TheSamba.com :: View topic - I want to get into the 412 game need advice..

Tue Sep 28, 2010 8:24 pm

Yes I know these are rare and you will need to fabricate things be creative etc... I also have a 1982 air-cooled westy so I am familiar with the NLA part game, but I am also familiar with the FI systems on these engines and some of the quirks. I am considering this 412:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1018725
I would have to fly out there and drive it back to Indiana. Any thoughts?

Thanks all.

Wed Sep 29, 2010 5:34 am

Car looks awesome! I say go for it, but have a plan B if it breaks down. I've driven a $300 '85 Golf 1000 miles across the midwest immediately after buying it in my younger years (thought the fuel pump was a goner about 2/3 of the way through, but a nice rest and the cool night air helped limp it to my destination) and with my 412 wagon the owner graciously delivered it from Colorado to Missouri- said he did 70-80 mph nonstop IIRC. It had been sorted a bit, though, transaxle had been gone through not too long prior. Might be a concern if this car is really untouched. What do you other guys think?

Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:47 am

More than one train of thought here:

(1) If it really is untouched...then outside of the body being in "possible" pristine condition (we'll get to that "possible" in a minute)...then a lot of good things are already here....but...untouched also means....35 year old rubber on all bushings, joints, brake lines and cylinders. 35 year shocks and struts. Thats a lot of work for $2800...but normal. Also bear in mind that the interior though complete, has the same heat and sun damage you would expect.

(2) The possibly pristine body:...You will want some close-up pictures of the "minor" bubbling. There is no such thing as "minor" bubbling on these cars. the areas in the rocker panels are filled with foam. If there is bubbling, there is serious rust. This is not a disqualifier at all....but bear mind that with ANY bubbling at all on this car....the excellent paint on it just went in the trash because...and trust me 100% on this...you CANNOT...patch the original paint on this car. My 412 is L-96M...which is teh sam color as this car.
If you have to sand off any paint to repair rust...you WILL have to repaint the entire vehicle...always. (a) because it is a factory clearcoat (b) because L96M is technically a blue shade "taupe"...meaning because of the alignment of the silver and blue metal flakes....it changes color under every light condition. You cannot do "patch" painting on thios color at all.

So the only excellent thing that can be said for its nice condition is that it is straight...and thats a lot!

If it runs OK and is complete....and you have the cash to spare...and you are fully aware that shortly it WILL require about $600 in suspension work (all of your own labor) and about $300-500 in brakes (all of your own labor)...and sooner or later a complete paint job...and whatever you are willing to put up with for interior......then its a good deal.

Otherwise...I would say closer to $2000 to $2300 max. It aint that pristine...knowing whats required to drive it. But it is very nice and would be a GREAT car to start with. Ray

Wed Sep 29, 2010 7:48 am

Oh yeah, you're probably well aware, but remember to make sure the fuel lines aren't crumbling into dust either. I got my wagon and was driving it for a while and started smelling a little bit of gas in the car. So, I started checking things and found what may have been the original lines connecting the injectors to the fuel rail (this was late 2005!) so possibly 30+ years old.

Thu Sep 30, 2010 9:40 pm

Ok, I am still considering the one in Colorado, but this one really has my attention:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1019946

The motor needs work (fill me in if it is hard to drop the engine in these VWs) ...but given the rest of it it might be worth shipping it across the country, or am I going totally 412-insane.

Thanks all.

Thu Sep 30, 2010 9:53 pm

No, dropping the motor is wery easy, wery similar as for a bug or as for your 1982 air-cooled westy.

/Lars S

Fri Oct 01, 2010 5:11 am

I believe the gentleman with the handle Bill K. on here owned that last car at one time. I would be inclined to ask him. It looks like it is still in nice shape overall.

Fri Oct 01, 2010 5:15 am

The truqoise one would be a steal at $900. Betting it still has a few problems...loks like a wrinkle in the nose and since its a re-paint it may be covering up issues...but for the price...very complete! Ray

Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:08 pm

If I were to go with the $900 412 I would have to pay close to $1000-1200 to have it shipped so for me it is really more like $2000. Also it has some bubbling on one of the fenders so I will have to deal with rust as well. It was running when it was taken to the mechanic then as they replaced valve guides and the alternator the mechanic realized there was no compression in 2 cylinders and said he would have to take the engine apart to see what needed to be done and quoted over $1k+ to do it so it is now for sale instead. I am thinking since it was running on going to the mechanic that maybe it is just an issue with the heads so I am looking at an additional $500 -$1000 to get the engine running. It is starting to look less like a deal unless I can get a better shipping rate.