TheSamba.com :: View topic - Help! looking at a westy and need quick repair info/estimate

Tue Feb 28, 2006 7:38 pm

Hi Guys,

My search continues and I need some quick info(he is planning on taking it to go westy for me tomorrow). A 87 westy full camper that I am looking at has a few problems acording to some paperwork the owner faxed and I wanted to know how much they would cost to have fixed/ or fix them myself if isn't too much work(don't really have a lot of time lately). It has a recent engine and trany rebuild, but I am concerned with the following. I want to get a ballpark idea tosee if it is still in my budget before I have go-westy do another inspection. Here is what a report from go westy said in october.

Fridge update-to make easier to light-owner uses it off of the batteries so not sure if it doesn't light or just difficult

coolent bottle cracked, but not leaking

some coolent hoses look old

fuel tank reseasl (he says the overflow tube has slight leak)

original shocks- not leaking but recommend changing

He has also cleaned up and primered some rust around the bottom that I will have them look at. Not looking buy a rust problem.

Thanks

Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:42 pm

Ok I did a search like a good boy :)

looks like the big things are the coolant hoses(depending on which ones are needed) and the rust(depending on how it looks)

Also, is it difficult to change the shocks? Do I need a special tool to compress the springs?

Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:46 pm

Do you have a camera? Pics say a thousand words...per post.

Tue Feb 28, 2006 9:03 pm

not the best, but look at the bottom

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=259356

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=259354

Tue Feb 28, 2006 9:11 pm

Heck no! It looks pretty good! How much is he asking?

Might wanna check those tires for a ply rating!

The place to look for rust is mainly in the engine compartment, and the Y supports on the rear wheels.

Tue Feb 28, 2006 9:18 pm

asking $9700, but I already told him that is above my budget.

I like it because engine <20,000 nmiles
tranny about 3000miles
front suspension all rebuilt

Wed Mar 01, 2006 12:07 am

It looks like a nice one. 9700 is a bit steep for an 87...if you have faith in eBay, you might wanna look there. Tons of great westys that need to be picked up.

Thu Mar 02, 2006 8:19 pm

Thanks for the info.

new inspection showed:

A/C not working, will need new drums and rotors at next brake job, and running rich.

They said the rich running is most likely the cat. Owner will take care of the smog and I will do the rest. If all goes well I will have a new westy on Thursday :D

Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:15 am

If it has the original shocks and the rotors and drums are bad I would guess that the suspension hasn't been maintained well. They said the front end was rebuilt but they left out the simple stuff like shocks?
I would have some money in the budget for repairs.

Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:51 am

Original style shocks. Work fine, but gowesty recommends upgrading.

Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:56 am

.....I plan on going ahead and buying the stuff to do the brakes,a/c and fridge upgrade when I get the van. That way I will have what I need when summer gets here and I have a bit more time to get things in order. Gotta get them done.....otherwise I have to face the rath of an angery pregnant wife :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

I also plan on putting 500-1000 in savings for the unexpected, but most of the big things should already be in order......in theory

Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:51 am

If it's running rich you also might try looking at the green wire for the O2 sensor...they pop loose, or don't fit in all the way, which will cause the computer to run it rich.

Fri Mar 03, 2006 12:03 pm

what rust?

Fri Mar 03, 2006 1:13 pm

cheeseisgood wrote: Hi Guys,

Fridge update-to make easier to light-owner uses it off of the batteries so not sure if it doesn't light or just difficult

Not hard to do. get a Bentley manual and take it out / clean it up. lot them have jets clooged after 20 years dirt and junk build up. You can find lots of informtion on the Domstic fridges on net and vanagon.com

coolent bottle cracked, but not leaking replace it. it'll get worse.

some coolent hoses look old. They are old! I replaced ALL of mine. cost me 500.00 I saved old ones and put them in bag tied under frame rails. You WON'T find these hoses any where if you break one in middle of no where or even in town. you'll have to order them from vendors or VW dealer. I found VW dealers hoses to be bit better quality than vendor hoses. price is often the same except for few hoses (5 to 10 bucks more)

fuel tank reseasl (he says the overflow tube has slight leak)
easy fix about 75.00 easiest way to do the job is to spend a weekend day and drop the fuel tank. (easy to do) get the parts before you start the job. the vendors like bus depot, Volkscafe (old name can't due VW lawsuit) now called Van cafe I think?

original shocks- not leaking but recommend changing mine felt "ok" 150K miles, but I replaced them with set of Koni life time shocks 89 each I adjusted from to 360 degrees adjustment and rear to 540 degrees ride is great but on rough roads think rear 540 degrees is too stiiff one these days I'll pull them and re-adjust them to 360 degrees Koni shocks are greats 400 to do all 4 wheels easy job to install them too.

might want to do brake job while your at it new rotors / pad rear shoes / drums front upper ball joints are easy to replace think 35 bucks just unbolt. bottom ball joints need to press out / press in to reinstall with a press. a better auto shop like NAPA would have one. or buy one at ?? for about 200 bucks.

He has also cleaned up and primered some rust around the bottom that I will have them look at. Not looking buy a rust problem.

lot of the vanagon have seem rust. do a search on topic

Thanks