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Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:41 am

Hi,

I am checking out a 1979 CA bus today. It does not run because as the owner reports the O2 sensor is bad.

They report it has sat for a couple of years (in a garage).
I live in dry desert air.

So, what should I look for today?
Besides:
general condition, interior
Straight bus, no rust
engine tin
engine compartment seal

It's only $650.

THANKS,
Kevin

Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:43 am

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=149447

Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:53 am

Thanks Eric!
Yep, I had read that one!

Anybody else with lessons learned?

THANKS!

Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:02 am

When I look at a bus, I try and determine how much it is going to cost me to get this thing back on the road and fairly reliable. So, I'm always trying to have my overall budget in mind, not just purchase price.

If engine doesn't run, you can assume it needs rebuilt. Hopefully it won't, but if it does you're probably looking at $1500 to $2500 bucks.

Rust...who knows. If you can do the repair yourself, not that expensive. If you need someone to do it for you...well, that's another story.

Fuel tank treatment, fuel lines, door/window rubber, tires, brakes, etc.

Someone said that it usually costs $8000 (including purchase price) to get one back on the road. Personally, I think that is probably pretty close.

I passed on a 79 this past weekend for a lot of the reasons I've listed here.

Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:52 am

I saw the ad for that bus to. How did it look? Could be an easy fix for a solid bus. Or something in the motor could be big$. The buses are usually pretty dry out here though. Post a pic.
shawn

Tue Oct 27, 2009 1:28 pm

Hey fellow Bendite!
I've been eyeing that craigslist ad for months now... if I hadn't just picked up another project bus ('71 Deluxe) I probably would've snatched this one up. I'll be interested what you find when you go look at it. IIRC the ad states won't stay running b/c of bad O2 sensor right? It could just be a bad vacuum leak. I would take a compression tester with you (got one you can borrow if necessary). The tires they say just need air, but they're obviously P-rated (white walls) and need replaced anyway.

Good luck!

Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:11 pm

79 CA have some parts that are specific to that year (and some to aircooled Vanagons) only. These include:
-Hall effect distributor w/ a special ignition box which should be mounted on the firewall
-O2 sensor
-One year only exhaust
-No EGR on the plenum
-Two vacuum ports on the throttle body
-AFM
-Certain pieces of engine tin
-Double relay
-FI harness

I may have missed a thing or two, but that'll give you a good idea. If any of that stuff is missing, unless you're willing to shell out the cash for new things (except the O2 sensor, which is cheap), that may be a more expensive project than anticipated.

Also, it sounds like a vacuum leak as it'll run without the O2 sensor hooked up.