb pad for area just behind speaker cone.





I filled that hole with a "cheapo" 6.5" Focal:




It was a big hassle, and if anyone plans to use a speaker in that hole, I'd suggest a 5.25" size.
The red arrow shows an old foam seal that died. I made another one out of some old wet suit neoprene material.

Here is the "art shot" - might help if anyone want to try making their own mounting plates for the speakers...

[Flieger]

Cool, a Vanagon Westy thread!

[Wilhelm]

+ 1 on what other people said about the cooling system. Get any leaks fixed ASAP ! Those Westys have a complicated convoluted system of hoses. Check the Bentley manual. And also...check the GoWesty website. Some good tech info there. (Not as good as Pelican though)
And dont forget to wave at other Westys !

My 85 Westy:

[Hugh R]

Late to the thread. Nice. In 1960 my parents bought a new VW microbus. All 35 HP or so. Back then owner's used to flash lights at each other. Didn't have a fuel gauge, but had a 1.5 gallon or so reserve tank that you accessed by turning some valve under the drivers seat. Had a left turn incident in Hyannis Port, Cape Cod and really effed up the front end. My head went through the passenger front window, at at 6 I don't remember it. To this day, I think I turned out the way I am because of it. (read whatever you want into that).

[RWebb]

I also replaced the O2 sensor, which stopped the idle hunting problem. The idle is still too high, may clean the throttle body out this winter.

And... I spread CALYX all over the exhaust system to try and treat the surface rust on it. Thanks again to the Pelican that sent it to me!

[vash]

Originally Posted by ckissick

Here are my Doka and Westy:

hey, i saw you the other day! on hwy 1. i knew that was you. i've seen that doka on the shamrock ranch.

[RWebb]

Can anyone ID this bracket that a PO installed on my auto transmission shift console?

I'm wondering if it is part of something that is sold by a typical aftermarket supplier (like a cup holder maybe).

I've been told it is a bracket for a CB radio mic, but no evidence of an antenna for a CB ever being mounted on the Vanagon.

[RWebb]

I took the Vanagon for a little shakedown cruise in preparation for a camping trip with a friend from Mini-Soda who was in town for a visit, and heard a very faint knocking noise. So, I looked under the Vanagon and saw... a puddle! I sniffed it and it smelled like fuel. It was leaking from the short hoses attached to the fuel filter.

I went and bought some fuel hose that was rated SAE J30R9, which is supposed to be correct for today's Et-OH blended fuels and a decent pressure for a fuel injection system (not sure how high that is, but this thing has an EFI system called DigiFant).

[Racerbvd]

Other than the faint knocking noise, how did she do???

[RWebb]

did ok

I feel the same way about this vehicle that I felt about my Bay Window Bus -- it sucks when moving, but is wonderful when stopped.

Maybe I need a Pontiac Aztec?

(more to come on the fuel issue - I cut open the fuel filter today with a hacksaw & took some pics of the fuel hose)

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by vash

hey, i saw you the other day! on hwy 1. i knew that was you. i've seen that doka on the shamrock ranch.

That was me, alright. Unless it was Kim or Stacy, the other two Tristar owners. Tristars are so rare that when we see another one, we don't just wave, we pull over and catch up on family, job, etc.

I'm always out on the tunnel project, still measuring groundwater levels.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by RWebb

did ok

I feel the same way about this vehicle that I felt about my Bay Window Bus -- it sucks when moving, but is wonderful when stopped.

Maybe I need a Pontiac Aztec?

(more to come on the fuel issue - I cut open the fuel filter today with a hacksaw & took some pics of the fuel hose)

NO Aztecs!!! Yea, my old Bus wasn't slow (had a slightly hotter engine) but the stopping & handling , well your Bay-Window was much more stable. Course, when I had my Bus, there weren't any of the upgrades (other than 356 brakes) to cure that, unlike today. That may be the reason when I build up a car now, I always start with the susp & brakes

[RWebb]

That is smart. Kids always start with the motor. I did hotrod the motor and suspension on ye old Bus. If I ever get a 35 mm film scanner I'll post pics. I definitely beat the #$%^&* out of it all over the eastern Orygun outback in the 1970s. Taught me another value of a light wt. vehicle when I skittered past 2 big & heavy 4wd rigs who had bogged down in a mudhole.