TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sat Jul 09, 2005 10:23 am

ok guys, hopefully this an easy one.

it's a Canadian '85 DoKa with a donor US dash pod with a tach. everythins is hooked up right but the tach. I'll want to hook that up sometime soon.

I'm doing the deal today, so by 6:00PM pacific time I'll be invested in Vanagon for real (unless the border boys derail it all) the seller has been through it more than once so he's got it all down and I've followed his instructions.

anyway, like I said I'll want to get the tach working, I don't know if there is an existing wire I can use or if I need to string a new one.

I've read some of the stuff about 'new vanagon owners' so I have a little clue. luckly the seller has installed a fresh engine ( 2.1 ) with all fresh factory hoses for vacume lines water lines fule lines...lots of other stuff too. I'll be on I-5 and at the border with the owner for about 4-5 hours so I'll be picking his brain all the way :wink:

I think the only stuff I need to worry about is a few smallish bodywork issues [-o< this is gonna be my new daily driver :wink: 8) :lol: :oops: :roll:

sooo heh probably more questions to come :x :)

Sat Jul 09, 2005 9:40 pm

I have Doka envy :(
For an '85, pin #9 on the T14 connector behind he cluster is the tach space. You can run a light gauge wire from the side of the coil that gives you the jolts when you touch it(procedure no-longer recommended). So far, in my bus, I just stripped the end of the wire and folded it over as I installed it in the T14 connector. That connector snaps apart/together.

Sat Jul 09, 2005 11:04 pm

thanks buspor :wink:

I'll look into it tomarrow I don't actually know what year the dash pod came from...the seller bought it and had it installed.

hopefully it'll all make sence...need a bently manual now :wink:

so, this dude was nice anough to come down to Seattle and pick me up :)
I drove it back to the border with him, we stoped before we got there to do all the paperwork and streach the legs. when we got to the border we zipped in through a do not enter lane...not too smart, but we didn't know where to get in properly :-k

heh the border patroll dude was a but ruffeld, but we survived their wrath :oops: :roll:

after submitting the paperwork we sat for ...30- 40 minutes...got our paperwork and keys back paid the fees ( fees vary depending on...mood ?)

we were then released, free to go ! I posted my trip permit in the rear window and was off home. the truck crused nicely all the way between 60-70 MPH no problem.

so I got 3 small dings to repair and some small surface rust ( I say surface rust cause I can't poke a screwdriver through it) but it's really pritty solid. everything seems to be working but the tach as far as I can see now.

before ya get too envious...it's just as basic as you get, nothing fancy or anything...cd player skipped a bit, speakers are not so great. but it is cool though, I can't deny that. but then I payd alot more than I would have for any other 'common' truck of equil utilitarian value. it costs extra to be wierd :wink: :roll:

oh, after converting the odometer from kilometers to miles, it's got about 83000 miles on it.

Fri Jul 15, 2005 2:14 pm

I think no matter what year your cluster w/tach is from, you should be able to plug the new wire into the same spot (#9 in the multipin connector).

On your coil in the engine bay you should have an extra male spade connector. Crimp a female spade on the end of a long (usually green) wire, and run it up to the dash. I got into the dash through an existing rubber grommet accessible once you take off the upper grill...

Good luck and enjoy your new truck!
8)

-jamos

Fri Jul 15, 2005 10:11 pm

thanks Jamos :)

I am enjoying alot ! I may as well tell a quick story...

3rd (last) day of trip permit, 1st day going to work in it, head off to emissions testers so I can get through registering it, get US paltes etc.

the tester lady says, sorry, ya can't be tested if yer leaking fluids... :shock:

huh ?!?!?!? :x yep watter jackett seals damn ! I don't have a clue who to get help with on this !?! I don't have a cell phone either !

I borrow the phone in the testing station office, the dudes who were my contacts to git the thing rally'd to assist and I had an under the table mechanic on the way in no time ! then, the dude that sold me the truck came down from canada and handed me green cash $$ US to pay for the fix...
2 days later back at emissions, passing no problem, no problems at the licencing station...all legal with US plates and a title on the way :D

what a deal...running sweet as you please now... :wink: time to chill and eat pizza