Air cooled entry level

[Viva.Sabata]

Greetings forum

Long time vanagon owner looking to enter the air cooled world. I found a really cool project but am not sure what I’m getting into.

Is this a good vehicle to start with? What should I be looking for that could bite me? What components fail and are expensive/hard to get? Steering box, axles, etc. I ask because vanagon parts are getting harder to find

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2747297

Thanks in advance
_________________
Sabata
1987 Westy Full Camper, Peloquin 5-Speed 2wd

[SGKent]

lot of hours, money and frustration is going to go into restoring that. When you are done years from now you will have twice as much money in it as it will be worth - but it can be done if the torsion tube (rear suspension) is not rusted thru. Be sure to check for that. I see that as a $450 parts bus.
_________________
George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."

Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice"

[Gashog]

Looks reasonable to me albeit I have limited experience with the air cooled. Everything is relatively available, but the quality leaves a bit to be desired. There’s a lot of expert opinion/guidance on this site. Personally, I’d ship it to Skills and repower Subaru.
_________________
1972 DeLuxe, Skillsafied 2.5 Subaru
1960 Single Cab
1967 beetle (sold)

[Viva.Sabata]

[jjvincent]

Best is to look at it personally and go under it. The issue is that most ads will show you the easy rust to fix and stop there. Not the things that would be a challenge. Not that you need to make it perfect but at least driveable and something for when you need to unload it. Major thing is, how good are your skills?

[busdaddy]

Although parts of it look less rotten than many there's a few areas the pics avoid, likely on purpose. The load bed is often rotted out or missing since trucks become storage bins and fill up with junk that traps moisture. And that moisture also leaks through the slat rivet holes in the bed down into the treasure cheast, that's a special place for moisture since it never dries out, expect the entire floor to be missing. It's a huge project to replace those.

Could you slap it together and drive?, sure, just take it easy crossing railroad tracks.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!

[my59]

I'd go after a mid 60's beetle before getting into that.
_________________
my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget.

[timvw7476]

The stuff you do not see will be biting you. (as SGT mentioned above)
Meaning the corrosion in the rear of the front fender wells.
The spring leaves in the front torsions.
The ball joints in the front end.
All the expensive brutal time-consuming tasks.
It looks like a great project. VW pick ups are great.
But you are going to have to earn this one.
That $3,500 truck needs $9,500 in sheetmetal, body work & suspension labor.
And you're left with a $13-14k VW pick up in primer.
Which is still damn kewl.

[ALLWAGONS]

I say go for it! It doesn’t look too rusted. It will be a learning experience. Worse case scenario, you part it out. Look how much they are asking for truck corners and gates.
_________________
I'd be UNSTOPPABLE if not for Law Enforcement and PHYSICS.

I recycle old cars and parts, other than when I rot, that's as Green as I am going to get.

Thanks to my Tesla driving neighbors, I feel more relaxed driving my SUBURBAN and old VW's.

Everything sounds good on paper!

[Rag00oll]

I’ve had a few buses and bugs now. I’d say the price is reasonable on it, it really depends what you’re looking to do. Restore it? Drive it? Driving restoration?

I bought a 68 westy last year for that price that single can is listed. I’m currently daily driving it and slowly working on all the cosmetics and bodywork. It’s not as nice as my previous bus by any stretch, but mechanically it’s finally on par.

I spent probably untold numbers of hours touching every single nut and bolt on it. Im not kidding. Not even a little. If I didn’t put my hands on it, it was bound to be a problem. Bus was in far worse mechanical shape than I imagined but I got through it. I could write an essay on what’s been done. And the hours involved. But i do it because I think more than anything it’s rewarding to drive something you essentially built yourself. Even if it isn’t perfect.the bodywork will take me far longer.

I say go for it!

[aeromech]

Take a look at the sellers ads. He has several buses for sale cheap. I’d vet him before sending money.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[SGKent]

of course consider that later single and double cabs are now being imported to the US from different parts of the world... .
_________________
George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."

Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice"

[ALLWAGONS]

I know the OP opened himself to criticism, but why don't we encourage him to build his car? We don't know his skill set, we don't know his financial situation nor do we need to know, we don't know what his garage or tool box looks like. This forum is super helpful, I appreciate all the help and assistance I receive from all of you.

We are sounding like the people in the type 3 forum, someone found an early early car, and instead of encouragement, he has been met with negative input. The guy clearly stated he already restored a car in the past, so he has some knowledge, and he also stated he has ALL the time in the world, and the type 3 people keep giving him a hard time.

I really hope, they both start their projects, and if they don't, it's their cars! As far as parts, most everything is out there, and if he wants to roll it with rust, its his car. Both the seller and the OP are in Alaska.

Martin
allwagons
_________________
I'd be UNSTOPPABLE if not for Law Enforcement and PHYSICS.

I recycle old cars and parts, other than when I rot, that's as Green as I am going to get.

Thanks to my Tesla driving neighbors, I feel more relaxed driving my SUBURBAN and old VW's.

Everything sounds good on paper!

[busdaddy]

Hey now..., I never said don't do it, or run away, the underside of that truck looks fairly intact, if the bed and treasure chest floors are still there it could be a fun ratty ride to repair as you go. Not everyone can pick and choose from many rust free examples like you can in So Cal and the SW states, although Alaska doesn't bother with salt (or didn't used to), and the wet season doesn't last long each year so the examples there aren't nearly as rotten as some further south. But many are really really used, rough roads and weather takes a toll, and quite a few seem to have been part way through some epic trip and were abandoned when they couldn't stand the hippie maintenance neglect.

Try and chisel the guy down since he's playing to a small market unless he'll ship, or have him throw in an engine or something to ease the pain of getting it roadworthy.

The wiring on a 68/69 is challenging right from the factory, after the nose transplant I'll bet it's extra fun!
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!

[aeromech]

Many examples of very rough SC and DC’s because they were marketed as trucks. Many have spent their lives hauling stuff on ranches and farms.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[ALLWAGONS]

[SGKent]

I don't think anyone said, "don't do it." He indicated he is looking for an "Entry" level project. I think they just want him to know that is not an "Entry Level" project and he best have $$$ set aside for that SC. A good place to start would be to walk the SC and make a list of things he KNOWS that have to be replaced. Then go to the links below and do some pricing / availability. If it fits his budget that is up to him. Price in shipping too because some of the parts will come from Europe and South America to Alaska. It is not going to be like he can walk into a bone yard and say I want this sheet metal. He could talk to Don (Skills) and John Tauxe, because they both are familiar with recent restorations on the pickups.

https://www.klassicfab.com/

https://www.alanhschofield.com/ourparts/cat_987205-Single-Cab-Repair-Panels.html

https://www2.cip1.com/klokkerholm/?srsltid=AfmBOoq...tegory=471
_________________
George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."

Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice"

[ALLWAGONS]

Well, let's keep the info rolling, another one saved!
_________________
I'd be UNSTOPPABLE if not for Law Enforcement and PHYSICS.

I recycle old cars and parts, other than when I rot, that's as Green as I am going to get.

Thanks to my Tesla driving neighbors, I feel more relaxed driving my SUBURBAN and old VW's.

Everything sounds good on paper!

[poundman]

The advice I give people now after 1 year of my restoration project (my first ever actually), is to buy something that at least runs with solid bones. Without running you can't "plan do check adjust". Or at minimum, start with the engine/transmission and get it running. You might still need to overhaul the brakes before it rolls out of the garage on it's own power.

My 72 has good bones, but I did start out of order. I am finally working on the engine and transmission.
_________________
-----------------------------------------
Restoring a 1972 Bay Window Bus that has not be registered for the road since 1981.
Sugar Land, Texas