TheSamba.com :: View topic - Questions regarding 1983 Water-cooled Vanagon L Series

Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:10 am

I am new on this site and I love it! I'm writing this in hopes of getting some assistance on a multitude of questions I have about my Vanagon L. Here goes... The first is like a 3 or 4 part question.

1. Does this vanagon or any vanagon for that matter have an internal power inverter??? As well as a battery isolater to keep from the auxilary battery draining the starter battery when vehicle is off and using electrical appliances. If not on either question, is it a good idea to get an additional power source to use phone chargers, ipod charger, blender, labtop, etc.? What do you recommend???

2. The 2-plug outlet just in front of the rear bench (at foot level) up against the panel... is that enough electrical output to utilize the appliances I've stated in question 1??? And the switch just below the outlets, (mine broke) where can I find that new circuit component, if at all??? GoWesty, BusDepot, junkyard???

3. The onboard freshwater tank... it has a bilge pump of sorts in it to siphon water from the tank to the sink when not using an outside waterhose to the external hook-ups. Know where I can find a new one of those???

4. Everything works in my Vanagon as far as appliances go i.e. burners, sink, external electrical and water hook-ups, but i just can't seem to figure how to operate my fridge. Potentially a bad fuse or something may not be functioning??? I dunno and would like to get it operating as well. Any advice???

5. Finally, my last question... I'm keeping this bus for as long as I live. I friggin love it. It currently runs on the factory 1.9L Water-cooled engine. At some point, when finances allow me, I would like to upgrade the engine source. I was looking at the Subaru 2.5L engines that apparently are an easy transition as far as fitting and performance go??? Is this a good choice and what do they run, price-wise approximately??? N e suggestions on where to find one???

Thanks again Samba faithfuls. Would sincerely appreciate any feedback. Hope it wasn't too much to ask. I am having soooo much fun with my Vanagon on recent camping trips and I just wanna get it all dialed in little by little. Vanagon faithful and believer for life.

Paolo- (email: [email protected])

Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:42 am

Welcome to the Samba!
I'll start by answering you questions quick, as all the things you've asked have been covered many times and you may not get any answers but to "use the search"
All the questions you've asked have many answers none that are wrong, differant owners have differant setups according to their needs.

1. No vanagon came with an inverter, many people use them today.
behind the drivers seat is a place for a second battery, most add a second battery or auxillery battery to run the fun stuff when camping.

2. the outlet in the camper has no power at all, it only works when a cord is plugged into the power receptical on the outside of the van.
the thing below the outlet is a circut breaker not a switch and the places you mentioned have parts.

3. go westy sells water pumps for the sink.

4. the instructions for the fridge are on the inside of the fridge, it won't work on propane if you have none in the tank, it won't work on house current unless the van is plugged into a 120 socket, it won't work on 12volt unless the van is on. when your camper was new it came with a little book called the camper suppliment, this book tells how everything works.

5. this is really one your going to have to search for and do your homework. Subaru engines are the perfered choice for swaps but there are others. Ease of swapping and cost can very greatly.

Do you have a Bentley manual?
Are you going to work on it yourself?
Now that you got the bug you have much to learn young grasshopper. :lol:
The more you learn the more fun you'll have, and fun you will have. :wink:

Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:13 pm

so refreshing when a new westy owner appears. Soon, you will learn to hate the germans and what they have done to your life and the way the VW will take over your life. It's an insidious plot to facilitate the rise of the Fourth Reich, WWII will seem like a little league baseball game compared to what they are planning to unleash on the world. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!