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Sat Dec 05, 2020 6:57 am

Wait!
I now remember what owning a Vanagon is!

Dave

Sat Dec 05, 2020 7:02 am

Ayup.

Sat Dec 05, 2020 12:27 pm

djkeev wrote: Steve has changed my life in a matter of days!

i have that effect, but usually that is a negative experience.

bobhill8 wrote: Really hope you keep the SlowFunk front plate.

i did not factor that into the price. dave and i will need to discuss that.

i'm sad to be letting go of the tin top, it was my first bus and there are amazing memories with my son caught up with it. i have not had the chance to make new memories with him in the Westy, and that is eating at me right now. stupid nostalgia.

i still have parts i need to swap (sorry dave) and make room for all the stuff still in the tin top (the dining room is off limits now for some reason). the real fun will be getting it out of the parking spot and then the alley. safety third!

i guess the Ghia will take a 3rd row seat to the tin top... as it should. Vanagons are way cooler. you can haul your family, a load of bricks, a pet, and the groceries home, all at the same time! try that in a Ghia.

Sat Dec 05, 2020 12:31 pm

We will get it out of the spot and the alley with no problems, that's what I came to see the other day.

I've retrieved far worse!

NJ uses a front plate, you can keep it.

Dave

Sat Dec 05, 2020 2:24 pm

dobryan wrote: That is thanks to everyone stuck at home with nothing to do but order parts for their bus... Mmm - my business suplies are taking forever in shipping, especially overseas. I'm sorta thinking its the lack of airplanes with room in the back. Flights are still way down, no?

Mon Dec 07, 2020 3:45 pm

So I've been making lists, adding links to "how to" threads and suppliers to my project list on the top of page 2 along with adding items to the list.
I've also created an "I Want It" list.

I've been making plans, not only for my life and possible changes in it, but also for the Van.

Initially I wasn't in any hurry at all.
The more I think about this Van, what I want to do to it and how it will be used I'm beginning to chomp at the bit!

Just communicated with Steve, while he is extremely busy with work I figured if I grabbed some key components I can really assess what my needs really will be. I can rebuild various components and have them ready to bolt on as I assemble the rebuilt / replacement engine. starter, alternator, fuel injection bits, ignition, etc.
I can pull the CV,s and examine, clean and re-grease. I am going to use the new Toureq axle boot idea on these axles.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=745007&highlight=tiquan

I've been hesitant to purchase anything just yet for I don't have the Van in the yard or the title in my hands although I've paid for it already. (No worries, Steve is totally an upstanding guy! And besides...... I know where his camper is! 😂😂😂

This weekend I'll hook up my trailer and take a ride. I'll load it up with stuff from his garage freeing up space for the contents of the Van to move in there.

He has the proverbial 10 lbs of flour in a five pound bag!

But....... so do I!
Once I get this Van here I'll have 15lbs of crap in a 5 lb garage!

Color me excited!

Dave

Mon Dec 07, 2020 3:49 pm

Excited for you Dave. :D

I’ll know more about the engines I have for you to choose from in a couple weeks.

Mon Dec 07, 2020 4:05 pm

I had a member here in North Jersey contact me about swapping my beige Stow and Go seats for gray ones.

I stressed that my beige ones are in like new condition, if he presents me with comparable condition gray stow and go seats.....we've got a deal!

I had children......... I had a 1986 Dodge minivan I purchased new when they were quite young, I KNOW what children do to seats! :lol: :lol:
We called the rear of the Van "Chernobyl after the Russian nuclear disaster!
How two cute little girls could make such a mess in such a short time was beyond comprehension!

Dave

Tue Dec 08, 2020 8:05 am

First outlay of cash!

Ordering the Tiquan axle boots.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=745007&highlight=tiquan

Getting them from FCP for the lifetime warranty.

Need to start doing something while I wait to pick up the Van!

Plus it has turned cold out there! A good inside job...... though messy.

Dave

Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:33 am

Yes!!!

This Van has only a left axle.

For years I’ve had an automatic axle under my tool box.

I pulled it out today praying that it is a right axle .....,.

And it is!
It measures 22 1/2” long!

Yes!

Now hopefully no one mixed up left and rights on the van at sometime in the past......

From my 86 .....

djkeev wrote: Ive read about the CV axles being different lengths Left and Right on the Automatic Vans.... But never thought about HOW different.

Here they are side by side ........

Left 20 1/2"
Right about 22 1/2"

Funny, AutoZone lists the Right axle as 22 5/16" ..... It is Definitely longer than that!

Dave

Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:42 am

I’ll post photos later but this axle was off of an early 1986 tintop that was wrecked in the early 2000’s.

As I am told it only had about 80,000 miles or so on it.

These OG CV’s joints may not support that high of a mileage story, they are like new!

Very little wear ......

Dave

Wed Dec 09, 2020 9:34 am

OG VW CV's

Original (99% sure of that) boots and joints

Notice no clamps on the inner boots, original VW boots 1986

Axle length .....

Almost no CV ball wear ..... pretty good for 34 years!

Only 61,470 miles on these CV's

Dave

Wed Dec 09, 2020 9:41 am

djkeev wrote: Wait!
I now remember what owning a Vanagon is!

Dave

100% true

Wed Dec 09, 2020 10:24 am

djkeev wrote: First outlay of cash!

Ordering the Tiquan axle boots.

I read this too fast and it came out
"First outlay of cash! Ordering Tequila... "

Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:08 pm

A beautiful Sunday before next weeks first major snow event.

In the morning I pulled out the snow blower and the generator.

Serviced, tested, fixed. Neither was used last year because of such a mild Winter.

Both are ready for snow combat now!

Also put the snow shovel on the front porch, no pre-storm testing was needed to verify operation. I'm fully confident that its use will be as exhausting as I remember it being two years ago!

After lunch I hooked up the trailer and took off for Philly.

I picked up the engine he took out of his 90 full camper.
I have no idea what I've got. Steve says it isn't any good. 🤷‍♂️

Going to get it into the garage before the big Snow on Wednesday and start exploring!

I'm doing this project in Pa with my tiny 1960’s era cold small garage.
In Jersey I've got a two car heated garage, but where's the fun in that! :lol:

I've been bringing out tools I think I'll need but I know that whatever I bring isn't what I'll need!

I also tried to get the left axle but they are hex, not triple square, five are loose, one hex is buggered badly. I tried the hammer on a socket trick, the torx trick, the 1/4” hex trick....... the axle bolt is still there just as tight.
The tool I own to take it out is in Jersey of course.
Or I'll drill the head off.

Next trip!

Dave

Sun Dec 13, 2020 4:27 pm

Dave, you should rebuild the engine, then we can haul it back down, toss it in, and you can drive the tin top home 8)

Sun Dec 13, 2020 4:30 pm

I'm sorry, I'm good .... but NOT that good! :lol:

Dave

Sun Dec 13, 2020 4:59 pm

at least that engine has a new coolant pressure tank. oh, wait... that means the old one blew at some point. i swear, those new tanks look so thin you can almost see thru them.

Sun Dec 13, 2020 6:15 pm

Dave call me re engines.

Sun Dec 13, 2020 6:22 pm

A couple years ago I replaced a three year old Meyle tank like that which had burst. It split horizontally about 1" below the cap on the flat, not the seam. This could've easily taken out a very expensive 2.3L RJE engine. These tanks are junk.