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Tue Mar 02, 2010 11:07 am

Hi Everybody! First time to post here, but I've been watching ya'll for a long time now. I sure could use a big favor up front. I just bought this '78 from eBay,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...500wt_1182

and will be going from AZ to Los Angeles area on Friday to pick it up. Around 500 miles. Seller said it hadn't been driven much the past 2 years that he owned it, so he took it to a local shop to have it checked out, so that hopefully I won't get stranded in the Mohave. I just talked to the owner of the repair shop
http://local.yahoo.com/info-20476016-f-j-tune-lube-downey?tab=photos#photos
and he sounds pretty straight-up, but who knows? So far he said it needs a new fuel pump and battery terminal, and will check it further after those fixes.

My request of you folks is; what else might I want to have him check? I don't want to spend too much on an out of state repair shop, but on the other hand, might as well have it fixed right, and enjoy the ride home. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance! :D

David

Tue Mar 02, 2010 11:32 am

looks like a decent buy. i like the fact that it wasn't all tarted up for sale, it appears to be an honest vehicle in good original condition. if that's original paint then the body looks excellent.

i would suggest bringing to a respected shop that specializes in aircooled VW's and go from there. some people who are from that area might chime in with suggestions.

Tue Mar 02, 2010 11:33 am

A little more info; the guy I bought it from said it "burns a bit of oil". I asked him what he meant by that, i.e. how much did it burn, and he said he didn't know because he only drove it a dozen times in the 2 years he owned it, and the rest of the time it has just sat in his warehouse. He thought it burns oil because when it starts after not being driven in a while, it blows out a bit of smoke. I'm guessing that's just because it hadn't been run in some time. I wondered why someone would buy a bus and then not drive it much for 2 years. He said his intention when he got it was to use it for his business selling beverages at markets and events (promoting his bottled products), but never realized that idea. Thus it sat. Good thing, because his original idea was to cut into the bus, modifying it quite a bit.

The owner of the repair shop said that so far the engine looks as clean to him as the rest of the bus, so that's good news. I'm just hoping he doesn't now try and sell me on a bunch of stuff I don't need (repair wise) cause he knows I have to drive it back to AZ.

Tue Mar 02, 2010 11:34 am

Make sure he changes out all the fuel lines and injector seals so you won't burn up on the way back!

Tue Mar 02, 2010 11:37 am

Thanks Scott.

BTW; it has fuel injection too.

Tue Mar 02, 2010 12:12 pm

Well,
You are planning on jumping into an old bus and driving it quite a distance. Personally, I wouldn't want to do that on a wing and a prayer. You could find yourself broken down in the middle of nowhere looking at a huge towing charge or worse an engine fire. You really don't know much about the past maintenance so you have to check it out very carefully. I suggest having it shipped. I know, you don't like the sound of that. It's not as fun of an 'adventure' as blasting across the desert in your new love would be. It is the safe way to go though. Once you get it home you can methodically go through everything while only taking her on short runs until you get her roadworthy. If you do insist on doing the drive I suggest the following maintenance first.

1) Change the transmission gear oil
2) Inspect the cv boots
3) Inspect the tires/adjust air pressure
4) Inspect the brakes for wear
5) Change out the brake fluid
6) Check all the fuel lines and replace if old
7) Compression check
8) Check the charging system
9) Run the engine and leak check
10) Check all the lights
11) Check the steering for slop and alignment
12) Check the shift coupler
13) Fill the fuel tank to full and leak check

I've probably left out at least a dozon other items but you get the idea. Good luck.

Tue Mar 02, 2010 12:46 pm

Congrats and welcome to the family!

You absolutely must install an engine compartment seal before driving it that distance.

It looks like this: (Thanks to Daverham for the pics.)

Good luck!

Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:00 pm

Based on one of the pics with the top up, you may want to invest in a new canvas. It might get a little drafty when camping. :lol:

Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:05 pm

Wow yeah, good eye Busboss...I didn't see that either until you mentioned it and I looked at the pics. Definitely don't get on the freeway without that seal.

Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:22 pm

Great advice... listen to germansupplyscott, aeromech, and bussboss. Particularly Scott's advice to take it to a reputable ACVW shop. Having someone work on this bus that doesn't know what they're doing could make it less safe/reliable.

Congrats by the way... looks like a great bus.

Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:26 pm

AAA with 200 mile towing is a wonderful thing!!!

So is a complete tune up with a valve adjustment.

Tue Mar 02, 2010 2:15 pm

Thanks so much for all your input, and observations. Well spotted on the missing engine compartment seal BusBoss! I hadn't noticed that from the photo until you mentioned it. Are those hard to put in? Just wondering if I could get one there and install it on the spot.

A lot of other good suggestions too. Thanks all. I will try and reciprocate when and as I can. You guys rock!

David

Tue Mar 02, 2010 2:18 pm

BusterBrown wrote: Thanks so much for all your input, and observations. Well spotted on the missing engine compartment seal BusBoss! I hadn't noticed that from the photo until you mentioned it. Are those hard to put in? Just wondering if I could get one there and install it on the spot.

A lot of other good suggestions too. Thanks all. I will try and reciprocate when and as I can. You guys rock!

David

No, they are easy. Won't take but a few minutes.

Tue Mar 02, 2010 2:24 pm

aeromech wrote:

No, they are easy. Won't take but a few minutes.

Agreed. Just make sure to install slick side down.

Tue Mar 02, 2010 2:29 pm

You can install the engine to body seal in about 15 minutes with no tools.

If it were me I would also consider just towing it home behind a towbar......

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=280516

Tue Mar 02, 2010 2:32 pm

Randy in Maine wrote: You can install the engine to body seal in about 15 minutes with no tools.

If it were me I would also consider just towing it home behind a towbar......

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=280516

or use a tow dolly from Uhaul

Tue Mar 02, 2010 7:02 pm

Yeah we used a Uhaul car trailer to bring my 78 westy from Richmond, Virginia to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada which was about 16 or so hours of driving without a problem. Very stable on the highway