TheSamba.com :: View topic - Mom and Dads 1971 Westfalia

Mon Nov 05, 2018 7:50 pm

This 1971 Westfalia was driven off the lot new by my mom. When my dad passed at the end of 2014, the one thing I asked was if the bus was still there. I turned 45 today and I was fifteen when I last saw it. Amazingly enough, Stuart got it started for the first time today. More to come!

Mon Nov 05, 2018 7:57 pm

So I showed up and found this today...

Added a ground strap, fresh fuel (gallon or two) in the tank..cleaned the points a tad...

Got it to turn over but wouldn’t catch, so checked points and added more fuel...

And she fired right up!

Took a few pics of what’s going on here, more details to come 8)

This hubcap and rim were simply washed and clear coated 5-6 times...that’s all original paint and rust !

And after a empty and vacuum (still needs a wash down) we came up with this:

The goal is to get the brakes done, clean and adjust the carb, and test drive it by Thursday! Stay tuned. This ones gonna be similar to sunnydogs westy story, because there’s a bunch of vintage phones of the bus soon to be posted, wanted to get the thread started right away to put pics and videos up of progress though :)

Mon Nov 05, 2018 8:11 pm

That's an amazing back story, and a great project.
Stay the course, you will be frustrated and tempted to sell.... don't.

Mon Nov 05, 2018 10:24 pm

Sweet rig! You gotta post those pics on the moss thread!

Mon Nov 05, 2018 10:46 pm

richparker wrote: Sweet rig! You gotta post those pics on the moss thread!

Already did ;)

Tue Nov 06, 2018 7:39 am

Awesome story I really like this bus. Glad you’re resurrecting her. :D :evil:

Tue Nov 06, 2018 8:48 pm

Nice! How long was it parked there or when was the last time it was driven?

I'd also wonder what it looks like under that fan shroud? :wink:

Wed Nov 07, 2018 12:08 am

We were estimating (Chris, the OP) that it hasn’t moved since 94, maybe 95. It was towed to San Diego from Silverdale WA around 2 years ago.

The fan shroud is on the list to remove once it’s running smoothly. ;)

But first we needed some brakes! Now that it started, we wanted to test drive it so that means we gotta be able to stop!
Got it up on jack stands:

Busted the brakes down...
(Note the pad material was GONE) the other side had like new shoes so material must have pulled off with the drums? I didn’t take them apart, they were seized whoever towed it pulled things apart...

They also loosened the calipers up to unstick it. Likely was nothing wrong with them...:cry:

But we went ahead with all new from Vee Parts in El Cajon (ask for mike, they do ship!) very helpful and friendly. Got everything I needed in less then a days time, and ended the day like this:

Unfortunately the “loaded” (comes with pads) new calipers had no pads, and they hit the rotor. I think I bent a rotor before I saw it rubbing by tightening it down as assembly happened, so tomorrow I gotta deal with missing pads and wrong calipers. Then the carb comes off for a clean and reinstall, new fuel lines and filter (out of engine bay) and a new battery and a ground strap to the body rather then my extra positive cable to the generator stand as seen prior.

Stay tuned! More to come tomorrow...

Oh and we had a very brief visitor for about 5 minutes en route elsewhere...

The right bus is chris’s 77 transporter which will go under the knife next ;)

Wed Nov 07, 2018 4:14 am

Is that blue ford available?

Wed Nov 07, 2018 6:09 pm

calvinater wrote: Is that blue ford available?

Unfortunately, no. All the other vehicles found homes a couple years ago. :( The two F250's were in surprisingly good condition, but the engines were in the same state as the VW.

Wed Nov 07, 2018 6:15 pm

Hope you saved those mushrooms..some scallops and butter and good to go...

Wed Nov 07, 2018 6:27 pm

Abscate wrote: Hope you saved those mushrooms..some scallops and butter and good to go...

Well...Stuart and I did find about five cans of Cream of Mushroom soup inside the bus. Probably from the 80's. A couple were externally rusty but still sealed!

Wed Nov 07, 2018 6:48 pm

Spoonfed wrote: This 1971 Westfalia was driven off the lot new by my mom. When my dad passed at the end of 2014, the one thing I asked was if the bus was still there. I turned 45 today and I was fifteen when I last saw it. Amazingly enough, Stuart got it started for the first time today. More to come!

Great story,

I would love to pull that bus onto my drive with moss and mushrooms still attached.
My neighbours would love me more than they do already 8)

Wed Nov 07, 2018 7:17 pm

SO.... Todays adventure...I spent 2 15 mile one way trips (60 miles total) and about 4 hours on the phone with 15 different parts and brake and VW shops... finding out that the supplier of the parts store gave me some late bay calipers...the 14 mm holes simply don’t sit flat, obviously. not to mention a few rubbing spots where things hit wrong...all ending in the two non returnable calipers becoming spares for the 77, which currently doesn’t need them but at least not a total waste. I THINK we can get them returned but it’s up to the store owner, as it clearly said on receipt no return because they were special order. I’ll get into that in the morning! The weird part is the part numbers are all correct and such and there’s DIFFERENT numbers for new late bay style. Funky.

So...once’s that’s sorted out...brakes will be done. Anyone got a source for 71-72 calipers?

The engine....

Going to bypass the cooler on the left side, that leaks. Eventually new hoses will run to a new thermostat controlled fan style unit, but for now a bypass. Then change the oil, the transmission gear oil, and maybe hose the bottom of the bus off...so many spiders and junk...bleh.

Wed Nov 07, 2018 7:24 pm

Do yourself a favor, and replace the fuel tank. I recently went through a 70 that had run much more recently than yours, and when I went to replace the gauge sender, the inside of the tank wash trashed. Even if you drain what fuel was in it, the top of the tank that didn’t have fuel in it will be horribly rusted. It will eventually get washed into the filter/carb if you add more fuel. You could clean/treat the tank, but for $170 Wolfsburg West’s tank was a cheaper option for me.

Wed Nov 07, 2018 8:02 pm

Stuartzickefoose wrote:
So...once’s that’s sorted out...brakes will be done. Anyone got a source for 71-72 calipers?
Well, I don't (I let my fabulous local VW bus boutique worry about such things) but I do know that they are only available rebuilt or one can change over to (new) later calipers which gets you thicker pads and bragging rights. I stayed with the rebuilt ones, because I am pissy that way.

Wed Nov 07, 2018 10:14 pm

Well...just found these...

http://www.busdepot.com/j12816

Now I have a failsafe plan. Gonna see what happens in the morning and then I’ll either be rebuilding originals, or buying that kit and fitting the new ATE calipers I got on hand right now.

Wed Nov 07, 2018 10:40 pm

September 1983, probably San Jose at a baseball game.

Wed Nov 07, 2018 10:46 pm

To quote from another thread... We found all this stuff in the bus. Look closely, who can spot the two pictures that have same item in them. 1983 to 2018.

Stuartzickefoose wrote:

Rear screen, stool, front curtain, and child’s cot also!

Wed Nov 07, 2018 11:30 pm

The new VW of Brazil calipers are excellent, and the pads they come with are great.

VW Paradise in San Marcos sells caliper rebuild kits for $20 that don't include caliper bridge seals. Make sure wherever you get the rebuild kit has all the seals…

Robbie