Biggest bloody knuckle PITA to replace on a Vanagon?

geodude · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 10:37 pm Post subject:

1.9 Waterpump is definitely one of my least favorite replacements.

I had a Syncro and taking off the front CV axles and replacing the joints has to be up there. I don't know if it was the DPO or by design, but the outer joints would not come out of the hubs. Ended up taking a rather large hammer and just bashing the end of the stupid thing until it finally came free. Took several hours of swearing before it finally let go.
_________________
1988 GL Camper
1991 Multivan — the basket case

0cean · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 10:41 pm Post subject:

Tin top to poptop conversion is by far the worst I have ever done yet. It's like fighting the all the VW assembly line welders at once. Sad

_________________
I'm not a mechanic, I just play one on the internet

Cluster Rebuild:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569920&highlight=

Left for Dead the Resurrection Story Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=613669
(Number of Different Donor VW Vans Body Parts Used: 12)
(Number of completely different vehicles parts used: 3)

?Waldo? · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 11:12 pm Post subject:

I can't think of anything.

Terry Kay · Banned Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331

I'd have to say, ( and not because it's a knuckle buster but a big PITA job) anything that's forward of the two front seats.

Need a new wiper motor?
Pull the dash.
Need to work on or replace the wiper trans gear?
Pull the dash.
Need a heater motor?
Pull the dash.
Need a heater core?
Pull the dash.
Need windshield washer hoses?
Pull the dash.
I know there's guys that claim to have done the job in 2 hours flat.
Maybe pull the dash and put it back in without doing anything under it--maybe.

I enjoy working on older vehicle's, and trucks that everything is right out in front of me.
Not a trip into Wonderland to just have the opportunity to be able to get to --lets say, the wiper motor--
Time consuming, and might as well make a weekend out of the job--do everything all at once, get done with it all --

Big Pain--
_________________
T.K.

tschroeder0 · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 11:50 pm Post subject:

Replacing the stock tent with the usual ill fitting replacements, just horrible

RainierSyncro · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:33 am Post subject:

Syncro gas tank removal/install?

Vanagon Nut · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:44 am Post subject:

on the older style front suspension: grinding, hacking down snapped bolt ends on lower ball joint adaptor to free it from lower control arm to allow removal of leftover bit of bolt(s) from adaptor. (I never actually got the second step done! Spare parts to the rescue!)
A press would've been useful here! (or an oxy acetylene torch from the outset)

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

Alaric.H · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 4:21 am Post subject:

New front metal brake lines on a syncro at the junction can be a pain. Coolant lines can take some time. Oh hell most everything is a bitch on these things.

Robw_z · Samba Member Joined: April 28, 2007 Posts: 983

Most jobs when you break a stud or fastener... become a whole new ball game. A great luxury tool would be a time machine so you could go back in time before you broke the fastener and have another go more delicately.

That said, I was very surprised how long the 2.1 water pump job took me. Like 5 days but that wasn't working full time each day. I thought it would take a weekend. I made the job more masochistic by replacing the small coolant hose that connects the two pipes bringing in flow from the passenger side cyl head, goes behind the crank pulley. Trying to get a pliers on those self tightening hose clamps deep behind enemy lines... Agh.

Doing the 2.1 head gaskets also was a pain but at least I expected it in that instance.

-Rob

VwDubber · Samba Member Joined: February 20, 2012 Posts: 144

The 2.1 Water Pump is a piece of Cake Compared to the Fright Fest of doing a 1.9 Water Pump.. Two different animals and like others have stated the 1.9 is a battle every step of the way..

On the 2.1 your only dealing with the Pump.

Whereas with the 1.9 it has the Thermostat Housing incorporated as part of the waterpump assembly. It's like 4 pieces that assemble and become the water pump assembly. Bolts are a 80% chance to snapping off even when heated or soaked in penetrating oils.. Then comes the recovery / machining to recover the broken bolts and to be able to use the assembly again. Thus why there's very few if any 1.9 Thermostat housing forsale on Samba. There like Hens teeth.
A Real P.I.T.A for sure..

?Waldo? · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 7:58 am Post subject:

I think it is all a matter of attitude (whether or not you are currently enjoying yourself) and expectation (whether or not you think it should be easier than it is).

[insanity]If you are currently not enjoying yourself and you think the job is harder than it should be then it is a PITA.[/insanity]

If you are enjoying yourself and see the job as a task that has to be performed that requires a reasonable amount of time and effort then every job is fun.

The often misunderstood fact is that everyone has control over their attitude and their expectations. If it is a PITA, you make it so in your own mind. If it is fun, you make it so in your own mind.

As I mentioned in the opposite thread, one of my favorite tools for adjusting both my attitude and expectations when working on a vehicle is entertainment. I place an audiobook on my ipod and press play. From that point on, the job could take 10 times as long as it 'should' and I don't really care. Often I get done with the audiobook and find it amazing how much my 'other self' accomplished while I was enjoying a good book.

insyncro · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 8:16 am Post subject:

Thickster gloves really help keep the abrasions to a minimum, for those knuckle busters out there.

http://www.sassafety.com/

t3 kopf · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 11:35 am Post subject:

Zeitgeist 13 · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:04 pm Post subject:

Having to use a Sawzall on three of the six Syncro LCA pivot bolts is annoying
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

Zeitgeist 13 · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:07 pm Post subject:

rubbachicken · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:47 pm Post subject:

correcting misalignment of the locker mechanism, when someone has installed the pushrod with the offset hole in it 180° off, without taking out the trans.
i've had to do it twice now, the second was a great deal less of a PITA.
_________________
lucy our westy

lucy's BIG adventure

meet 'burni'

markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.

619 201 0310 or 617 935 4182

morymob · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 11:13 pm Post subject:

On my last 2.1 wpump I tried replacing studs with bolts, left one stud in 4 some reason I dont remember, dont own any 1.9 now either., probably never again.

Syncroincity · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 12:15 am Post subject:

Hm, my 2.1 WBX water pump took me a long afternoon, but I have lots of wobble extensions, u-joints and a good set of hex drives... My dad's a TV repairman, he's got an awesome set of tools. Razz

Syncro tank sucked mostly due to the endless shower of grit and rust that accompanies it. Get used to the fact that the tank will distort and come back and it gets easy.

As Terry noted, sub-dash fun is limited, when I knew I had to go in, I lined up parts for every job I could think of while the dash was out.
_________________
'86 Syncro CHC Top AAZ Turbodiesel
'04 Passat Variant 4Mo 5MT

Vanagon Build: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=466866&highlight=

dixoncj · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 8:59 am Post subject:

Terry Kay · Banned Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331

Not only a good idea, It would be prudent to load up the grocery bag with everything you could possibly think of to update, or change under there.
The full meal deal.

This operation isn't going to bust up your knuckles, but it'll suck up hours like crazy.

I denote it as an unsavory, I despise it kinda job that is much better done only once if you can get away with that.

Phooey.
_________________
T.K.


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

Biggest bloody knuckle PITA to replace on a Vanagon?
Page: Previous 1, 2, 3 Next

	Forum Index -> Vanagon	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time Page: Previous 1, 2, 3 Next
Page 2 of 3