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Mon Jul 27, 2015 9:41 am

Hey All -

Just picked up my first West! She's an 83 Air cooled. I have been out all weekend having fun. Not sure who's more excited, me or the kids.

Mon Jul 27, 2015 2:43 pm

Has anyone heard of how many air cooled still running world wide????

Mon Jul 27, 2015 3:26 pm

I have an '83 Tin-Top. I purchased it in 1985 with 49k miles on it. It is semi-retired now with over 218k miles on the clock.

We were in Zion National Park in 1984 when we met two dudes in an old box Chevy Van. In the conversation, we learned they were headed to Alaska. So, on the rest of the trip, that's all I could think about, a trip to Alaska. We set the summer of 1986 as our goal. Then, I went shopping for something to drive north......... stumbled onto the Vanagon at a decent price.

At the time, we never thought over the next 17 years we'd drive it up there 6 more times. It's been north of the Arctic Circle three or four times ........ Inuvik, Northwest Territories to Key West, Florida.

The 2.0 engine is a hoss but unfortunately the heads do have a limit.

Mon Jul 27, 2015 3:28 pm

I get to join the club now!
one 1980 and one 1983, both CA emissions. Not buying any more... I swear...

Tue Jul 28, 2015 11:45 am

So this thread shows that many of us still run the aircooled motor. I am curious how many have a cylinder head temp gauge and what kind of temps (high temps) people experience. I know mine gets hot fully loaded up hills (445*) holding 45-50 in 4th then to 3rd holding at 40mph. On normal terrain I can do 55mph at about 410*. Is this what you all are seeing?

Mon Aug 17, 2015 12:34 pm

What gauge, VDO? DD? and how is your thermocouple attached?

I just ordered a MGL E1 and got the 14mm spark plug adapter. I have room for 3 more thermocouples at least and I will also be gluing some next to the plug.

Mon Aug 17, 2015 2:41 pm

Running an 81 ASI/Riviera Weekender (tin top) here. I rarely encounter mountains outside of occasional camping trips so the air cooled engine works well enough.

Mon Aug 17, 2015 2:53 pm

Dakota digital. Made some timing adjustments and the temps are way down now. Of course fix one thing and something else jumps up. It's starting poorly now, almost like its flooded. I put pedal to floor and it will start after first failed attempt. The I have to keep the gas on it to keep it going. Kinda feels like a vacuum leak (again!). Did A preliminary check spray water, but will have to look further...after new CV's/axles and lifting the rear with cutting board mod.

Sun Sep 06, 2015 9:28 am

Hey all. This is the tribe Ive been looking for. I've had a 1980 for 3 yrs and more project than fun. It got my family to Sedona from Seattle and back, and I had no idea what I was doing with it mechanically. Nearly all the mechanics I've talked to in Seattle have no idea either. After one enginr rebuild it was running well, I had to get a hole in the exhaust manifold welded recently, and now it stalls intermitantly. After about 10 minutes it will start again, sometimes stalls again sometimes not. I have twin babies and a 10 yr old so I'm hesitant to take it camping :( . If you AC heads have any ideas to the prob I'd appreciate some guidance.

Sun Sep 06, 2015 12:38 pm

CA? Federal? Carb?

"after about 10 minutes" restart? Sounds like something cooled off.. If they were messing with the exhaust, and you have a CA van, look for o2 sensor damage....

Mon Sep 14, 2015 9:23 am

Yes tis a CA, Sometimes it has a hard time during a cold start as well. On the way home this weekend, it started cold, ran for about 4 miles stalled. ten min later started ran for 4 miles stalled, then ran all the way home(50 miles) with stopping and waiting for ferries. do you still think that could be O2 sensor?

Sun Oct 04, 2015 11:32 pm

I had issues similar to what you describe and the cylinder head temp sensor seemed to be the answer.

http://www.busdepot.com/0280130012

Mon Oct 05, 2015 7:32 am

Washed the van this weekend in preparation for a trip to Banff over Thanksgiving weekend.

A question for other AC owners, I was crawling around under the van this weekend and noticed that the thermostat to control the flaps has been removed by the PO. The flaps are still in place though. Is this an issue?

Mon Oct 05, 2015 7:55 am

I really enjoyed my air cooled vans - and miss the purr. Took a bit to get them both together and reliable, but once the work was done we had no trouble getting around all of Cascadia. For a family of three in an AC Westy, with gear, the AC motor is not very ideal. I could see owning a tin top passenger carrier AC again though, no problem.

Mon Oct 05, 2015 6:03 pm

michaelasnider wrote: Washed the van this weekend in preparation for a trip to Banff over Thanksgiving weekend.

A question for other AC owners, I was crawling around under the van this weekend and noticed that the thermostat to control the flaps has been removed by the PO. The flaps are still in place though. Is this an issue?

As long as the flaps are in the open position you will be fine. When the thermostat is removed they automatically go to the open position, so u should be all set. If u drive in the winter it can be an issue as the motor will be slow,to warm up with wide open flaps blowing cold air on the motor.

Mon Oct 05, 2015 6:14 pm

i love my 1982 westy.. I dont mind cruising 45-50mph up big hills on the freeway.. She hits 75+mph on flat so that is good for me..

Tue Oct 06, 2015 6:19 am

VWinVT wrote: michaelasnider wrote: Washed the van this weekend in preparation for a trip to Banff over Thanksgiving weekend.

A question for other AC owners, I was crawling around under the van this weekend and noticed that the thermostat to control the flaps has been removed by the PO. The flaps are still in place though. Is this an issue?

As long as the flaps are in the open position you will be fine. When the thermostat is removed they automatically go to the open position, so u should be all set. If u drive in the winter it can be an issue as the motor will be slow,to warm up with wide open flaps blowing cold air on the motor.

So is the open position what would be the case if there is no tension on the cable? I can't get an angle to actually see the flaps, so I'm wondering if the spring on the shaft that actuates them should be loaded or unloaded.

Thanks!

Another question, most LED light kits etc seem to be for newer vans with possible different light fixtures. I'd like to replace my kitchen light, drivers side overhead light and gauge lights, anyone know which sized bulbs are required?

Wed Nov 04, 2015 7:40 am

FYI there's a new Air cooled Vanagon group for us to ask questions, swap stories and compare setups.

Not sure if I'm allowed to Link it, so if you add the facebook. to the begining of this groups/AirCooledVanagon/ you'll find it.

BTW, Got my van back this fall from the body and paint shop. Also have a new muffler on now too, but not in this photo

Wed Nov 04, 2015 8:16 am

the aircooled facebook group is a good resource!!

Wed Nov 04, 2015 8:18 am

I am referring to the new group created Sept 26 2015. ;)

Specifically for Vanagons/wests 79-83