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Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:04 pm

Well, its me again. Remember how last time I told you a Sage Green Westy was what I always wanted, and how I found one and was so happy? Well happiness comes in twos sometimes. I got wind of a rust free 1977 Westfalia Deluxe (does that mean stove?) that had a rebuilt motor, was still FI, currently in possession by the fourth owner since new, and had service records since 1984.

Was I interested? Why, yes, yes I was. So I went by and took a look with my wife to see what it was all about.

When we got there, we met a super nice lady, who refused to have her picture taken, who told us about "Doodle" her '77. She bought it in Colorado in late 1999 and drove it around camping in the mountains for a month before driving it back to Texas. Under her care, Doodle traveled to Colorado again, Canada, Mexico and various places in Texas. He had recently been retired to the garage in favor of a two wheeled toy, and she was looking for a good home. Other than a dead battery, and a mostly deteriorated engine seal, he looked complete, and super nice. Inside was just as nice. Still complete with the stool, dash table and childs cot, amazing. She handed me the keys, and I slid them in the ignition. It took me a second to realize the noise I was hearing was the buzzer letting you know you forgot your keys. Wow. Even has bus rated tires already (even though they are dated, and getting replaced with my new Vanco2s.)

After a little (very little) persuasion and a new battery, he fired right up and idled fine. I didnt want to drive it far w/o the engine seal but the around the block trip was awsome. No shimmies, shakes, odd noises, anything. Stopped and ran great. All lights and blinkers and everything worked. I drove back, and we made the deal on the spot. I was happy.

Title signed, money changed hands, tearful goodbyes were said, and when she handed me the keys, she also gave me:

I had never heard of it, but I plan to read it. She said she was given it when she bought the bus, and felt it right to pass on a copy. She also has lots of pics from campsites with the bus, and I really hope she sends me some like she said. Anywhoo, I didn't want to drive the 90 miles back to my house without going over the bus first, so I hooked it up to my Jeremyrockjock towbar, and went to the house. A little manuvering, and I got him into the garage. Been garage kept his whole life, and I plan to continue that. More pictures when the rain stops and I can get him outside. I called up a buddy who was looking for a camper project, and promptly sold my other Sage Green Westy to him, recouping half my costs on this one. I can't stop grinning.

I'm going to have a ton of questions, because I've never owned a FI bus before, or a bus this nice, and I want to make sure it stays that way, whatever I have to do.

:D

Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:13 pm

Very nice score. This spring, summer and fall should be eventful for you.

Congrats.

Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:26 pm

Awesome

Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:29 pm

That's a really nice bus and that is also a great book. Its about a guys spiritual journey in a vw bus. I've read it a few times. Right in the middle right now actually. Congrats.

Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:38 pm

Trade you :)

Man Kirk, looks great! Keep her forever! Remember, mine is and will always be a year younger!!!

Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:49 pm

That's an awesome find! Congrats!

Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:52 pm

Sweet!, nothing better than a well kept non project, now change the fuel lines and go camping!

Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:52 pm

Very nice ,good score!

Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:34 pm

Awesome. Congrats!

Red shocks... Konis perhaps?

Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:23 pm

I assume that it is the same Donald Miller that wrote Through Painted Deserts. It is a book about a road trip from Texas to Oregon in a bus. A little preachy and spiritual for me. But it is a good travel and vw story, including a pick your own junkyard in Vegas. Here is the link for Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Through-Painted-Deserts-Ligh...amp;sr=8-5

Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:45 pm

busdaddy wrote: Sweet!, nothing better than a well kept non project, now change the fuel lines and go camping!

The reciepts show they were all replaced five years ago when the motor was rebuilt, but I plan to check them all thoroughly.

MattFoley wrote: I assume that it is the same Donald Miller that wrote Through Painted Deserts. It is a book about a road trip from Texas to Oregon in a bus. A little preachy and spiritual for me. But it is a good travel and vw story, including a pick your own junkyard in Vegas. Here is the link for Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Through-Painted-Deserts-Ligh...amp;sr=8-5

Funny, this one is about a trip from Texas to Oregon in a bus. He wrote two about the same things?

Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:53 am

Congratulations! My wife and I found the sage green westy (1978) we've been waiting for last week, and thanks to the good folks on this forum, safely drove it the 500 miles home from Los Angeles without a hitch =D>

Fuel Injection. Very nice.

Broken engine compartment lid hold-up bracket though. The little wheel which guides the large hairpin shaped rod dealy-bob is broken. Not sure how to fix that, and don't see any replacements on any of the suppliers sites. Any ideas anyone? It looks like it's riveted on it's metal bracket too, so I can't imagine how to get the broken one off.

Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:39 am

awesome score, kirk! it going to make it to the classic? comin up fast... lets make sure we meet up this time!

ps post up some pics of the interior =)

Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:47 pm

Awesome find man!!!!!!

Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:49 pm

You going to keep the " :D "?

Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:00 pm

I am. I took some new pictures today, but I still haven't had a chance to clean it up much.

Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:03 pm

And then me and the daughter hopped in it, and took it to Sonic for the first time. Hell to the yes.

Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:48 pm

Sweet dude! I can tell you really appreciate this bus.

I picked up a 1979 sage/brown Westy last summer with the same AC unit. Is your fusebox in its original location? Mine was lowered about 5 inches when the AC was installed, I assume for easier access to the fusebox. They cut and extended all the wires connected to the fusebox to do this. Can you get at your fusebox easily? I didn't notice if that mod was necessary because I removed the dashboard unit as soon as I got it home, it was loose and the compressor was already removed. After removing it I noticed the fusebox was lowered.

Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:50 pm

Awesome, you guys look so stoked

Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:55 pm

Kirk wrote:

Was I interested? Why, yes, yes I was. So I went by and took a look with my wife to see what it was all about.

:D

Something tells me if she doesn't want her photo taken then she probably wouldn't like her house and both her license plates posted on the internet either. Really nice bus by the way!