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bart78 Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2005 Posts: 7
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Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2006 3:00 pm Post subject: Getting ready for winter or other storage FAQ |
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Hi, I've been reading the posts for awhile now and this is my first time posting....I bought a '76 bus in November, repaired the rust and had new paint put on it with all new seals. It runs great except for a small problem with the shifter when its in fourth. Has too much play and sounds like it grinds a little around turns. i recently found out I am going to be stationed over seas and need to put the bus in storage for four years. What is the best way to get it ready for storage and to bring it out of storage? Are there any places that will store it for you and do basic maintanence on it and keep it running while it is in thier care? Thanks for any help. |
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Miguel Arroyo Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2004 Posts: 3122 Location: Miami Beach, Florida
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Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2006 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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I wrote the following for a beetle but it can be adapted for a van.
1. Put a can of fuel stabilizer in the tank. Fill the tank, run engine for 10 to 15 minutes to make sure the fuel stabilizer makes it all the way to the carburetor. Top off the fuel. Or totally remove all fuel from tank, run engine until it dies.
2. Change the engine oil
3. Change the gear oil
4. Replace the brake fluid starting at the furthest wheel and finishing with the front left.
5. Grease the front beam
6. Change the oil in the air filter if you have the stock one
7. Adjust the valves
8. Do a full tune up. New plugs, point, fuel filter, rotor, cap, etc.
9. This is a good time to consider replacement of the rubber fuel lines.
10. Clean the engine compartment
11. Clean the underside of the car
12. Inflate all tires to the maximum recommended on the sidewalls.
13. Fully detail the car, including a top quality wax job and dressing of all plastic and rubber parts. Park car inside of a garage.
14. Jack the car 1 to 2 inches so the tires do not hold all the weight.
15. Remove each plug and pour in about 1 to 2 ounces of regular engine oil or marvel mystery oil. Using a wrench or the starter (remove coil cable to distributor since you do not want the engine to start) rotate the engine a few revs to get the oil on all upper portions of the cylinder head.
16. Put steel wool on the exhaust tip. Put a piece of plastic also at the end held in place with a rubber band. This is intended to stop critters from nesting inside your exhaust.
15. Using a large plastic bag put it over the fan assembly and air filter inlet to prevent critters making it in that route.
16. Make sure all the hoses in the heating system are in good shape and connected at the ends. Metal ones are better to prevent animals from coming in.
17. Remove the battery. Clean area; if you find rust treat it with POR 15 or equivalent. Top of the battery cells and store battery in a cool dry place (above freezing).
18. Get three plastic containers. Fill with cedar shavings, and then put in trunk, cab, and engine compartment.
19. Get 2 damp rid. Put one in the trunk and another in the cab.
20. Open the glove door and the ashtray.
21. Do not engage the emergency brake. It most likely will freeze on you during the long months of not being used.
22. Close the doors, trunk, and lid. But do not fully compress the rubber. This is specially important with the doors and pop out windows. Note: Dress all rubber gaskets.
23. Get a sheet of plastic and lay below your car. This prevents moisture that comes up thru the slab from causing any rust in your car.
24. Get a breathable cover and cover your car.
25. Check the damp rid and cedar shavings at least every two weeks and replace/drain as needed |
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barefootwestie Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2005 Posts: 1551 Location: Johns Island, SC
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Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2006 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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Whew! Now that is a list. Great Post. _________________ My Bus Restoration Blog
https://myvolkswagenbus.com/
1973 Westfalia
"Getting better....one repair at a time."
Other VW's owned through the years, in no particular order:
'67 Beetle,
'67 Ghia Hardtop,
'72 Ghia Convertible,
'72 Westfalia |
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Miguel Arroyo Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2004 Posts: 3122 Location: Miami Beach, Florida
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Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 9:01 am Post subject: |
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Hope it helps. |
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VWLover77 Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2003 Posts: 999 Location: North Canton, Ohio
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Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 9:27 am Post subject: |
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This should be a sticky!!!
Also, would it be worth removing the pushrods to relieve the valve spring pressure on the cam, and to seal the cylinders?
Don _________________ Don
1978 Westy
1971 Super Beetle Convertible
"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." - J.R.R. Tolkien |
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bart78 Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2005 Posts: 7
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Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the great info!!! |
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Miguel Arroyo Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2004 Posts: 3122 Location: Miami Beach, Florida
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Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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Hope it helps. |
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dwill49965 Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2005 Posts: 1396 Location: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
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Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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Miguel Arroyo wrote: |
19. Get 2 damp rid. Put one in the trunk and another in the cab.
25. Check the damp rid and cedar shavings at least every two weeks and replace/drain as needed |
Pardon my ignorance, but what is a "rid" and what is their purpose? _________________ Darryl
--------------
'78 Westy, Boston Bob built 2.0 L, FI, MSD 6A
Meyer wrote: |
Lastly, you just referred to US citizens as 'Americans'. Exactly what kind of Canadian are you? From what continent? |
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JMazier Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2006 Posts: 900 Location: In my garage, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada...
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Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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dwill49965 wrote: |
Miguel Arroyo wrote: |
19. Get 2 damp rid. Put one in the trunk and another in the cab.
25. Check the damp rid and cedar shavings at least every two weeks and replace/drain as needed |
Pardon my ignorance, but what is a "rid" and what is their purpose? |
Try this site http://www.chemnet.com/show/damprid/ _________________ Cheers!
Jérôme
’79 Cali Westy 2.0 F.I.
'74 Honda CB 350 Four
'78 Honda CB 750 K
'12 Golf GTI
'11 Ural Patrol |
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Miguel Arroyo Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2004 Posts: 3122 Location: Miami Beach, Florida
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Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 7:07 am Post subject: |
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cjmazier wrote: |
dwill49965 wrote: |
Miguel Arroyo wrote: |
19. Get 2 damp rid. Put one in the trunk and another in the cab.
25. Check the damp rid and cedar shavings at least every two weeks and replace/drain as needed |
Pardon my ignorance, but what is a "rid" and what is their purpose? |
Try this site http://www.chemnet.com/show/damprid/ |
It works very well, I have used it on various ocassions. |
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VWKC Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2012 Posts: 42 Location: Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 2:38 pm Post subject: Taking a Ghia out of storage |
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Any tips on taking a Ghia out of storage? I'm in the process of purchasing a previously well-maintained 1971 Ghia that has been sitting in a garage for 1-2 years. I think it has fuel stablizer in it, but otherwise it is just sitting, calmly, under a car cover.
Thanks in advance. |
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Zelten Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2008 Posts: 1335 Location: Issaquah
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Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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Before everyone jumps all over you. You are in the Bay Bus forum. Check out the Ghia section. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewforum.php?f=7 _________________ 1978 Delux Campmobile
03 Jetta TDI
15 Q7 TDI |
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VWKC Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2012 Posts: 42 Location: Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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Ahh, well thanks. I hadn't noticed that. This thread is a sticky over on the Ghia section and apparently links here...
Say I had a generic air-cooled VW, what would be the best practice for taking said vehicle out of storage? |
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grandpa pete Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2008 Posts: 6426 Location: St. Petersburg, FL
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Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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71 ghia has same engine as early bus. ..FUEL ... drain out old gas..empty fuel filter and carb bowl ...replace rubber fuel lines...add new gas .......ELECTRICAL...replace/charge battery......BRAKES .."brake fluid absorbes moisture"...bleed brakes with new fluid...after pumping brakes several times check for fluid leaks onto brake drums. Future ghia questions should be on the ghia forum...good luck _________________ 63 two fold rag
66 sedan delivery Type 6
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569619&highlight=sedan+delivery |
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VWKC Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2012 Posts: 42 Location: Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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grandpa pete wrote: |
71 ghia has same engine as early bus. ..FUEL ... drain out old gas..empty fuel filter and carb bowl ...replace rubber fuel lines...add new gas .......ELECTRICAL...replace/charge battery......BRAKES .."brake fluid absorbes moisture"...bleed brakes with new fluid...after pumping brakes several times check for fluid leaks onto brake drums. Future ghia questions should be on the ghia forum...good luck |
Excellent, thanks for the information! It's actually my father's car--I suspect his strategy would be to just put in a fresh battery and crank away, but I'm hoping to own this car for another 40 years so I'd like to destroy as little as possible when getting it back into running shape. Thanks again. |
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51144 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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VWKC wrote: |
grandpa pete wrote: |
71 ghia has same engine as early bus. ..FUEL ... drain out old gas..empty fuel filter and carb bowl ...replace rubber fuel lines...add new gas .......ELECTRICAL...replace/charge battery......BRAKES .."brake fluid absorbes moisture"...bleed brakes with new fluid...after pumping brakes several times check for fluid leaks onto brake drums. Future ghia questions should be on the ghia forum...good luck |
Excellent, thanks for the information! It's actually my father's car--I suspect his strategy would be to just put in a fresh battery and crank away, but I'm hoping to own this car for another 40 years so I'd like to destroy as little as possible when getting it back into running shape. Thanks again. |
Good advice Gramps, I'll add a rodent nest check of the cooling system and a remove the plugs and crank till the oil light goes out before the initial startup to that. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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Poptopcamper Samba Member
Joined: June 23, 2012 Posts: 490 Location: Sheridan, Wyoming
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:50 am Post subject: |
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Yeah the mice in my neighborhood once stored a couple of cups of dry dog food in my Winterized Golwing's air filter box and made a big nest on top of my Z28's engine. Since they had the dog food they left my wires and hoses alone. I better go check my bus! _________________ If you only have one tool in your tool box, and it's a hammer, pretty soon, everything looks like it needs to be whacked!
1978 VW Riviera
2021 Dodge Ram 3/4 ton
2020 VW Tiguan
2001 Harley Electraglide Classic
1986 BMW R 800cc motorcycle
2002 Chevy Camaro Z28
1999 Harley Sportster 1200 Custom |
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ClipperBuggy Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2014 Posts: 41 Location: Connecticut
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Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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VWLover77 wrote: |
This should be a sticky!!!
Also, would it be worth removing the pushrods to relieve the valve spring pressure on the cam, and to seal the cylinders?
Don |
Anyone have thoughts on pulling pushrods? I am curious about doing that as well. |
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rustbus Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2009 Posts: 2078 Location: alberta
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Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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I just rotate the engine by hand every few weeks so that none of the metal parts contact the same position too long, and the springs aren't static for 5-6 months _________________ May of '72 Deluxe. 2.0L L-Jet CS & 091 trans conversion
my Bus thread |
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madmike Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2005 Posts: 5292 Location: Atlanta,Michigan
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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 4:28 am Post subject: |
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No need to pull rockers/pushrods,unless u have dual valve springs _________________ 'Black Ice'Drag Buggy 'Turbo'
Rail Buggy 1915 turbo
76 Drag/Street bug 2180cc 'Turbo' 11:85 @113 mph"If I go any faster I'll burn up the Hamster" ,gets 28 mpg. also 10/09/22 11.90 @115 mph
"If I'm ever on Life Support,UNPLUG Me, Then Plug me back In see if that Works" |
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