VW van site? Options

[dfrank]

I absolutely love this site for my 914 !! You guys rock!!
I'm purchasing a 78 Westfalia next week from an old friend. The drive home to High Point from Charlottesville wil take about 5 hours at VW van speed. I'm looking for a site similar to this one. Any suggestions? Also, my buddy and I are going to change the rubber fuel line connections and see if the rubber lines on the injection system need changing. Neither one of us really know anything about fuel injection, so I really appreciate any and all advice in getting the new camper home safely.
Thanks!! Doug

[dfrank]

Bump

[turk22]

I would say www.thesamba.com
Its all things vw, and has forums dedicated to the various models.

[Cap'n Krusty]

Your Bus is equipped with L-jetronic EFI. There MUST be NO vacuum leaks. You should ensure the fuel hoses are in good condition, and replace any old or damaged hoses with either 7 (or 7.5mm) European FI hose, or 5/16" modern US fuel injection line. I don't like the latter because it doesn't fit as snugly as it should, but it's supposed to hold up better when modern fuel is used. ALWAYS use ONLY FI style hose clamps! Spend the money, buy the "good stuff! The valves are hydraulic, so periodic adjustment is not as critical. IT IS IMPORTANT you have a good engine compartment seal, and that the EGR system is fully functional. If the seal is bad or the EGR has missing pieces, is clogged up, or is otherwise non-functional, combustion chamber temperatures are gonna be way too high and you're more likely to drop a valve or blow the cylinder/head sealing surface. Might want to buy 2 or 3 fuel filters and change the filter every 6000 miles or so. Note: It's a special filter, and may be difficult to find, although NAPA can probably get them for you. The engine compartment seal is available from some of the bus specialty places (Bus Boys, Wolfgang, others). The Samba is a good place to look for parts. I know there are a number of bus-centered enthusiast sites, but I never hung out there because, in general, I know a LOT more about Busses than most of the members. The high failure item is gonna be the air flow meter ("air box"), and they're nearly impossible to find new. Rebuilts tend to be junk. In general, they fail rich, which is OK if you don't have smog checks where you live. EGR valves are hard to find, but there are OK rebuilts available and the EGR filters are not hard to get (Century Distributors in Visalia, CA). Your bus uses W8CC spark plugs (7904), NOT W7CC.

For the rest of the car, like a 914 you don't want a bunch of keys hanging from the ignition switch, check the ball joints and replace them if they're bad, check the rear brake shoes once in a while. If they're thin, be sure to replace the wheel cylinders, too. Keep an eye on the CV boots, they crack and tear quite often. Rust under the battery is pretty common. Provide me with a good e-mail address via PM and I'll send you a pretty big PDF file of the VW FI troubleshooting manual. (You get ONE chance, so make sure your address can accept a big file.)

One last thing. ALWAYS remember you're driving a heavy, underpowered, slow vehicle. For pleasure! You DO NOT have to keep up with traffic! Plan your trips so you're not under any time related pressure.

Have fun! The Cap'n

(BTW, this vehicle is a great candidate for 911 power and a 5 speed tranny! BTDT.)

[dfrank]

Thanks for the great replies!!!
Dug

[r_towle]

Thesamba is the best site.

[Chris H.]

There is also one called Itinerant Air Cooled

Link

[boxstr]

Agreed thesamba.com is a good site for parts shopping, new and used.

Cap'n, curious about the subie conversion on this year vw van, yes or no?
Craig at CAMP

[Cap'n Krusty]

I've never heard of a Subie conversion on an air cooled van. Most folks would use a Vanagon waterboxer as a starting point. The necessary infrastructure is already there. They sold a water cooled bus in Mexico. Looked a bit odd with the radiator housing tacked on the front.

The Cap'n

[euro911]

... and don't forget to get the bumper sticker that says "0~60 in 11 minutes" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Elliot Cannon]

... and don't forget to get the bumper sticker that says "0~60 in 11 minutes" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Like the one you have on your 914? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

[Bullethead]

Good luck with your new camper. The Samba has a good bus forum... and you can get one of these in the classifieds.


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1291028

Just returned from a 1,300 mile loop of Florida with our '64 Deluxe. A freeway flyer helps alot, but 0-60 takes a couple of minutes.
Get used to driving very defensively, and remember that where you're seated is a crumple zone.

[euro911]

...
Like the one you have on your 914? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

I drove by your house the other day. I like the sign in your yard that says "slow children at play" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

[Mr.242]

Trade in that van and buy a 914. Enjoy our 914 site like it is meant to be enjoyed!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[dfrank]

Thanks for all the replies!
I have a 74 914 that's in a thousand pieces with many new pieces ready to go on when I get to the point of reassembling. I'm too embarrassed to show the condition it's in now.
I'm buying the van for camping while on hang gliding trips in NC and VA mountains. I'm looking forward to driving 60 mph with the "caution slow moving vehicle warning" on the back.
Dug

[poorsche914]

Here ya go...
Subaru Engine in a Bay Window Bus

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[Jeffs9146]

I bought a 79 westy in 1982 and drove it 10,000 miles through Mexico! Loved it!!

[damesandhotrods]

Thanks for all the replies!
I have a 74 914 that's in a thousand pieces with many new pieces ready to go on when I get to the point of reassembling. I'm too embarrassed to show the condition it's in now.
I'm buying the van for camping while on hang gliding trips in NC and VA mountains. I'm looking forward to driving 60 mph with the "caution slow moving vehicle warning" on the back.
Dug

I hope you know that in spite of other people doing it, that pop top isn’t designed to take a roof rack.

[DBCooper]

Just sat down after coming in from four days at the Strawberry Music Festival, camping with my son and his family in his 60 splitwindow doubledoor. All I have to say is DAMN that was fun!!!

Odd was that the people at the festival were almost all old hippies 45 years on (the festival is at Camp Mather, San Francisco's city retreat) and he had the only splittie there. It seems the old buses have become too valuable for old hippies, are now the domain mostly of Germans re-importing, and a few eccentric Englishmen. Weird.

[Cairo94507]

LowBus.com has some busses.