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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10252
Location: N. Idaho
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 Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 7:58 pm Post subject: Easiest job on the Vanagon? |
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So Dixon's great thread on the worst knuckle basher you've experienced on the Van gave me the idea for this one. On the opposite side, what job did you dread on the Van that turned out to be simple?
For me, it was replacing the steering rack. I was almost in denial that I would have to do it, so great was my dread. Even resorting to "fix it in a can" stuff to stop the leaking. You haven't lived until you've replaced a steering rack, IMO. So without even sizing up the job, I just tried everything including driving it for 3 months with the power steering belt off (which is surprisingly easy, I should add - hardly noticeable).
However, when the rack arrived from Van Cafe and I slid under there to start pulling the old one, I couldn't believe it. This is a job where you are normally jamming your arms up through gaps between the oil pan and firewall, AND exhaust to loosen impossibly placed bolts that are crusted with years of corrosion and road dust fired at them by the engine fan.
Instead, there's......well, there's nothing in the way in the least! No engine. No exhaust pipes. No axles. No transmission. Not even a firewall festooned with myriad wire harnesses, brake booster brackets, electrical relays - nothing. It's just sitting up there held on with 4 ordinary bolts. Not even a 17.688mm left handed internal radius torx-like custom fastener you've never seen. Just 4 bolts. In 30 minutes or so the rack was laying on the ground. And in another 30 minutes the shiny new power steering rack was bolted up and the hydraulic lines reconnected. I highly recommend it if your Vanagon confidence needs a boost. Normally a HUGE job, but the Vanagon makes you feel like Superman! You will finish, look at your watch in surprise and decide to go for a bike ride with all the extra time you unexpectedly have in your day!!
DougM
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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1vw4x4
Banned
Joined: June 22, 2005
Posts: 472
Location: Pgh. PA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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Rear springs....... REmove one bolt on the shock, springs are out.
Takes longer to get a tire off.
Last edited by 1vw4x4 on Wed Oct 22, 2014 10:25 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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canasync
Samba Member
Joined: June 28, 2010
Posts: 656
Location: BC
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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Shifter knob replacement.
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1987 Syncro
3 knobs
PumpeDüse TDI (17mm Garret Turbo, bigger injectors, stage 4 malone tune, intercooled)
Cruise Control
Remote Start/locks
Custom Lift
Custom Bumpers with receivers
Coast Mountain Hightop - Comming Soon
1985 2wd Vanagon Pre-runner in the making
soon to be powered by 2.5L Subaru
Custom Lift |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7925
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 10:30 pm Post subject: Re: Easiest job on the Vanagon? |
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| IdahoDoug wrote: |
| what job did you dread on the Van that turned out to be simple? |
To date: Brake master cylinder replacement. Turned out to be not that big of a deal.
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~Kamz 
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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photogdave
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Joined: April 05, 2004
Posts: 3053
Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
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?Waldo?
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 9752
Location: Where?
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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| I put an audiobook on my ipod and every job is the easiest job ever. Wow, that was a good book... and, holy smoke, that job is done... |
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DJPJMJ
Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2014
Posts: 38
Location: Wilmington
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 6:16 am Post subject: |
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Upper ball joints. I was dreading the usual heat and beat/press them out stubborn BJ's I've done on other old cars.
They came out so easy I almost felt like the van handed them to me through the huge wheel well opening. Unscrew the allens and large nut, a couple of taps.Even easier putting them in. |
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16508
Location: Brookeville, MD
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nacradriver
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Joined: January 15, 2009
Posts: 760
Location: Ventura, CA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 6:48 am Post subject: |
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I think everything on the Vanagon, with the exception of figuring out thethe fuel injection system's gremlins is pretty easy... even easier if you have access to a lift, which I do from time to time
The hardest thing for me is finding the time and having a place to do some of the major work.... I envy you guys that have both.
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Güdrun -1989 Westfalia - 2013 - 2018
Petra - 1985 Vanagon - 1985 to 1991
Zisa - 1974 VW Van "Bus" - 1974 to 1985 |
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j_dirge
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Joined: August 08, 2007
Posts: 4641
Location: Twain Harte, CA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 7:11 am Post subject: |
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| nacradriver wrote: |
I think everything on the Vanagon, with the exception of figuring out thethe fuel injection system's gremlins is pretty easy... even easier if you have access to a lift, which I do from time to time
The hardest thing for me is finding the time and having a place to do some of the major work.... I envy you guys that have both. |
I tend to agree with this. I had put off doing a used engine swap for some time.. and when I finally built up the motivation, I was done in a weekend. That's not going to happen on many cars of this vintage and newer.
There seems to be "tricks" to even the worst jobs.. that make them so much more manageable.
If I ever start getting too upset at the Vanagon.. I go work on my wife's old Honda to put it all in perspective.
There's simply no way that Honda engineers intended for adult human hands to fit into the engine compartment.
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-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.
-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5
| danfromsyr wrote: |
those are straight line runs with light weight race cars for only 1/4mile at a time..
not pushing a loaded brick up a mountain pass with a family of 4+ inside expecting to have an event free vacation..
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clift_d
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Joined: December 02, 2012
Posts: 265
Location: Hackney innit, UK
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 8:48 am Post subject: |
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One of the first jobs I tackled, and one of the easiest was removing the old postage stamp mirrors - those ones that drift towards the van above 50mph, and fitting Syncro mirrors. One of the best upgrades ever.
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1988 LHD T25 1.6TD Westfalia Club Joker syncro |
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singler3360
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Joined: February 25, 2009
Posts: 1191
Location: Corvallis, Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:02 am Post subject: |
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| JackBombay's poptop shocks, if you follow his directions and measure with his coat hanger jig idea. |
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geodude
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Joined: May 24, 2012
Posts: 372
Location: Sacramento
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:24 am Post subject: |
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I vote for removing the engine and transmission. Not because it is the most simple thing to do, but because compared to most cars its really simple. A jack, a 2x4, and a few bolts removed and your done.
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1988 GL Camper
1991 Multivan — the basket case |
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TequilaSunSet
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Joined: May 30, 2012
Posts: 2109
Location: Philippines
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:49 am Post subject: |
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Visor clip 
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Don't harsh my mellow...
1985 Hightower Vanagon 1.8T- Gone
1972 Panel Bus- Gone
1967 Bug- Gone
1964 Euro Sunroof Bug- Gone
1969/72/63 Sunroof Bug- Gone
1975 Brazilian Bug in the Philippines 🇵🇭- New to me |
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flomulgator
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Joined: March 07, 2013
Posts: 951
Location: Leavenworth, WA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 10:18 am Post subject: |
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Fuel pump.
Extra funny for me because the hardest automotive job I've ever done was replacing the block-mounted, crankshaft-rod actuated lift pump (a kind of fuel pump) on a GM 6.2 diesel. Removing & replacing the entire engine was easier.
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She's built like a steakhouse, but she handles like a bistro! |
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andafiro
Samba Member
Joined: July 23, 2011
Posts: 154
Location: New Mexico
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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| TequilaSunSet wrote: |
| Visor clip |
Window cranks!
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-- Andrea
'86 Westy 4-speed w/ EJ22 (a Racerrojo production!)
"It's got an eagle feather hangin' from the rear-view mirror..." |
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the joker
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2006
Posts: 1287
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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Replacing small black plastic "fake" nuts on the rear end  |
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rubbachicken
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Joined: October 05, 2004
Posts: 3058
Location: socal
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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these days i find dash removal is pretty easy, i just completed #21 i think.
the more you do a job the easier you find it i think.
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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 |
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Yellow Rabbit
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Joined: August 31, 2005
Posts: 1146
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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| LED kitchen lights. |
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morymob
Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2007
Posts: 4683
Location: east-tn
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| Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 5:11 am Post subject: |
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| Lubing the lock so I can get key in gas cap on the syncro. |
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