TheSamba.com :: View topic - Thinking of selling my 79... please talk me out of it :)

Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:12 am

I have a 79 beige deluxe Westy that has been a project for a couple of years now. On the way back from the campout at Harper's Ferry (John Brown's Busses--a fun group) I dropped a valve seat and limped home. Anyway, found a strong 79 FI engine out of a running 79 (the fastest bus I ever had:) and now am stalled putting it back in. I bought this bus via The Samba, shipped it from California and have been f---ing around with it ever since. In the meanwhile looking for parts (it's a long story) I bought a 72 that has been pretty much a daily driver for a year. And, I end up camping out in it instead of my much nicer Westy (of course getting there is important).

Since winter is coming and I only have a carport to work on it I'm thinking of unloading at a loss. And, at the risk of being P. whipped my girlfriend is upset that I seem so lost in the project. Still I know I'll feel badly as I see it being towed away by the new owner.

Hence, I need a pepp talk.

Thanks guys, it's just a down day for me--feels like Monday.

Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:15 am

What is the problem with the installation?

Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:26 am

keep repeating:

"i am a competent mechanic and a good person, i am a competent mechanic and a good person etc." and don't listen to your girlfriend if she is busting your chops about getting it fixed. these things take time to do well.

you would making a really big mistake in selling it at a loss. 79 mexico beige deluxe westy is the best westy ever. heck, if i didn't already have three, i'd be trying to buy it. :

in reality, only one of those is mine.

Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:31 am

I've got one too!! Can't wait for the resto to be done....Don't let it get you down, we've all been there!!

Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:40 am

Dude, I have an extra pair of square port heads and I live in Springfield Virginia!!! Apparently, I owe some karma, because bad things are happening to me now-a-days.

Also, there is a '79 engine WITH the heat exchangers in a '74 bus in a Baltimore yard. The full engine is $150, the HEs are $10 each, and the crossover pipe needs help!! I have the progressive carb and manifold.

Also, a 914 with the prettiest set of stainless steel heat exchangers (not for us, of course) and a trapezoid muffler that is great quality. I was taking the muffler and I broke one of the studs and I gave up, but that is a great posibility. You could slap that on the end of your HEs if you don't have the appropriate crossover pipe.

(( Heloise says: If you break the stud off in your trapezoidal muffler, after you pull the stud you can replace it by (1) going to your local Fischers or Lowes or friendly FLAPS or (2) -this is the 'hint' part - cutting the heads off a few spare CV bolts that have the extended thread on them and using those as studs!! ))

Damn that Heloise !!! Why doesen't she stick to getting red wine stains out of a red carpet!!

PM me at honeybus@gmail.com when you get back on line.

Fri Oct 27, 2006 10:03 am

You could sell the running '72 and put that $$$ towards the remaining work on your '79. :idea:

Fri Oct 27, 2006 10:04 am

I too say, what's the hold up? What parts do you need? I'm sure there are folks in your area who'd help you get er done before Winter if you supply some beer and pizza. Then even if you sell it, might be worth much more... but we know you won't sell it.

Fri Oct 27, 2006 10:18 am

don't do it.

Fri Oct 27, 2006 11:21 am

I know the feeling. But as they say 'for better or for worse'.
JW

Fri Oct 27, 2006 12:14 pm

How about having your girlfriend GET WITH THE PROGRAM here and help out? There is nothing about being male that says you have to be the mechanic. Get that female down and greasy with you. Make it a team project! :D

Not that my wife, who apparently did get trained in diesel marine engine maintenance at one point, has any interest in fixing ours... :(

Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:28 pm

germansupplyscott wrote:

in reality, only one of those is mine.

That first bus is a beauty Scott! :wink:

Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:02 pm

Ok - I just bought a 78 Deluxe Westy - maybe not Mexico Beige - but it's close - and hey - the 78 79 are th best two years IMO.

As far as the GF --- either get her to help and such - or have her leave you alone. If she can't accept you as you are - and let you be happy doing your own thing - then she needs to find someone else. LOL. No offence but how can she be happy WITH you if she isn't happy YOUR happy.

DONT SELL IT - the prices of these things are going UP UP UP UP UP. I've been looking for two years for a 78 (found a 75 that I regre dumping at a loss because of a dropped valve seat).

When you do the next motor - do yourself a favor and get some NEW heads (preferably Raby for his track record with no dropped valve seats!!!).

Its pricy - but cheaper and less painfull than just buying new engines all the time LOL.

Fri Oct 27, 2006 7:18 pm

Once you get it back together right....and you are getting close....you will never let this car go.

Hang in there, get some help, spend a little extra time and bucks to do the job right...............then dump the daily driver and have a ball in the '79.

Our '79 was a wreck when we got it. It now is in pristine condition and mechanically almost new. I now can't imagine ever letting it go. It is more fun than a barrel of monkeys and gets worth more every day.

Good luck,

Pete

Sat Oct 28, 2006 11:45 am

FOR GOD SAKE MAN!!!! don't do it! I used to have a '79 deluxe westy. I loved it but i sold it. I now own a '71 but I still regret selling that bus. at least i still have the tent. if your in the prosess of fixing it up then finnish it up and take your sweet lady on a weekend getaway in it. She will see it was well worth her time waiting for you to get it done. Now get out there and turn some wrenches! :D

Sat Oct 28, 2006 3:52 pm

Ive found that the best wat to keep a project going is to at least do something to it everyday no matter how small.

Sat Oct 28, 2006 4:06 pm

wunderbus wrote: Ive found that the best wat to keep a project going is to at least do something to it everyday no matter how small.

That's the same advice they give to graduate students writing their dissertation! Good advice!

Sat Oct 28, 2006 6:11 pm

An hour a day is 7 hours per week, almost a normal workday! :shock:

I especially use this strategy on those project I really don't want to do.

Sat Oct 28, 2006 7:07 pm

Clean it.

It's dirty, nasty work sometimes. But in the end... it looks so great to see it clean. And you want to see more of it clean. And soon you want to see all of it clean, *together*.

And as was said above, about an hour a day is a full work-day. With as simple as these things are, that adds up to a *lot* of work being done.

Keep at it! I just pulled the engine outta my bus today, and it'll probably sit for a month whilst I save money for heads and stuff. That gives me a month of Saturday's to clean it.

Sat Oct 28, 2006 7:36 pm

Ogberi wrote: Clean it.

It's dirty, nasty work sometimes... That gives me a month of Saturday's to clean it.

It's crazy, but that VW gunk in their is a special kind of grime. If you can stick with it, it makes a bond between you and your vehicle.

PS: Unless, you're Bill Gates it takes more than a month to save for heads!
:cry: Well, I don't know what you drive, if it's a type 1, maybe! :D

Sat Oct 28, 2006 7:36 pm

ChiTwnVW wrote: An hour a day is 7 hours per week, almost a normal workday! :shock:

I especially use this strategy on those project I really don't want to do.

My way is to accomplish one thing a week. No matter how small.

One week was just putting screw covers on the 2 screws for the kick panels.