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Wed Mar 09, 2011 7:33 pm

my59 wrote: Bus Depot is having a sale on the Hankooks- $76 each plus shipping. I paid $70 for shipping 5 tires and a small box of seals for the bug. The local tire place wanted $99 each, so I saved $55

I was going to go that rout but there wasn't a sale on and I would still have to have someone remove and dispose of my old tires and mount and balance the new ones. It turned out cheaper for me to go local. But $76 for each tire is a steal!

Thu Mar 10, 2011 12:01 pm

Zelten- That's awesome. Yes that thread was really interesting. It showed me everything I had been wondering about in a really simple way. Yesterday I got the door closing properly again, then when I went to close it the wierdest thing happened. The rear part of the door latched in, but the rail up top popped out of the groove and the door hit the B pillar about a quarter inch to the right of where it should have landed. It shattered the guard on the door that holds in the rubber stoppers. So now I have just a couple more little wierd pieces to get. The door was jammed in there HARD but today at lunch I went home to fix it, and I did! I unscrewed the 2 philips that held in the rail thing up top, and unscrewed the 2 bolts that held in the slider door-receptor on the B pillar. Put the door back to where I thought it should kinda be, and rescrewed all of it back together, minus the rubber stopper pieces. Now it closes and latches but feels kinda weird.

And I seriously want to get that hinge re-greased, too. It seems like I have a new mini-adventure every day with this thing. I named it Geblutwagen haha

Thu Mar 10, 2011 12:02 pm

Also, my59, that's a damn good piece of advice! Thanks!

Fri Mar 11, 2011 2:52 pm

I popped into the engine compartment to put the air filter assembly back together, and was successful! (That's the first time I've ever touched an engine with the intention to improve it, yay me haha)

But I stumbled upone this weirdness..(Looking down, on top of the air filter assembly)

Right above where this missing piece seemingly is, the insulation-crap is all torn away, I forgot to get a pic.

What attaches to this empty port? :?: Is it just a black little panel? There are several little pieces that the PO forgot to put back on haha, it's possible he missed it

Fri Mar 11, 2011 2:59 pm

Possible. It will look like this when complete. Put a little RTV sealant on it to keep it there and to keep the dirt out.

Fri Mar 11, 2011 6:11 pm

Raygreenwood says RTV is death for the electronics in the AFM, hot glue or electronic safe RTV may be a better option. Something about emitting corrosive gasses.

Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:32 pm

Thanks for the pic, Randy. Very helpful..I'll have to look around for the yellow wire. I found the plate, among all of the little bits and pieces I've found on the floor. It had some of the sealant stuff still on it. Good advice!
And busdaddy, good save! Thanks.

I pulled the rearmost seat out to survey the damage... I want to clean it up inside and out tomorrow, it's supposed to be pretty nice from what I hear.

I'll post (just a few) pictures of the interior once it's cleaned tomorrow night.

Also, does anyone feel like posting some pictures of their F.I. engine bays? I'd love to see what you guys are looking like in there... Mine needs a super-clean. :?

Thanks again for the info!

Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:09 am

If Ray said it pay close attention.

Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:16 am

busdaddy wrote: Raygreenwood says RTV is death for the electronics in the AFM, hot glue or electronic safe RTV may be a better option. Something about emitting corrosive gasses.

that is correct. Regular RTV emits acidic fumes which cause issues down the line. Not well known but if you research it you will find it is correct. Hot glue will work as well as spec non acidic RTV.

Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:40 pm

Hot glue it is!
I washed it and started waxing it this weekend. With the oxidation lifted, it feels good to touch it without leaving reddish powder marks everywhere.

After wash-before wax

After wash and wax

I want to remove the fuel tank, so it will be cleaned and good to go before I order the fuel hose kit. So my question is: Will I be able to remove the fuel tank without removing the engine completely? I don't care if it's a pain in the ass to do it like that, but I weigh 135 pounds and I'm doing this by myself without a whole lot of equipment. I NEED to do this and I only want to do it once. This is a pretty fat chance, but if anyone is in the Tulsa area and has experience in this, I'll buy a case of beer or whatever and we can socialize and tackle this beast. PM me if you want to talk about it anyway. There's a guy with an all white, early bay westfalia a couple of blocks over...I wonder if he's a sambanite as well...

Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:40 am

Just another long process of cleaning yesterday...
Is this serious/easily fixable?

What is this hole for? The curiosity is killing me

Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:08 am

Looks like it's cleaning up nicely. I can't help with your steering wheel but this will explian the hole in your floor. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=454099&highlight=heater+duct+floor

Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:46 pm

Hot air.

secretsubmariner wrote:
What is this hole for? The curiosity is killing me

Thu Mar 17, 2011 6:53 am

Thanks guys, silly me 8)
I've been cleaning it for about 2 hours a day after work, every day. Almost have enough saved to start working on it!

Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:43 am

Ok! I've been lookin around the classifieds for rear seat mounts. I found these http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=892513
but they look just like my MIDDLE seat mounts, which didn't fit the rear seat. Will someone post a picture of what their rear seat mounts look like?

Do the middle ones differ from the rear ones? It looked like the rear seat mounts would have to be a little bigger and stretch out farther to clamp onto the seat legs.

Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:18 pm

Long live the Champagnes!!!!!!! Best Buses Ever!!!

Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:38 pm

Hell yeah dude!!!! I knew if I changed the title of this thread then some more champagne owners would stop in to say hey 8) How long have you owned that beautiful brown and red stallion?

Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:46 pm

It has been in my family since I was about three, so it's been about 13 or 14 years now. I grew up with mine and now that I am the proud owner I love it!!! There is no other bus with the same kind of flare and classic look as the champagnes!!! That brown is just amazing!!!!

Thu Mar 17, 2011 6:39 pm

Nice! I agree-definitely! I wish I knew some of the history of my bus. Have you seen the wild westerner paint job?

I think these are purdy too haha.

Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:10 pm

Yeah, it's a looker too!!! I'd drive it!!!