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Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:22 pm

i took the driving insurance off mine so i can take it into the shop, fix the rust and paint it.

Fri Nov 06, 2009 6:05 am

Gave mine a good workout carrying a few hundred sq. ft. of solid Maple flooring 50 miles on the highway. My 1776 performed like a champ with all that weight!

Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:08 pm

Replaced the fan shroud to charcoal canister line with some 1/2" ID clear vinyl tubing from Lowes. The old hose was so shrunken and hardened that it wouldn't stay connected.

Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:00 pm

adjusted valves (for the first time)
replaced weber 32/36 with 34 PICT 3
replaced 009 with SVDA
replaced old fuel line

Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:39 pm

time to admit winter is coming... time to switch to the Continental Vanco Vikings, a gift from my dad who no longer needs them for his Eurovan. They only had 4k miles on them, thanks dad. I'm devoted enough to get a separate set of rims too, gotta do it right.

Also sealed up the heater boxes. I did this last year on the passengers side and it worked and lasted, so I'm going to do it to the drivers side this year.

First close the gap between the box and pipe, a small hammer and drift works, be careful it's not that thick.

after, a bit closer

I may get a laugh here, but I used some high temp aluminum stove pipe tape with acrylic adhesive, good to 700F to seal the outside. Attached to the box rather that the pipe.

I was skeptical last year when I did it on the passengers side, but it worked and is fine a year later, so I decided to try the drivers side this year.

Keeping those precious cfm's going to the front. Bring it on winter, bring it on....

Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:20 am

Yesterday...

Replaced steering coupler/inspected/topped off steering box.
Lubricated front axle
Repaired driver's door lock so I can use the key again 8)
treated some light/mod rust in engine bay with couple POR coats
and painted it over Sage green. Looks way to new in this spot now.

POR-15 is awesome stuff. Wish I could coat myself in it and never get old.

I'd have a couple pics but my 14 yr old son took my camera to make a movie or something and it's now missing. Presumably in the woods... ahhh, the joys of parenthood.

Mon Nov 09, 2009 6:00 pm

installed new old german adjusters given to me by Lorenzo....thanks man good lookin'. 8) i also synch'd the carbs

Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:04 pm

baumer99 wrote: time to admit winter is coming... time to switch to the Continental Vanco Vikings, a gift from my dad who no longer needs them for his Eurovan. They only had 4k miles on them, thanks dad. I'm devoted enough to get a separate set of rims too, gotta do it right.

Baumer,
Where are you buying these rims at?

Wed Nov 11, 2009 10:25 am

Removed failed Thermostat (2nd failure in 4 years). This is the last used T4 thermostat I will be installing. (bought it off a cool guy in our classifieds). Next time I've gotta try a new T1 thermostat and do the modification I've read about.

On the interesting side of things my old thermo cable was fraying in two places so I replaced it with a 0.045 in. stainless steel electric guitar string. As some of you know I am a music teacher and the cable couldn't help but remind me of a guitar string. The strings are made to withstand way more pressure load and rubbing than a braided junk wire. It fit perfect, works great and I'll think it'll hold up pretty good.

Have to watch it for a few months and make sure. Sorry still no pic capability...son lost camera at halloween party running around the woods.
You gotta believe me though..there's a guitar string contributing to the mechanics of my vehicle...awesome. 8)

Wed Nov 11, 2009 10:48 am

jmstu76 wrote:
Baumer,
Where are you buying these rims at?

Surprisingly, just a local used website comparable to craigslist. They seem to pop up from time to time. The latest set a guy was going to install them on his vanagon, but he didn't know where to take them to get straightened and machined so he gave up and got different rims. My gain. :)

I can also add, fabricated a plastic seal that goes around the alternator and seals to the tin. I always thought there should be something there, did a search and viola, replaced missing seal #5.

Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:50 pm

In my 71 Westfalia, I sucessfully replaced the rear right window behind the cabinet without taking out the cabinet and was pretty damn proud of myself!

The trick was to loosen the cabinet enough (after taking the headbanger shelf) to remove the wood panel that is faced with curtain material and is seen bahind the window. Actually after removing all the screws, I took that out through the window hole. Then I had enough room to work with the soapy-clothesline-in-the-gasket method.

Now I'm hunting for some plaid material I like enough to make a new curtain for that piece, and hopefully I'll be able to snake the panel back in through the closet.

Also, my friend and I did some extremely half-assed bondo/ rust-o-leum work on it so more or less pass inspection. This winter the real restoration will begin, but for now I just need it road legal so we can work out the bugs mechanically.

Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:10 pm

Quote: my old thermo cable was fraying in two places so I replaced it with a 0.045 in. stainless steel electric guitar string.

I tried using old "E" strings off of my bass guitar... they did not hold up at all. They broke surprisingly fast. Like the next day. I ended up switching to a good quality brake cable or shifter cable for a pedal bike. Those are very strong, much stronger than the cable you buy for the bus (and my bass strings apparently). Keep a close eye on it. YMMV.

Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:12 pm

soissisc wrote: Quote: my old thermo cable was fraying in two places so I replaced it with a 0.045 in. stainless steel electric guitar string.

I tried using old "E" strings off of my bass guitar... they did not hold up at all. They broke surprisingly fast. Like the next day. I ended up switching to a good quality brake cable or shifter cable for a pedal bike. Those are very strong, much stronger than the cable you buy for the bus (and my bass strings apparently). Keep a close eye on it. YMMV.

A bike cable will last a long time. The derailleur cable I put on my thermostat years ago is as good as new.

Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:41 pm

Finally got a Round 2it.

Installed a normally closed electric fuel shut off valve, powered off the fuel pump circuit. Now the crankcase won't fill up with gas if the carb float sticks.

The list keeps getting shorter.

Thu Nov 12, 2009 10:00 pm

Update...guitar string on the Thermostat was a lame ass idea. The ridges on it hung up on bushing I put in the engine tin. It wouldn't work smoothly. I did the job right with a heavy braided wire today.

Just in time for a cold snap in Northern VA.

Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:45 pm

Put on some new shoes today after a local member in Vanagon section passed on some information about a machine shop near my house. They were the only one that could bore out the hub for cheap. Got them back in a day. :)

I think I will powdercoat them another color. Just wanted to see how they fit and ride. In case someone is wondering. I bought them from Craigslist. They came from an Audi. Tires are GOODYEAR with a 98 LOAD Rating.

Fri Nov 13, 2009 4:28 pm

^ looking good! I agree, they would look better in something other then chrome. But other then that, thumbs up. Are those on formerly wide 5 bus? If so, what was involved?
Duh, never mind, I see it's a 71 in your signature. Still, what did machine shop have to do?

Fri Nov 13, 2009 4:45 pm

Batan wrote: ^ looking good! I agree, they would look better in something other then chrome. But other then that, thumbs up. Are those on formerly wide 5 bus? If so, what was involved?
Duh, never mind, I see it's a 71 in your signature. Still, what did machine shop have to do?

The hubs on most Audi wheels are too small. Mine were like 50mm in diameter. I have to get them enlarged to 68mm to clear the grease caps and the rear axle nuts.

Sat Nov 14, 2009 1:31 am

Yesterday- tried to get an inspection sticker on my 71 westy, was running like crap. Didn't make it to the gas station, had to have it towed back. Turned out a wire fell off the carb solenoid, and the carb itself needed some tuning.

Today. got a sticker, but it was sadly a reject (a few lights don't work yet). Still, it's a lot better than the previous sticker on the bus, which expred in April 1989! My bus is officially on the road and legal!

Sun Nov 15, 2009 6:44 pm

baumer99 wrote: jmstu76 wrote:
Baumer,
Where are you buying these rims at?

Surprisingly, just a local used website comparable to craigslist. They seem to pop up from time to time. The latest set a guy was going to install them on his vanagon, but he didn't know where to take them to get straightened and machined so he gave up and got different rims. My gain. :)

I can also add, fabricated a plastic seal that goes around the alternator and seals to the tin. I always thought there should be something there, did a search and viola, replaced missing seal #5.

I guess I should have been more specific. Very good looking alloys. Who makes them, or what type of vehicle were they fitted on before your bus? 14 inch rim or 15 inch?