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Fri Aug 26, 2011 6:30 pm

The turning radius can't be beat!

Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:28 am

This is our '83 A/C Westfalia called Stan!

All original including the curtains!

Sat Sep 17, 2011 9:58 am

mitchellsfold wrote: This is our '83 A/C Westfalia called Stan!

All original including the curtains!

Those aren't the correct bumpers, grille & head lights or wheels for an '83 Vanagon/T3. Nice looking van though. ;)

Sat Sep 17, 2011 10:01 am

Carat wheels are original and were an option when new.

Tue Sep 20, 2011 12:02 pm

New vanagon, new samba member

Fresh from Texas to Brooklyn

Replacing my stolen S4 avant (B5) (RIP)

Digging the pinstripes

But we have a lot of work to do. Anyone know a good NYC mechanic with vanagon experience?

Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:33 am

MightyChin, I think I might have looked at that van once when it was for sale about four years ago. If it is the one I am thinking of, I was told by the seller that it was previously owned by the guy who played Herman in the old tv show The Munsters (Fred Gwynne).

Fri Sep 23, 2011 2:24 pm

that would be crazy if that were true, but I don't think it is based on the title history and what the seller told me.

Fri Sep 23, 2011 3:49 pm

Work in progress.
My winter driver, future camper
Getting used mostly to haul lumber right now.

Modifications
'03 Subaru EJ25
Go Westy bumpers, and lift springs.
Old Mann Emu shocks, 15" carat rims.
HID conversion headlights.

repairs - new cv joints boots in rear and new axle assembly up front.

Future plans??
Custom roof rack, possibly fog-lights.

Carat or Weekender interior, and Engel fridge

Thu Sep 29, 2011 11:10 pm

We've owned a bunch of VW/Audi vehicles, but never a Westy. That changed a couple of weeks ago, as I gave my wife her 20th anniversary gift of an '86 full camper. She'd been hinting for some time that she wanted one, and now she has one. (This means our 79k mile Passat VR6 will be going up for sale, by the way :wink: ).

In the two weeks we've had it, we've camped in it once, plus I've done the following:

Installed an alarm

Installed a stereo with slide-out screen, DVD, GPS, Bluetooth, and iPod control.

Installed Infinity 6.5" speakers in the doors and 4" in the rear.

Installed a Polk Audio MM1040 10" subwoofer under the rear seat.

Installed a 4-channel amplifier under the rear seat.

Installed a 1000 watt inverter in the small cabinet space next to the rear seat.

Intalled some extra 12V outlets.

Named our baby "Serenity", and put on some vinyl decals.

Replaced the bulbs in the cabin light with LED light strips.

Installed a heavy duty 2" hitch.

Bought a SportWorks bike rack for the hitch.

Just received my 80Watt mono-crystaline Solar panel from UPS today (still waiting for the charge controller and mounts)

Ordered up a Fiamma F45 awning (10 foot in the cocanut color scheme), plus 3 GoWesty mounting brackets

Installed a "peace" symbol in place of the VW emblem on the grill.

Cleaned, more cleaning, and yet more cleaning.
Now we're planning out our next trip sometime next month. I can't wait!

Next steps:
Install the Fiamma when it comes in.
Install the solar panel when the charge controller comes in.
Buy / install a TruckFridge TF49
Camp, more camping!

Big thanks to Jeff at PeaceVans (www.PeaceVans.com) for his help with the hitch, front grill, and for arranging the group buy on the awning.

Maiden voyage

AM/FM/DVD/CD/GPS Navigation/BlueTooth/iPod control/USB/SD card

Close up of nav

4-ch amp under rear seat

Subwoofer under rear seat

Another view of the subwoofer

Infinity speakers in the doors

Infinity speakers in the rear

(LED light strip inside)

detail of light strip

Hitch

Peace Emblem

12V outlets

SportWorks bike rack

80W mono-crystaline solar panel

Proper name

I think the fonts look nice together

Tue Oct 04, 2011 10:48 am

balzac wrote: The turning radius can't be beat!

Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:35 pm

Here's Mae Westy the day we bought her. Someone traded her in on a Subaru. The poor girl had been neglected: faded paint, droopy seals, cheap tires, etc.

Here's Mae Westy today, after 2+ years of care and improvement. Items of note in this picture include repainted poptop, GoWesty bumpers, Nokian Hakka C tires, and oversize wipers (21" and 19")

Mon Oct 10, 2011 7:36 pm

Winky_D wrote: Here's Mae Westy the day we bought her.
Very nice job Winky!...and belated welcome to the nut farm that is The Samba.

Lived in Eug for 16 years...tilt a frosty for me next time you're in the WOW Hall, eh?

peace,

mike

Sun Oct 16, 2011 1:23 pm

We bought our 1984 Westy from a friend in town who bought it from a guy in Oregon...she's in great shape, and has had some upgrades like big brakes, wheels/tires, SA grille, stereo, exhaust...with lots more to go. Great for our nearby weekend camping trips, and she was a trooper making it through high winds to the Furthur concert in Missoula a couple of weeks ago!

Passing on the love to the kiddo!

Fri Oct 21, 2011 7:00 pm

First one 83 air-cooled Westfalia "Orange Crush Bus gone http://www.vwvid.com/m/photos/browse/album/Orange-Crush-Bus/owner/mako

Second one now daily driver 91 Carat "Mako" (like the shark) Can you tell I let my kids name the vans? http://www.vwvid.com/m/photos/browse/album/91-Carat/owner/admin

Third one 83 air-cooled Westfalia again, "shag-gen wagon" kids didn't name this one someone at work, the darn name just stuck, I need a new name.
Status engine on engine stand heads apart on bench, rebuilding.
http://www.vwvid.com/m/photos/browse/album/Shag-gen-Wagon/owner/mako

Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:35 am

This is my first. In spring its getting a good cleaning up. when i bought it, it had tha same color as the roof. i'm turning it into a camper.

Wed Nov 02, 2011 3:17 pm

http://kaspertheghostvan.tumblr.com/

I like the blog, keep it updated so we can see your progress!

Fri Nov 04, 2011 12:38 am

joetiger wrote: http://kaspertheghostvan.tumblr.com/

I like the blog, keep it updated so we can see your progress!

I't will be less posts now in the winter couse i have to put i't away(the buss). But in spring!

Thu Nov 24, 2011 4:16 pm

Here is my "new" van. I have been searching for a van like this ever since I got rid of my Adventurewagen a year ago.

Mon Dec 05, 2011 12:37 am

1988 purchased in July 2011 w/ 95k miles. Still getting her ready for trips and road-worthiness. I felt lucky to find pretty much what I wanted in a '86-'90 model, white Vanagon Adventurewagen.

New wheels / tires. "Eurolook" alloys / Michelin Agilis from Van Cafe (Santa Cruz, CA)
Alignment
Oil / filter change
Installed new coolant reservoir
Coolant replacement / pressure test at German Motorwerks, Monterey, CA
New plugs, cap and rotor (always Bosch and/or best avail)
Engine bay grounds sanded clean
Countless cosmetic work and minor fixes (door handles, mirrors, etc)
New stereo / speakers
Water filter replacement
Interior wood re-staining
New metric tool set

And after a good scrubbing.

Getting better all the time.

Next up, skylight replacement and brighter headlights

So far so good.

Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:46 am

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About a week after bringing her home, just had some RAO8 out on.
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Votex Taifun grill, upper and lower.
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Original owner was German ex-pat who took the van back to Germany at least twice. Among other things, the van has these cool stickers to show for it.
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Paulshen rack, not even sure what those upright pieces with the "base" are for. Gas can?
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Luggage box that attaches to rack.

Hope these turn out OK. Got this van a couple years ago, $1000. 8)