New Owner of a SO42, first bus!

[BarryL]

[Eric&Barb]

[timjames722]

After installing repop fuel sender, I got the same reading at the gauge (empty all of the time). When I opened the new sender I of course dropped it and it nailed the ground.

Well I decided to clean and try to repair the OG sender.

Followed an older thread here, added a new ground pictured above.

I attached the OG sender to the sender wire, and grounded to the body. Fuel gauge read accurate full, half, empty and I moved the sender up and down. Going to install later this year when I address push rod tubes and Erc&Barb's recommendations on previous page.

Below are the OHM readings, to my knowledge this is close to how it should read.

Empty

Full
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66 SO42 L87

What's the point in callin shots? This cue ain't straight in line.

[BarryL]

Excellent. So the delicate ni-chrome wires survived the fall?

[BulliBill]

If I'm reading the owners post right, I think that he dropped the repop sender after testing/removing it. So he messed around with and re-grounded the "original sender?

Bill
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I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

[Stocknazi]

OG German parts for the win...again.

It seems like half the new threads posted in this forum are about new reproduction parts that don't work/fit. In this case it didn't work right out of the box.

Also noteworthy, when diagnosing electrical issues number one suspect is usually a faulty ground. Was there not a ground wire that connected to the body and under one of the bolts? Maybe that's just bays?
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WANTED:
58 Westfalia cabinet knobs (3 needed), roof rack, and (7) privy tent poles (silver painted).

"When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty."
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

Thomas Jefferson

[BarryL]

[timjames722]

[timjames722]

Last weekend myself and some buddies bashed through the Pine Barrens in NJ. First timer for this event...

Crossing from PA to Jersey

Breakfast before we hit the trails

Going down the road...
Our only hiccup was running out of gas a few times...

Matt doin his thing...

Stopping for lunch after the trails, great line up

Overall great weekend and got to check out some super nice buses that reside on the East coast.

Roger's 67

Glenn's double cab, sick!

The single cab line up looking tough

Greg's 55 Westy, probably my favorite bus now. wow

Thanks John for a great weekend! Till next year....
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66 SO42 L87

What's the point in callin shots? This cue ain't straight in line.

[Krustrepair]

Gregs 55 is a dream. Lets see more photos of that gem!

[timjames722]

[timjames722]

With winter coming, took the motor out to replace pushrod tubes. Once it was out I found a broken head stud. Got an extractor stuck in it, ended up bringing it to a machine shop for a fix. I wasn't getting it out, tried..

While it's out replacing the oil cooler seals, adding flaps and thermostat. Seals around the back of the fan shroud. Pushrod tubes and seals. New alternator, old one the shaft was shot and had play in it.

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66 SO42 L87

What's the point in callin shots? This cue ain't straight in line.

[timjames722]

Slowly chipping away on the top end rebuild. As of tonight new cylinders, jugs, pushrod tubes installed. Rings checked in correct position. Planning to tighten up intake, muffler and heater box tomorrow once I get everything fitting nicely.

Hope to have it running by the weekend

I bought some NOS Bosch spark plugs off eBay, from the ad thought they were going to be made in Germany. They’re made in Japan, any idea when Bosch was making plugs there?

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66 SO42 L87

What's the point in callin shots? This cue ain't straight in line.

[velvetgreen]

I see name brand plugs being made in Russia !?!? these days- the global economy strikes again.

[timjames722]

Finished up rebuild a couple weeks ago, ended up going with 85.5 AA pistons and new jugs. Old pushrod tube seals were so hard they crumbled when we removed them. No wonder it was leaking like crazy.

Got the thermostat flaps installed and have the spring wide open for now, waiting on installing thermostat and bracket. I did add some foam around the oil cooler and hvac tape around the doghouse exhaust. Not pictured is the final where it’s foamed and taped on all open seams.

New alternator and pulley, pulley from WW, nice quality. Poured some gas down the carb and it fired right up, sounds good. I think this is the first time it’s ran on all 4 constant since I’ve owned due to the broken head stud. After a couple rounds around the block we fired it up and drove it to Philly where it’s on display at the Simeone museum for the next month. Great show if you’re in the area. Looking forward to having the bus back and spring weather for some good trips.

Big thanks to my buddy Matt Cuddy who taught me pretty much everything I know mechanical wise on this bus and guided me through the rebuild.

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66 SO42 L87

What's the point in callin shots? This cue ain't straight in line.

[swharris]

Congrats on the progress. I’ve got a ‘65 and a ‘67 but they are miles away from getting finished. I’m sure you know this but the door table should be white laminate like the main table with white edging. Sorry to be that guy, but hey you found a OG Westy rack..a door table should be a layup for you. Not sure you know but there are single and two screw racks. I think yours is an early “single” and I think they are worth more. Not as bunch as “slopers” but still more than the duals.


Oh, get rid of ALL the fiberglass insulation! It holds moisture and eventually rust.

Again, great bus and work. You are inspiring me to finish mine. Thanks!

[timjames722]

[timjames722]

Been awhile since posting. Have been enjoying my bus throughout the summer and fall. Every so often the past year the bus would sputter would hard at totally random times. Took the bus out to Flanders All Air Cooled Gathering and it was happening multiple times. At the campout we replaced the points, NOS distributor cap, spark plug wires. checked valves, Timed and adjust the carb, drove home perfect, good power.

After a week sitting took the bus out, 10 minutes later sputter returned and I couldn't accelerate at all without missing. Had to limp it home. It couldn't even idle once I got home without almost stalling.

I figured at this point, I have gas, spark plugs are fine, all that is left is the old coil and turkish Bosch condenser that may cause this.

Knock on wood, I put a Brazilian Bosch blue coil on and a NOS German condenser and the bus fired up like normal and has drove perfect since. I believe I had a weak or inconsistent spark.
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66 SO42 L87

What's the point in callin shots? This cue ain't straight in line.