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notchboy Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002 Posts: 22416 Location: Escondido CA
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sjbartnik Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011 Posts: 5986 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 8:46 am Post subject: |
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LivinInnaVWBus wrote: |
Now, let's talk about my less than a year old $250 genuine Bosch AL82N...
I went down a dusty road and the alt developed a squeak. I thought it was the belt until my charging light started flickering, now it's solid and it still gets 14.3 at idle. I'm guessing the regulator but I'm going to run it as is until it stops charging with a spare battery ready to go.
Until next time, friends. |
Unless someone has switched the wires around back there (and seeing your earlier posts, that's a definite possibility), the light that is lit there is your oil pressure light, not your alternator/charging light.
More investigation is called for here. Since you haven't punched a rod through the case yet I'm going to assume that it is perhaps a sensor problem or that the wires to the two light bulbs have maybe been swapped in the past. But you definitely need to check it out so you know which light is which and so you can figure out what the actual problem is. |
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Tcash Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011 Posts: 12844 Location: San Jose, California, USA
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Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 9:10 am Post subject: |
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Are your park lights on?
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LivinInnaVWBus Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2013 Posts: 968
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 9:12 am Post subject: |
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sjbartnik wrote: |
Unless someone has switched the wires around back there (and seeing your earlier posts, that's a definite possibility), the light that is lit there is your oil. |
They are switched, I like my oil light red.
I found the issue! I traced the wire further under the dash and found a spade connecter with an accompanying male connector which was uncovered and grounding on the body metal. I put a barrel style crimp connector on and heat shrink over the top.
In other news, so long as I can find something to cover the hole with, I'll be pulling the leaky pop top off next week. Devon roofs are known for leaks, difficulty to repair, restore and find parts for. JK makes a cap which alleviates some of this(http://www.justkampers.com/devon-roof-cap-starter-kit-buyers-collect-vw-t2-bay-1967-1975.html), but a pop top isn't stealth camping friendly so I will eventually be transplanting a high top onto it.
What are you guys using for steering box oil? |
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LivinInnaVWBus Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2013 Posts: 968
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 11:33 am Post subject: |
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With luck and good weather I'll be able to do a photo update by Monday but until then, here is a family photo my aunt found while digging around.
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LivinInnaVWBus Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2013 Posts: 968
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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Newest acquisition. A folding full sized mountain bike, should fit much better than my old non-folding Gary Fisher.
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LivinInnaVWBus Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2013 Posts: 968
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Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 8:42 pm Post subject: |
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Good evening Samba!
After arriving back in town this morning from a 6 day - 700 mile journey, I'd say an update is in order.
What started off as a 3.5 day planned voyage to Mid America Motorworks Air-Cooled VW Fun Fest with the bus loaded full of swap meet goodies, ended in a 6 day vacation with copious amounts of sun burn, cheap whiskey, oil leaks and taking advantage of unused paid sick days.
Though there are few replies from others on this topic, to my surprise I was approached by multiple members who follow my Samba posts, Facebook and Instagram. Honestly, I was incredibly taken back. Especially considering I initially made this post as a travel and repair blog, something to personally refer back to at a later date if need be. Just as I was about to go hardbound with my logs and ditch forum posting, this humbling surprise falls in my lap. For those of you who I had the pleasure of meeting this weekend, thank you very much for the kind words and praises. For the member who read my posts and have something to say, please feel welcomed. All comments are appreciated - positive, negative or even if you'd like to critique my theories and repairs. I'd like to believe some of my posts challenge VW internet repair forum "laws" and parroting. Sometimes "proven" internet ideals don't really equate in the real world when you put them to the test every day, this is a luxury weekend/nice weather drivers and trailer queens do not have while they oftentimes are the loudest voice heard.
Again fellow members, thank you very much and please keep following!
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Without further adieu;
A foggy Mid-West morning welcomed me before departing.
Who says a 1500SP isn't sufficient? Oil everywhere, tired as f*ck, filed and reused points I bought from this show last year, blow by for days and it still took this load while keeping my bread loaf between 55-65mph with an average of 17mpg.
The swap set up! Complete with vintage 8mm Swedish porno, guard dog, an old friend and a borrowed table umbrella MAM didn't miss too much, I'm sure.
The Devon thanked me with better throttle response once I rid my load of two sets of pistons, a set of heads and a few cast iron distributors.
... darned kids
A liquid cooled driving gal who I met back when I was living out of the bus in New Orleans stopped in for a visit with her Cabrio, her ACVW driving relatives dropped in on Saturday as well with a newly acquired 79' camper.
OH! On a repair note, I've been having a very difficult time finding quality belts that fit the stock sized VW crank pulley with a 356 generator pulley, they've all stretched quickly. My 6th or 7th belt replacement this year and I believe I may have found a winner. Gates, USA made part number 7340 - 11mm x 865mm. A hair smaller than what most on the forum are running on this set up, but it's the only one to date I've found I can use a proper amount of shims. It does sit a bit deeper into the 356 pulley, with luck it wont pose any issues and will only spin the (balanced) fan faster.
One of the forum gurus, Glenn I believe, recommends this belt and I can see why - it's unlike any other I've seen. I changed it immediately before the trip to put it through the paces and what I've noticed is once it gets hot it actually tightens rather than stretches, though never overly tight. This belt is quite rubbery in composition and the flat part with the print has become slightly tacky to the touch through the 700 miles it's gone. The prior belts I've used would've needed re-shimming multiple times by now, so no complains except it is a little wide for the VW pulley which has caused the edges to curl. For a cheaper belt, this would probably shred it but I've got hope for Gates and will follow up with you guys if I have any issues.
If I find some space to breath within the next upcoming days, I'll be making another post regarding newly acquired van dwelling goodies. You'll salivate, I promise.
Until then, here is some info on the Devon I posted previously on a different topic. Note: The original Devon interior has found it's new home with a Samba member who is going to use it in his split Westy which is currently under a restoration. :Patiently awaits flaming:
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If you'd like to know the original specs on the bus, follow this link; http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-8901.htm
If you'd like to see detailed pictures of what the factory camper interior looks like, follow this link; http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?...r+Interior |
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LivinInnaVWBus Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2013 Posts: 968
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Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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Just a photo update;
A local Craigslist score! Old cotton crates, unfortunately I've got no idea how old they are.
Kicking back with an adult beverage while contemplating the interior lay out. It's in my blood.
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LivinInnaVWBus Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2013 Posts: 968
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Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2015 11:00 am Post subject: |
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Day off tinkering.
Oil is spraying everywhere in the engine compartment from a loose oil filler... luckily my engine isn't a show winner and the coat of oil is doing nothing but keeping my engine components moving freely and corrosion free.
This tool is nearly useless. I'll be buying one of these on my next AC.net order - http://vwparts.aircooled.net/Oil-Filler-Nut-Removal-Tool-Deluxe-Model-p/00-5102-00.htm
My speedo broke last year but I'd guess 25-35k miles and multiple filings later - it's time to change the points. I use a 40hp big cap vacuum advanced distributor and keep a back up in my shit-kit in case of an emergency. I just swapped them out in the mean time until I can find NOS points or install an electronic conversion.
Both dog legs are toast! The pass side bumper step breaking free was the only casualty from the 700 mile journey, a quick "fix" just as I did to the drivers side last year.
Some NOS 20+ year old ball joints I scored from the classifieds. These will probably be installed soon once I figure out who made them and what the country of origin is, does anyone know what company uses the symbol on the dust boot?
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raygreenwood Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008 Posts: 21474 Location: Oklahoma City
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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http://www.differentials.com/ball-joints
Irs possible that they were made/marketed by these guys...West coast differentials. They feature Spicer ball joints (Dana corporation). Give them a call and ask.
Ray |
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LivinInnaVWBus Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2013 Posts: 968
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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raygreenwood wrote: |
http://www.differentials.com/ball-joints
Irs possible that they were made/marketed by these guys...West coast differentials. They feature Spicer ball joints (Dana corporation). Give them a call and ask.
Ray |
Thank you for the information and recommendation Sir! I'll see what they say on my next day off. |
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Pinetops Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2007 Posts: 2987
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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I dig your bus. _________________ "A rolling bus gathers no rust." |
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Yarkle Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: the Hills of Western Maine
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LivinInnaVWBus Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2013 Posts: 968
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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Yarkle wrote: |
Pinetops wrote: |
I dig your bus. |
Me too! |
Thank you guys!
Pinetops, I dig the Westy. I had a 66' once upon a time...
Yarkle, I just started following your page earlier today! Here's my old Thing, a 73' which was the first ACVW I owned(next to the 66' transporter my ex girlfriend is now the proud owner of).
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Yarkle Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: the Hills of Western Maine
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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COOL! I really like your sink cabinet, really, I dig the whole camper setup.
Right now, the thing is at the bottom of the project totem pole..
I almost scored a hardtop just like that last fall for cheap, but I wasnt able to line up a truck to pick it up before the guy had to leave town. Ill keep trying to be a wily hunter on the craigslist savannah _________________ Tilda the Mustard Tigress 1973 Squareback (o'''^'''o)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=771024&highlight= |
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LivinInnaVWBus Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2013 Posts: 968
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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Yarkle wrote: |
COOL! I really like your sink cabinet, really, I dig the whole camper setup. |
Sorry to inform you, but it's been removed and sold. I got quite a bit of use out of it while I was intermittently living in the Devon for a year and a half in New Orleans. Though I was gentle, it started to show wear in that short time and I quickly realized I may be the last person that interior sees if I kept using it as was necessary for me. The interior is still in the circuit though, a split Westy owner and Samba member acquired the complete set up from me to give it a new life in an earlier van. It hurt, but I'm going to be a van dweller again in a few months, full time this round. Literally all of the possessions will be inside of the Devon and there isn't room for a spare interior.
The new interior I'm making will last much longer and be far more useable for daily living. Complete with a composting toilet, stove/oven, wood burning stove, a propane fireplace and with luck I'll have room for a 3-way fridge.
Mostly everything inside will be stainless, including the interior panels, cabinets and propane fireplace which I'll get photos of the next time I can use the sun for lighting... check out the bitchin' can opener! It'll compliment the "kitchen" well.
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LivinInnaVWBus Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2013 Posts: 968
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 11:49 am Post subject: |
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It's been an eventful couple of days in LivininnaVWBus land.
On my way picking up metal to build a new back seat/bed bracket system, my clutch pedal went to the floor. 30 miles from home, traffic... that was fun with extremely limited shifting abilities, but I made it!
My clutch had been slipping a bit recently and I immediately assumed the issue was related, as it goes when I dropped the engine I realized my clutch cable had frayed and that was in fact the issue. German made GEMO and it lasted less than a year, that's surprising. Luckily I have about a dozen backup cables as I had to order them in from the UK (RHD cables cant be found easily in the US) and didn't want to go through that hassle often. I'll consider switching to a hydraulic set up when I replace the hard brake lines.
This engine has not been outside of my bus since I assembled it 2.5 years, multiple cross country trips and WELL over 100k miles ago, so I took advantage and I'm fortunate I did - all sorts of surprises!
The engines history; H case, 1500 single port. The longblock came out of an autostick dune buggy I bought my father. Once I got into it, only some of the shortblock parts were useable and all original as well. I had a decent set of 83mm pistons and cylinders laying around, one of the cylinders had a cracked fin but everything else was good enough including the used rings. The original heads were cracked so I pulled some uncracked single port heads with OK guides from the pile and worked with them - Media blasted the combustion chambers and intake/exhaust ports, cleaned up the valves on a wire wheel. The only new parts this engine has seen is an oil pump, gaskets, seals, alternator and as of recent, a rebuilt carb and new manifold/ SP end castings.
The unfortunate thing about internet forums is anyone can now believe they are an engine builder and know better than you, especially those we refer to as "parrots". Those guys would quickly scoff at this build(and what I've done to it in the past three days as well), but the facts are my odometer was at 36k miles when I installed this engine. My odo rolled over and is now sitting at 41k miles... if you check my earlier posts you'll see my odo broke literally a year ago to the day today and has been sitting at that 41k since then. My estimation is this engine has about 140k miles on it or so since I assembled it with mostly original used German parts.
With no further ado...
Surprise #1, something's missing.
Surprise #2, I've been chasing this rattling noise for months.
Surprise #3, #3 piston ring split in half. No blow by on this piston, no oil in the cylinder either. Just an apparently still functioning broken ring.
Surprise #4, The cam thrust bearing was in the middle of failing. I'll post pictures of the bearings in a few days.
Pretty f**kin' ugly, huh?
After a cleaning, original lifters back in the case and the crank ready for installation with NOS Mahle steel backed bearings. The original cam is showing some wear but not enough to detour me from reusing it. STP used for assembly lube.
Brought in the clean room for mating the case halves. Three-Bond #1211 was used for the case halves and all nuts, will be for the cylinders as well.
YOU USED A SINGLE RELIEF H CASE?! Sure did.
Were the crank and rods in spec? No clue.
Does the case need a line bore and likely a decking? Yep.
Does it spin and will it run? See you in another 100K+ miles
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Eharrison Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2014 Posts: 54 Location: Temecula
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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Great thread(&bus)! I'll have to find you on Instagram. _________________ Ed
68 Bus
71 911e Targa
16 Tundra
14 MB C250 |
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wcfvw69 Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004 Posts: 13382 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 11:31 pm Post subject: |
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That's hardcore, right there! If your process works for ya, why change it? It's impressive that you got so many miles out of your last rebuild w/used parts. I've read a lot on this site about folks saying a heavy bus w/a type 1 engine will only get 50k before an overhaul. I've never had any issues with a single port, single relief case with the exception of the studs pulling out of the case. I'd then install case savers.
What oil do you run out of curiosity? Whatcha doing for heads and P/C's? _________________ Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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LivinInnaVWBus Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2013 Posts: 968
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2015 8:06 am Post subject: |
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wcfvw69 wrote: |
That's hardcore, right there! If your process works for ya, why change it? It's impressive that you got so many miles out of your last rebuild w/used parts. I've read a lot on this site about folks saying a heavy bus w/a type 1 engine will only get 50k before an overhaul. I've never had any issues with a single port, single relief case with the exception of the studs pulling out of the case. I'd then install case savers.
What oil do you run out of curiosity? Whatcha doing for heads and P/C's? |
I definitely wouldn't claim this as my process, it's a bastard of an engine build, let's not pretend anything else. This is just what's necessary for me to get my only motorized mode of transport back on the road as quickly as possible. I named it the "ready-to-blow" when I first assembled it, I'm VERY surprised it's lasted to see a fresh set of bearings.
There is a proper 1679 single port in the works but I'm taking a trip to North Carolina soon and I wanted to be sure I've got a backup plan instead of scrambling to finish it.
I'd consider myself a conservative driver and I've got my finger on the pulse of my engine at all times. These are the results being conscious, attentive and cautious will net you.
I take my time getting up to speed, keep the RPMs low, rarely see over 65mph, oil temps under 225, use the weight of oil my engine tells you to use, flaps system in place, engine compartment sealed, 356 Porsche pulley to keep head temps in check, 91 octane or better, tuned and with the idle set low.
I normally use Brad Penn but in a pinch I've used VR-1 which is much easier to find on road trips. When I first built this engine, I was using 0w30 as the bearings still had life in them. Recently the oil temps have been lower with 10w30, so it was showing wear.
On this 1500, I'll be reusing the heads and P&Cs. One of the cylinders has a cracked fin but it hasn't caused me issues up to this point and everything else looks good enough. I'll be cleaning the carbon off and going over the inside of the cylinders with a scotch-brite pad to see where that gets me but i might just end up honing them.
For the heads, I haven't taken the valves out yet but depending on the condition of the guides I'll either be replacing them or putting cheapo valves in it which have an ever so slightly larger stem diameter than the originals. |
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