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Bottomend
Grease
Joined: September 20, 2003
Posts: 1500
Location: Smell Aye! via Nude Hamster!
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 Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Been there. Sorry. Everybody ... learn this lesson. PLEASE |
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metalwoodstone
Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2006
Posts: 56
Location: Bowen Island, BC Canada
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Barry, I thought that was you!
I put it all togeather when I saw those seats I sold ya on CL
I told a friend about them, hope you get togeather...
I still remeber when we met up for the seats- was looking over
your engine and noticed the heater, and you said with wide eyes
"I have heard stories about these heaters being flaming death traps"
Yikes!  Glad you are ok and ickybicky paid up for a new ride!
bet that melting flaming engine block looked cool...
_________________
86 syncro single cab 1.9td
78 kombi champane edition |
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Schmoburger
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2006
Posts: 79
Location: Under a Kombi in Tomerong, NSW, Australia... MATE!!!
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:33 pm Post subject: Re: . |
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| udidwht wrote: |
The size of hose you use would depend on whats carbs your using. I'm running dual 40 Webers and use I believe 5/16 (Goodyear) rated 50psi in the engine compartment area. Never had a problem running this set up, 20 years now. The hose that runs thru the tin gets the cloth covering as does the tank outlet.
If you look closely in the photo you'll see how I've got it set up in the compartment. the tee is made of solid brass. I also run two filters. One between the tank and fuel pump and the other between the pump and carbs. Webers hate plugged idle jets. Very rarely get a plugged jet, can't even remember the last time it happened.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/285169.jpg
I check the hoses very closely regularly(6-mos-12mos) and have only had to replace them every few years or so. Also clamp all connections. The last set of hoses I replaced were in place for five years. I was able to tie a knot in them with out any signs of cracking/fraying/stiffness. |
The brass T's are the way to go... no need to worry about cracks then... but putting the filter in between the pump and carbs is something I personally wouldnt advise... and it's generally frowned upon by all respectable VW drivers at least in Australia. The fuel pump afaik has its own strainer anyway, so a filter after the pump is su[perflouous, and one before merely extends the life of your pump. 
kudos to youy foir clamping the hoses
as far as the hoses go, your milage may vary, but if you replace the hoses anually or every two years at most, you can be sure that if they are good quality hoses they should never split.
I dont know how many have actually taken the time to read my fire article, but one of the points i make is that a lot of buses burn because the brass fittings come out of the pump or carbs... for this reason it is a good idea to secure them to the pump or carb body with relatively thin gauge wire such as lockwire. This way if the fitting corodes and works loose, it will not blow right out, it will be held in by the wire and at worst only dribble fuel. I will take a few pics of the way mine is done tonight sometime
For the person here who posted assuming that FI buses were safer... WRONG!
FI buses have higher pressures in the fuel system, and hence, any substandard fuel plumbing will stand an even greater risk of failure... so if you have a FI bus, pay even closer attention to your fuel lines and fittings, and NEVER cheap out on fuel hose, even if it does appear to do the job!
Cheers! |
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FlametopFred
Samba Member
Joined: July 18, 2006
Posts: 105
Location: down at the wave ranch dressing in Vancouver
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:13 am Post subject: small world indeed ! |
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| metalwoodstone wrote: |
Hey Barry, I thought that was you!
I put it all togeather when I saw those seats I sold ya on CL
I told a friend about them, hope you get togeather... |
Indeed.
Was all set to install the seats I bought from you into the '74.
Had all the metal work ready to go.
The '76 I bought has pretty good seats, so am selling ....
uh .. the curse of Craigslist .... if it is a friend of yours that is buying, I will sell for the same that you sold to me ... $50 bucks. Or was it $60?
I started with $75 with negotiating in mind.
Anyway .... as a result of the fire ... a couple less projects now!! |
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FlametopFred
Samba Member
Joined: July 18, 2006
Posts: 105
Location: down at the wave ranch dressing in Vancouver
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:15 am Post subject: A hot time in the old van tonight! |
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| wanderglobe wrote: |
As for beer. I'd love to get together and have one. I'm down at the Spanish Banks most nights having a BBQ and just chilling.
Cheers.
Scott |
I live above Spanish banks, close to 10th & Alma.
I will keep an eye out for you ... assuming the van Avatar is your van?
My new one is a Green Westie.
See you around town, maybe down at the beach!
Cheers .... loads of great tips in this thread. |
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Opossum
Samba Member
Joined: February 26, 2005
Posts: 757
Location: Islets of Langerhans
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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Over the years I have been very diligent about replacing my fuel lines. I have used German braided, U.S. made non-braided and German FI hose non-braided. Which is should I use? Is one better than the other? My bus has dual Weber 40 carbs and the stock fuel pump. Any recommendations?
_________________
"You can lead an aircooled to water, but you can't make it drink"
"Live and learn or crash and burn"
"It's only Cool, If it's Air-Cooled"
Virginia Whiteface (Opossum) the first VW
Camper Special Club Member
1973 Orange Westfalia Hard top, Original owner |
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udidwht
Samba Member
Joined: March 06, 2005
Posts: 3804
Location: Seattle, WA./ HB, Ca./ Shizuoka, Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:25 pm Post subject: . |
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Ultimately it's up to you. But I've had excellent results (20 years) since going from the 1.7 to 2.0 and now 2056cc by using Goodyear 5/16(50psi rated) hose in the engine compartment area. Underneath and thru the firewall I use the braided fuel line. Running two filters first between the tank & pump and the second between the pump & carbs (dual 40 Webers)
Using a solid Brass 'T' fitting which splits the line to both carbs.
See my prior post for a photo. |
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gmag69
Type2 Nutcase
Joined: January 13, 2006
Posts: 1941
Location: northwest PA
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EdW
Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2005
Posts: 2385
Location: Unemployment Office
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:13 pm Post subject: Re: Trial by Fire: stories from the Burning Van survivors |
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| FlametopFred wrote: |
| Suddenly a loud bang in the engine compartment. Engine dies. I try to start, no go. Smoke coming from engine compartment, which is not all the unusual for most VW vans. |
In my experience, yes, that is unusual in a VW bus. You hear that 'bang', you pull over and investigate, but I don't know the situation you were in (traffic, etc.). Regardless, sorry to hear about your bus, but glad you learned the invaluable lesson of the fire extinguisher. |
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rsorak
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2005
Posts: 2005
Location: Memphis
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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My bus had a fire sometime in it's past before I got it that was pretty much the same as the one in that ad....It had fire scars just like on the drivers side of the ad bus on both sides! Look at my gallery to see it now.
_________________
Rick '71 Westfalia & '73 Thing |
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westy78
Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2002
Posts: 2005
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Opossum wrote: |
| Over the years I have been very diligent about replacing my fuel lines. I have used German braided, U.S. made non-braided and German FI hose non-braided. Which is should I use? Is one better than the other? My bus has dual Weber 40 carbs and the stock fuel pump. Any recommendations? |
Here is info on the hose you want to use.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1...highlight=
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Jasan C.
'78 Westy
VW Campmobile, it goes on vacation with you. |
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gmag69
Type2 Nutcase
Joined: January 13, 2006
Posts: 1941
Location: northwest PA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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| rsorak wrote: |
| My bus had a fire sometime in it's past before I got it that was pretty much the same as the one in that ad....It had fire scars just like on the drivers side of the ad bus on both sides! Look at my gallery to see it now. |
Did you do the work yourself on your bus? If so you did an awesome job on it and my hat goes off to you. How were the rear panels when you got it? Any waves in it from the fire?
I plan on replacing all of my hose on my bus. I'll probably get the kit from German Supply and some german braided hose to go from the tank to the fuel rail then the other little bits. I temp. replaced some of them,but I'd feel safer with them all done.
Geno 
_________________
Check out my Westy resto. thread.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=230285 |
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rsorak
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2005
Posts: 2005
Location: Memphis
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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Yes I repainted the outside and the engine comp. and yes the rear engine hatch, the removable panel behind the engine, and the rear panels on the sides are obviously warped from the heat. The engine comp was nothing but rusted metal when I 1st got my bus....not a spec of paint, it was all burned off.
_________________
Rick '71 Westfalia & '73 Thing |
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FlametopFred
Samba Member
Joined: July 18, 2006
Posts: 105
Location: down at the wave ranch dressing in Vancouver
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| Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:59 am Post subject: well . |
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| EdW wrote: |
In my experience, yes, that is unusual in a VW bus. |
Sense of humor.
Grain of salt.
Poetic license.
I was joking mostly ... at least around our town there are hundreds of VW buses in various states of use ... some are "award winning, show-room" quality works ... others are smokey-swisscheese-bar-be-ques on wheels.
Smoke coming out of some old VW vans (and bugs) is not unusual ... in the sense of those times when owners don't have all the time and/or money to replace leaking gaskets..... and I myself have driven once or twice when "all hell broke loose and there was oil smoke enough to fill an intersection"
If you haven't driven a rotting, smoking, rusting VW of some kind in your life, well .. you just haven't lived ... to be sworn at by truck drivers, to be leared at by families on vacation .... all part of the llifestyle ~ for a few years, for a certain portion of VW owners seeking cheap, reliable transportaion (ha ha). Then things turn around and you figure out how to repair that gasket yourself, or come up with a little more money.
Sometimes the girlfriend in the relationship winds up with the bug. The boyfriend has always done the work ... after the breakup the girl is poor and can't afford mechanical luxuries .... so smoke happens.
That's part of the VW lore ... bug and bus alike. They are (or used to be) dirt-cheap rides favoured by the Hippie Generation. because of this, a few bugs and buses became rusty smoke machines on wheels.
So smoke coming out the back is not that unusual for a VW .... 
I was in stop-and-go, rush-hour traffic all queing up for the bridge. Sometimes the old van (as some old vans do) would backfire, stall and puff out smoke ... I was going to get the carbs done that very week. The bang was a little different than a backfire ... the smoke was a little blacker than normal. The stall was final and ominous.
I wanted to start the van and pull over ... but the guy behind let me know that the van was on fire .... and that kind of changed everything |
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gmag69
Type2 Nutcase
Joined: January 13, 2006
Posts: 1941
Location: northwest PA
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:12 pm Post subject: |
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| rsorak wrote: |
| Yes I repainted the outside and the engine comp. and yes the rear engine hatch, the removable panel behind the engine, and the rear panels on the sides are obviously warped from the heat. The engine comp was nothing but rusted metal when I 1st got my bus....not a spec of paint, it was all burned off. |
I looks awesome in your pics. Congrats on saving that bus and the job you did on fixing it up.
Geno
_________________
Check out my Westy resto. thread.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=230285 |
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visibleink
Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2002
Posts: 1669
Location: Austin, Texas
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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| wanderglobe wrote: |
Scotty, we're climbing a hill...we need more power...we're only doing 17 mph!!
17 mph???? I'm glad I was able to give 'er that much captain! Any more and she'll catch on fire! |
Oh my, that was great.
And some of my aircooleds have smoked some over the years, but it's just minor smoke from leaking oil being burned.....nothing major.
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Been on the samba so long I remember petting that dog to see VWs, WYHI, and green bug girl.
<-- Helga, she slammed her dub in '53 and adjusted valves with her teeth |
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pyrOman
Fire Master
Joined: July 21, 2003
Posts: 12538
Location: Over 2002 posts deleted!
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| Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:05 am Post subject: |
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This thread sucks without more pictures like this:
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Some people are so busy being clever they don't have time enough to be wise. |
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visibleink
Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2002
Posts: 1669
Location: Austin, Texas
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| Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:12 am Post subject: |
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| pyrOman wrote: |
This thread sucks without more pictures like this:
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Turn your bus into a project basket case in just MINUTES!!!!!
_________________
Been on the samba so long I remember petting that dog to see VWs, WYHI, and green bug girl.
<-- Helga, she slammed her dub in '53 and adjusted valves with her teeth |
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dwill49965
Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2005
Posts: 1404
Location: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
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| Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:26 am Post subject: |
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There really should be a section in the Gallery for pictures like these, so people can see a large collection of them at once. It would serve as a good warning, and its morbidly fascinating.
There was a post a while ago about the "Burning Man" festival - how about a "Burning Van" gallery? 
_________________
Darryl
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'78 Westy, Boston Bob built 2.0 L, FI, MSD 6A |
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zabo
Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2005
Posts: 1199
Location: ATL
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| Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 8:13 am Post subject: |
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_________________
1960 6 volt sedan- 1978 adventurewagen
–wanted bill spreen atlanta dealer tag frame |
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