Slow Going
 

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1238027683.jpg

1986 with an Auto. Trans.

So... I am now the "proud" owner of this Westy, which needs $800 worth of work according to the PPI. It is in their shop now since I want to use it as soon as the rain lets up. I don't have much interest in crawling under this thing to do repairs. The 911 is different.

I used to have an old '70s Bus and I always said "These things are fabulous -- but only when they are stopped." I plan to stop it in various places in the Oregon desert soon.

I've been waiting for years and years for VW to get its act together and make a nice, modern off-road camper. I've finally given up, so I am going to use the Westy and not wait on VW anymore. It replaces a Honda Pilot, which was a great compromise vehicle, but always a compromise.

Very cool!

me like. Congrats and have fun!

Very nice!!

My scoutmaster had one when I was young.

I have ALWAYS wanted one, partly due to the good memories, partly due to the fact that those are so dang cool.

Congrats.

Excellent, just excellent.

Here is a very useful accessory for Vanagons.

http://www.vanagonaccessories.com/vanagondashcupholder.html

Thanks folks!

This is what I really want:http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1238036767.gif

but it's just a mock-up really.

Just sold my Westy today, it was also an automatic.

VW never got its act together on this thing:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1238037215.jpg

but the show car sure got me and others excited.

would love to have a synchro too...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1238037335.jpg


but I wanted to make sure I had something to roll around in THIS summer.

So, you been lurking at TheSamba? It really is the "911 Technical Forum" for Vanagons.

I sold mine through the Samba, small world. Samba is poorly organized but there is a ton of information there.

Doesn't someone on the forum collect Syncro Doka's?

http://www.car-vs-car.de/images/resi...ro-TD-2g6X.jpg

Did the EuroVan Westy ever make it to the US?

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articl...vw_eurovan.jpg

Edit: I guess they did...have yet to see one on the road, though...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ready-to-go_W0QQitemZ150334490810QQihZ005QQcategoryZ15296QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Eurovan westys are out there, not that many of them.

very spendy...

yes, I've been running a few Google searches to ed-your-kate myself

Had 3 back in the '70s & early '80s. The best thing about them was they were great for afternoon delights.

that thought HAS occurred to me

Congrats, but beware. These things are just like old Porsches, in that you can spend big $$$ on all manner of cool upgrades. GoWesty's website is like a candy store for me.

BTW, GoWesty has a much nicer dashboard tray.

If you've been lurking on the Samba vanagon site, then you should know the new-westy mantra by now:

REPLACE THOSE FUEL LINES!!!

Here are my Doka and Westy:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1238048869.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1238048913.jpg

One of my rommates in Idaho had that exact Westy--same color, same trans....that thing was slooooow--especially heading over the mountains into Montana or Washington. His brother, who also stayed with us for a few months had a 77 Westy in pickle green--he drove it out from Ohio. In Michigan, it started running on only 3 cylinders and he lost his heat. Drove it the rest of the trip that way with a portable heater in the cab by his feet--I was amazed he made it.

That's what the Routan SHOULD have been. I'd buy one in a second.

The Vanagon pics bring back a lot of memories, my dad drove a diesel one when I was a kid. Dear God that thing was slow and loud. I still remember that the shift lever was taller than I was, or so it seemed. It was bright yellow, we called it the bus. It had an incredible heater for the back, but no A/C. At the same time we also had a Dasher diesel wagon, I'm pretty sure everyone in the neighborhood knew when my parents left in the morning.

re: REPLACE THOSE FUEL LINES!!!

- which ones are we talking about?

(guess I am not lurking enuff)

Probably means replace 'em all.

Likely to prevent spontaneous combustion.

http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_499

http://www.benplace.com/fuel_line.htm

I need to do it, this summer - along w/ shocks and brakes.

The links by jyl are the best ones. I used the how-to from the benplace website. It's an easy job.

The problem is when the fuel lines in the engine compartment leak, the gas goes right onto the exhaust pipes. Even lines that look good can have split ends that let go unexpectedly. You mentioned some work that your wrench will be doing. Tell him to do the fuel lines, too.

Also, the coolant lines can begin to go after 23 years. While not catastrophic, the result is annoying. A favorite upgrade is stainless steel coolant lines between the engine and the radiator. Van-cafe sells those, too. The stock plastic pipes eventually fail at the ends.

One more thing. You must replace the coolant with phosphate-free coolant every 2 years. This will make the notorious problem of leaky heads a non-issue.

To make this job easy, go to the samba and search for "libby bong". Because the engine is in the back and the radiator is in front and higher than the reservoir, the old way of recharging the system is a pain. The libby bong is a home-made device that makes recharging the coolant a snap. And the bonus is that you get to keep a tool in your garage that's called a bong.

Thanks! I will check those sites.

I am cool on the coolant. It is being replaced right now with new VW magic stuff. They are also doing a tuneup, brake hoses, F. rotors, pads, F wheel bearings, Alt. belt.

Is GoWesty decent for pricing on parts, accessories they sell? $350 for a F grill (So. Africa or not) seems super high priced. OTOH, I checked their ARB Fix a Flat kit and it is only $40 vs. $35 at some 4x4 place...

The new Doka (which we'll most likely never see in the US) :(

http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-conte...p-Truck--6.jpg

A fellow sports-car fan friend of mine bought one similar to this (only blue) a few years ago. He loves it. He & his son take it to the races & camp out -- Mid-Ohio & Watkins Glen. He said one positive is you don't have to worry about getting a speeding ticket -- it won't go fast enough!

His family is from Slovakia, so he has an oval Slovakia sticker on the back that reads "SLO" -- great pun, considering the vehicle!

So if you see a blue Westy on the way to the races or at the track with "SLO" & McLaren decals on the back, stop by to say hi. His name is Marty & he is a nice guy.

replace everything related to water. all the hoses, water pump, sensors, radiator, fan relay, etc. sometimes the whole engine if the heads leak. any water cooled vw/porsche product makes me nervous. sorry.

Thanks! Most of that has been done - not sure re sensors & fan relay

it has ~36k on a new motor

When you buy parts, just check GoWesty prices against Van Cafe. There are other sites, but those two have the fastest service. GoWesty can be pricey, but not on everything. For example, they have hydraulic lifters at $9.95 each, less than half of anyone else. Just shop around.

So I assume that Pelican does not sell parts for these at all since we're dropping other vendors names here? I would check these guys out before buying anything from one of those cutesy, captive audience sites that advertise heavily on vanagon boards:

www.bmaparts.com

When you need tires, suggest look at the Nokian light truck/van tires that are all-season snow tires. I have them, work fine in dry, wear well, and good in snow and rain.

Reason is that need a high load rating to carry all that weight on puny 14" wheels. And vanagon traction in snow is poor w/ no LSD and narrow small tires, so need all the help that a snow compound/tread can give.

I don't see hydraulic lifters on this list, (do vanagons have them?), but check a price on a part you know and compare it to those other sites. Great customer service from these people.

http://www.bmaparts.com/ShopByVehicle.epc?q=1986-VOLKSWAGEN-Vanagon--/--H4--109cc--.1l--Gas--Fi--mv&yearid=1986%40%401986&makeid=VOLKSWAGEN%40%40VO LKSWAGEN%40%40X&engineid=1286478%40%40VANAGON++%2F +H4%2D2109cc+2%2E1L+GAS+FI++%28MV%29%40%40VANAGON& catid=Engine@@Engine&mode=PS

A friend of mine has this one with a Subi in it. I drove it the other day. Yes, it scoots, but it scares me at anything over 65.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1238048913.jpg

thx folks

I am currently trying to find some touchup paint in a spray can...

milt - that white one also has the $400 headlight grill mod...

Not exactyly aerodynamic, are they? Beware of crosswinds...:eek:

Here's a freakin' cool VW race car hauler, the guy selling it doesn't know what it is but I talked to him and he's a good guy. He's clearing an estate and apparently the title states 1961. I explained that it's a full custom job, (not factory as stated), and that it looks cool. Check it out:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/1112550840.html

the Vanagon has a decent Cd - better than the older, rounder bus versions

but it's always a tough one to push a 4x8 sheet of plywood thru the air

I used to see those in the 60's. A guy named Adam Smith (!) built one here in LB.