Noticed today, a piece of my engine seal is gone! '78 Bus

[Tcash]

Definitely not having much luck finding that seal
Salvage Yards

Good Luck

[jtauxe]

Re the foam seal that goes around the tin:

I have found that the one sold by BusDepot (which is probably the same one everyone sells) is a bit short, like by a couple of inches. So, I advise buying 2 of them if you can afford it. Use the second one for "parts", as in shorter strips that can fill in gaps.

There are two ways to approach the disconnected hoses that go from the blower fan to the heat exchangers, but leaving it open is not good.

1. Do as BusDaddy points out, and install the hose even if the fan does not work. This takes advantage of the flappers in the fan (assuming they are still there) which will keep air from blowing into the engine compartment. If the flappers are not there in the fan housing, then you will need to get some before getting the fan hooked up anyway. Meanshile, if the flappers are not there, you can try...

2. Simply get some of the good aluminum duct tape (the real stuff, not your standard duct tape) and seal off the ducts to the heat exchangers there in the engine compartment. That at least keeps air from blowing into the engine compartment.

There are also seals to be had that go around the ducting where it penetrates the tin. These are also important if you really want to make it all air tight.

Somewhere... is a nice explanation of how the heat works on these engines, drawn by Colin Kellogg. It shows the significance of the flappers in the blower fan, as well as those (which are commonly missing) in the bottom of the shroud on Type IV engines. It's all about directing air over the heat exchangers, and not allowing it to get back into the engine compartment.
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John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD

[Airwalker700]

Hello everyone! Well I've been on the hunt for the alternator seal, and I believe I found one that would work for me! It's in a '76 automatic at a local scrap yard.

It's in the middle of a snowy field unfortunately, and I need to get the seal out without their assistance. I just wanted to confirm the process of removing this thing before I get out there and have something unexpected hit me!

Checking the Bentley manual, it looks like I'd need to remove the oil filler neck, the dipstick, and the rubber grommet up and off the dipstick tube.

Then it says to remove the "fillister head screws (7)" So are there 7 of these screws? It's labeled as number 40 (Bentley pg. 21) but I'm only seeing one, in the upper right-hand side of the alternator cover plate.

Then the oval cover, and use a 12-point driver to loosen and lower the alternator mounting bolt. Swing alternator to the left, and unhook the drive belt from the pulley. Should be home free from there.

Am I missing anything? Sorry for the mass of text and questions, but I'm still newer to this game and just want to do my best to try and do it right! Thanks in advance!
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[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate2-23356.png]Click to view image/URL]

[Vanapplebomb]

Now I FINALY know who drives this bus around!!! I have been wondering for quite some time.

[aerosurfer]

Looks like a good engine for use or other parts too.... I'd be taking a lot more than just the alternator cover pieces.

If its a scrap engine, just cut the belt, not worth the effort to pry it around the alternator. Then start removing things... It'll be pretty self explainatory as you go.
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Rebuild your own FI Harness..My Harness

77 Westy 2.0L Rockin and Rolling Resto!

72 Sportsmobile (sold)
79 Tran$porter... Parts car money machine (gone)

[Airwalker700]

[dugfresh]

BUY the Whole bus... or Buy the Whole Motor out of that bus!!!
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78 Riviera
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjDRJPa1

[Vanapplebomb]

Small world indeed! I'm currently about 10 miles away in Houghton, MI.

I took the distributor (minus the cap), rocker cover bail wires, breather tower bail wire, and the thermostat. I payed for, but forgot to take the thermostat wire pulley. I am tempted to go back and get it, and then take the cooling fan intake screen off the shroud, but I hated dealing with MenCO. Would you believe that they took the normal price of what they would sell parts for and then doubled it!?!? I asked why they doubled the selling price for me and they said they thought someone would buy it to restore. Yeah right, that bus is a piece of crap. It's a junkyard for heaven sakes. I wasn't very happy, but I figured by the time I bought the individual parts online and had them shipped to my door, it would work out to be about the same anyways.