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Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:46 pm

i have a customer who has a '78 bus that he wants to convert back to fuel injection from a single carb. can anyone recommend a shop that has skills and knowledge of injected baywindow buses?

we're looking for a top level orange county area shop, the customer is a professional and wants the job done right, he's had some less-than-satisfying experiences with shops up to now. there have to be several good shops in OC, it's prectically the mecca for aircooled VW's.

thanks,

Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:41 pm

I can recommend 2 mechanics without reservation, unfortunately neither are in OC (assuming you mean Orange County CA)
but reasonably close if your customer has been burned badly.

Bela's Foreign Auto Repair in Burbank CA (818) 842 9464, he is a wizard who has kept my family VW's running for over 25 years.

T&C's Old V-Dubs Home in Tujunga CA (818) 353-0011, knows FI well and has over 30 years experience, has modified many VW systems for advanced power steering and ignition as well as FI.

Wed Jan 12, 2011 2:31 pm

sjhotz wrote: Bela's Foreign Auto Repair in Burbank CA (818) 842 9464, he is a wizard who has kept my family VW's running for over 25 years.

thanks, that's a good recommendation. i would happy to hear others.

Wed Jan 12, 2011 8:02 pm

Old speed in Paramount. It's about 30 minutes from OC but well worth
It. Both Russ and Stacy know their sh*t.

There is also D and J Auto in Fountain Valley, good shop, not sure if they have FI experts though.

Sat Jan 15, 2011 10:32 pm

If he wants to be personally involved with the learning and the work, I can be available, but you, esteemed vendor, must be ready to supply us at a moments notice!
ColinInDesertSouthWest

Sun Jan 16, 2011 12:25 am

Colin is probably the best bet if he is available. There aren't too many shops left out here that really understand FI to the level he will need.

Is this for California smog test reasons?

If so a working EGR and maybe catalytic convertor, depending upon whether it was Federal or California bus originally, will be required to pass the California smog test. A good EGR will be extremely hard to come by. The guy who rebuilds them here in Northern California is off tooling around the country for another month or two, and I haven't been able to find another source for them, nor has Hoody. I have several good EGR bodies that leak just a little and all the gaskets now custom made but finding that rebuilt or non-leaking EGR is the Holy Grail of smog gear on FI buses and late California FI Bugs.

Sun Jan 16, 2011 6:49 pm

Amskeptic wrote: If he wants to be personally involved with the learning and the work, I can be available, but you, esteemed vendor, must be ready to supply us at a moments notice!
ColinInDesertSouthWest

colin,

ready.

agreed, you'd be the best person i can think of for the job. besides me that is :-)

sg - he's shipping the bus to europe so smog may not be an issue, but there's a chance he will drive it in Cali for a few months prior to shipping it.

Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:12 pm

Mike's in Anaheim. Not the cheapest but know's what he's doing.

Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:19 pm

germansupplyscott wrote: Amskeptic wrote: If he wants to be personally involved with the learning and the work, I can be available, but you, esteemed vendor, must be ready to supply us at a moments notice!
ColinInDesertSouthWest

colin,

ready.

agreed, you'd be the best person i can think of for the job. besides me that is :-)

sg - he's shipping the bus to europe so smog may not be an issue, but there's a chance he will drive it in Cali for a few months prior to shipping it.

Have him email me or PM me if he is interested. You would be the supplier of all necessary parts or does he need to rustle up used parts here and there?
Colin

cold front coming on the 20th . . . brrrrr

Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:23 pm

SGKent wrote: A good EGR will be extremely hard to come by.

I can rent him mine for a few hours.
Colin

Mon Jan 17, 2011 6:26 am

Give Europro in Costa Mesa a call. Talk to Joe. Or call Lloyd Mosher in Upland, Ca. LME Enterprises

Mon Jan 17, 2011 12:24 pm

Quote: sg - he's shipping the bus to europe so smog may not be an issue, but there's a chance he will drive it in Cali for a few months prior to shipping it.

as long as he doesn't need to register/license it in California then there is no need.

Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:40 pm

Scott, does your customer know how much this job can potentially cost?
SGKent has hit the important high points in regards to the Calif emissions testing. Thank you for that.
TC's shop in Tujunga knows his stuff. I do not personally know him but know of his reputation.
I'd like to throw my 2c worth of experience into this. I have a 2.0L engine that is about 99 percent complete, to include the fuel injection system. All that I know of that is missing is the AFM, air filter assy, and the double relay. It appears to have electronic ignition and hydraulic lifters. I do not know the condition of the inside. I would have started it up on the ground but there is a lot of stuff needed which I do not have. So, I think all I can do is try and sell it as a core but since you have a customer needing fuel injection parts, this may workable endeavor for all involved.
My experience includes VWOA's schools in Culver City for the MPC, AFC, CIS, and Diesel fuels systems back during those tough 1970's. I still have some factory school tech books to assist with the completion of this endeavor. I reside in the Burbank area of LA county and am approx 30 miles from the LA/OC border and am currently available. I do not currently work for a retail shop and cannot commit to a "side job" this large. But I am willing to provide the engine and expertise to your customer in order to provide a successful completion for your customer. You can answer me here or PM me. My e-mail is [email protected].
Later friends, Bill

Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:55 pm

i've reverted several buses back to injection from single carb. the costs involved can vary quite a bit but it's about 1,500.00 p&l, give or take. the parts are worth about 800 bucks and the labour close to the same. last time i did it, it was 14 hours work including replace complete fuel lines. the customer got the labour for 45/hr which is 25 bucks lower than our normal rate. it depends how badly the bus has been butchered, are the air filter housing mounting parts cut off, is the fuel pump harness still in the bus, ECU still there, etc. sometimes most of the important bits are still sitting there unused. if you're lucky anyhow.

Mon Jan 17, 2011 6:08 pm

Raul - VW76Westy seems to know where every good parts bus is in the LA basin plus he has a stash of things. Interstate is in Elsinore just outside OC but price and availability will depend upon what Jim wants to sell. I would offer to assist but we are 500 miles north in Sacramento. I have most of the parts spare in my stash but other than an AFM and airbox http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1081342 nothing else is for sale right now. I have an EGR for sale but the seats need polishing. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1079754

If it were me, I would use Colin to do it and have Raul and Scott provide the parts.

Wed Jan 19, 2011 11:46 pm

thanks for thinking of me sgkent

i do have a nice stash of parts
i might even have a good egr valve & like new egr filter

let me know how i can help