parked for years

[couchinator75]

Well, I sold one bus and in less than a year I'm looking for the next.
In the four years I owned my previous bus, a 1975 transporter, prices have gone up drastically. (Drastically in the sense that there isn't much out there that isn't pure crap or fully restored and 'worth' a brand new car).

So looking through local ads, ebay, and beyond I've come to the conclusion that maybe, just maybe, I should purchase a bus that needs a little TLC to keep the price down but nothing that involves body work.

So here are some questions and a bit of background on a bus I'm interested in:

Its a 1969 camper thats been sitting for five and a half years. The owner states that it might need a new generator (because the red gen light flickered at night) and of course a new battery.

What process would I need to go through to get it running again?
I know the basics like removing the old gas, oil, and battery but what else should I know before jumping too deep?
Is replacing or repairing (as Muir would prefer) a generator a doable task?
Is there much difference between a generator and an alternator? I ask because I see busdepot has a conversion kit...

Thanks for the help, links etc

[VWDruid]

try new brushes first.
http://www.reluctantmechanic.com/step-by-step/change_generator_brushes.php
_________________
70 Westy, 2027cc "dual DRLA 40 m130 i55 wjdoc a165 p33 v30 "w100 straight cut 040 polished heads 1.25 rockers 1.5 A1sidewinder supertrapp muffler trans 091 coil SUM-850500 CDI universal svda Pertronix
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
It's not the straight cut gears It's the T.A.R.D.I.S. engine.
wanted Chameleon Circuit

[busdaddy]

[shiningstar76]

Finding a bus that doesn't need body work is location dependent. Out here TLC is bodywork.
_________________
KK4NTP
New Hampshire Native
78 Subaru Brat-Daily Driver
72 Westy, 1700cc Weber 32/36 DGEV-Down for front end issues
94 Subaru Legacy Wagon EJ22 292,000 miles

[bwiencek]

[ned]

How much for the ran when parked bus? If it isn`t rusty you are stoked especially if the price is right. The mechanical is the easy part. Be sure to have some fun.

[couchinator75]

the asking price is $3000, looks to be a solid body very little to no rust.
to clarify all i know is that it last ran 5 years ago and all i've seen is pictures, i plan on contacting the seller for more information by phone tomorrow.

how much effort, if the bus hasn't been run in that time, would it take to see if it would actually start up?

[SGKent]

[ned]

3k seems a bit steep to me.
It better be real nice for a non running bus.

[bwiencek]

When you go to inspect it - try and turn the crank pulley by hand and see if it is able to rotate at least 1/4 turn - that will tell you that the piston rings haven't rusted to the cylinders. I wouldn't try and start it if your plan is to hope not to have to rebuild the engine - I'd wait and do some work before trying that...

$3k if the body is in super shape and the interior is in great shape is probably a decent price as the mechanicals are cheap compared to bodywork/rust repair...

To start it here's a quick list of what I'd do:
- Drain fuel tank
- replace lines/filter while you're in there.
- super basic cleaning of the carb (just to flush out dried up fuel). You might even get away without a rebuild kit to start it if you're careful/lucky.
- clean and adjust the points or just replace them
- pull plugs, pour about 2oz oil into the cylinders and let sit - if it is stuck, or had to be broken free to turn, or feels "rough" when turning then fill the cylinders with oil as much as you can (just be warned since it's a boxer engine - if the valve is open it's going to go out that port - intake or exhaust so don't go crazy - if it's super stuck - pull the valvecover and loosen the valves to close them completely on all cylinders and let it soak in oil.)
- check level of trans fluid, check condition of brake fluid and flush if necessary (test strips are cheap or if it looks dirty - flush it), inspect brake lines and hoses.


Let the oil sit a day or so, then do an oil change, and then turn the engine over by hand a couple rotations, then have someone crank the engine over without plugs in it to pump out most of the oil (have rags over the plug holes as it can make a mess.) Clean up the oil, install cleaned or new plugs, prime the carb and fire it up!

Once it's running check the operation of the brakes, check the condition of the tires, make sure there aren't any leaks, and try and take it for a drive up and down the street slowly. Get the engine warmed up and then go back home and re-inspect everything and give it a good once-over before heading out at higher speeds.
_________________
73 bay window - brought home in boxes - work in process.
previous VW Busses: 69 with crank open sunroof, 70 standard, 71 westfalia camper

[Mal evolent]

if it has't run in 5 years I would simply buy all new rubber and plan on rebuilding the engine.
_________________
73 Beetle, Ghia front brakes, Type 3 rear brakes, 1776, Solex 34 Pict-3, Bosch SVDA, '97 Mustang seats

[77 Westy M plate decoded]

Baja Bugs for Volkswagen Virgins: Index

[mikewire]

I'm in agreement with bwiencek here.

Usually cars are not parked without reason, but there are exceptions. My '80 Rabbit pickup was parked for 10+ years. I drug it out, put some steelies on it, and did the same thing as bwiencek described, plus cleaned out the CIS fuel system (but you won't have that headache).

Anyway, my little truck fired up and ran fine and blew out the cobwebs. Other than a valve adjustment it runs great.

I would offer the guy 1K and see where that goes. He's going to balk at the price, but you have got to point out it's sat for years, and it's a mystery machine to you, and you are taking a risk that it won't be a waste of your hard earned 1K.

Besides, you are going to easily put 1K-2K back into it to get it running and driving properly.

Plus, it's not made of gold. It's an old VW someone has parked and forgotten about He won't have any other offers come in, so if there's no deal, wait it out for a month and try again.
_________________
1972 9 Passenger Deluxe Non-Walkthrough | 2003 Audi A4 Avant 1.8TQT REVO Stage 2 | 2000 VR6 Jetta Bright Green Pearl | 1980 Lago Caddy JH 1.8 CIS

My 1972 Deluxe build thread

www.bigskyeuro.com

[couchinator75]

bwiencek thanks for the quick run through on getting it started

Now is it worth it to get the bus running or almost running and not buy it?
Or should one wait and hope that the hand cranking, questioning, and other inspections give enough info?

I agree, mikewire, from the conversation I had with the seller today offering 1k to 2k seems like a good route to go. Not sure where the seller got their price but also not sure if she'd budge either. At least she was honest with what needs to be done; ranging from small to big, like locks to a stolen exhaust .

From what I gathered she shipped the car out to MN after using it out in CA. Never drove it here because she uses the bus system. Didn't even start it up and drive it around.

Any other advice? Its nice to have the VW fever again even though it costs more than we like to admit.

[busdaddy]

I wouldn't get it running for her but I would hand turn the engine through at least 8 full strokes and pull each sparkplug to look for one that's odd or oily, I'd also eye up the oil on the end of dipstick and inside of the filler cap carefully. Assume it's got bad brakes as well.
$3K may not be a bad deal for a nearly rust free complete, non running camper with faded OG paint and all of it's equipment but it's real high for a mystery bus, see if she'll negotiate. Consider it a non running, non stopping project and deal on it as such so you don't get burned.
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Wanted, 68-73 westy OG plaid curtains, singles OK.

[morymob]

Best u pay attention to advice here, never get one running etc before owned. If u r lucky to get eng to go a 360 turn great. Brake sys , hope the steel lines are still usuable as ALL other parts will have to be replaced. Rust-? mice living inside, near impossible to remove stink.Most of all= don't go listing any of the pluses to the owner as this just usually comes back to bite u in the ass, u are trying to buy 'as is', just my 2-cts of buying vw's over the years to be re-furbed etc.

[70autostick]

Im in the same boat, just bought a 71 bay yesterday thats been sitting for about 5 years.

It was left at a repair shop after they rebuilt the brakes when she wouldnt start. 4 years later, my neighbor bought it from the shop for parts. He hooked up a battery, replaced the points, and hooked up the coil wire and she fired up. No smoke or strange sounds. And wouldnt you know it, the title was in the glovebox, already signed by the po.

Then i came along a year later, yesterday, with 850 bones, and decided to give her a new life.

I plan on replacing the battery, oil, fuel lines and tires, and driving her home, which is roughly half a mile.
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Daily driven 1972 beetle, no more 70autostick

[couchinator75]

thanks busdaddy

hopefully if i get a chance to look at it things turn out like 70autosticks experience...

[GeorgeL]

The other thing about "parked 5 years" vehicles is what they were parked on. Parking on dirt makes for a rusty underside unless the dirt is in Arizona.

I'd consider "parked 5 years" to be "blown engine." You might get lucky, but it's not likely.

[tweakhx]

Boy this makes me wonder about my new project. I found a 71 westy out in a field that has been sitting for at least 26 years. The body is in pretty good shape and it seems to have the original accessories and what not. Although the front interior has been weathered due to a broken windshield.

I bought it for $350. Hoping for the best!

[bwiencek]