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busseemscool
Samba Member
Joined: May 25, 2006
Posts: 108
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 Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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Don't convert. I got a FI Bus from a guy who found out it cost a lot to convert, and sold the bus to me. I figured out it was the fuel pump, (took a few minutes) and for about $100 I was on the road with a new pump.
Last year I got a whole FI setup for only $75 because someone did convert to carbs. Now I have every part for replacement purposes, even the ECU! 
My current bus is FI and I love it. Starts, runs nice. Its easy once you learn it. |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 53188
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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So, 2 pages in a couple of hours, pretty rare for any topic here to do that, especially since half the regulars are at the classic this weekend, time to show this to your wife 
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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! |
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rosevillain
Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2005
Posts: 1341
Location: roseville, ca
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| Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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I usually hang out in the type 3 forum, have an early (carbed) bay window, and I don't know anything about L-jet, but I have to add my 2 cents. Bosch F.I. works, it's that simple.
Get books (Bentley, and the Muir), some basic metric tools, and a volt/ohm meter, and learn to work on your bus yourself. No one will be a more attentive mechanic than you. If you happen to break down in the middle of nowhere with your 30 year old car, AAA will get you to a shop that you have no experience with, and they will control your destiny. When you can wrench, and you carry the basics, you can make it to the next hot shower.
My type 3 needed almost every part for the fuel injection when I was trying to make it run. After replacing every part, and buying an extra everything, I am still at far less than half of the cost of a carb conversion, and my car runs very smooth. |
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wvengineer
Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2006
Posts: 168
Location: Petersburg, West Virginia
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| Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:55 pm Post subject: |
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If someone has said this already I missed it. Anyways every one of these threads atleast one person has to say:
Well if you do convert I'll be more than happy to take that FI setup off of your hands for you.
Just had to say it.
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My Resto Thread
1977 Champagne Edition I Bus (Soon to be repainted Sage Green with a Camper Special in it!)
Last edited by wvengineer on Sun Jun 14, 2009 7:19 am; edited 1 time in total |
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davis911s
Samba Member
Joined: July 07, 2005
Posts: 976
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with everyone else here. Keep the FI
first off you need to post where you are located. There is a samba member close that call help. Or airlist guy like was already posted.
Second buy some tools and learn to fix it yourself. Not only good bonding time, but when (not if) you break down, you will be able to fix it yourself. Remember these busses are 30+ years old, parts will fail.
I am building a new engine and I am going to be fabricating a FI system for it. Second choice would be dual carbs, last would be single carb. My bus currently has the single carb. I have it running OK but prefer the FI.
Keep us posted, but get you bus OUT of that garage!
_________________
"I choose to use CAA on old cars with character...instead of car payments on a new car  "
1973 Westfalia, Camper Special with 75 FI. Automatic 003 . Non-pop top
1977 Porsche 911S Targa, 2.7 L with 5spd
1992 Passat G60 Syncro Wagon (SOLD)
1975 Westfalia (SOLD)
1979 Westfalia (SOLD) |
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mptrauber
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2009
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 7:49 am Post subject: Thank you to all...plus my location |
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Wow!
I'm amazed at how you guys came through for me here. Thank you very, very much. If any of you are ever in the neighborhood, the microbrew is on me.
The bus says goodbye to mechanic on Monday. A Bentley manual gets bought today. The FI stays. Your responses get printed out as back up in case I need them for domestic tranquility.
My location, by the way, is in Houston--southeastern Texas. |
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Ed Ruth
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2005
Posts: 343
Location: Bakersfield, California
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 8:41 am Post subject: This may help but hasen't been edited by a pro! |
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<a title="Fuel-Injected-VW-BUS.jpg" href="http://s640.photobucket.com/albums/uu128/Edtheimpailer/?action=view&current=Fuel-Injected-VW-BUS.jpg">
<img src="http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu128/Edtheimpailer/th_Fuel-Injected-VW-BUS.jpg" border="0"/>
</a>
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We all have problems and so do buses. The universe is, after all, winding down. |
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Ed Ruth
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2005
Posts: 343
Location: Bakersfield, California
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WhirledTraveller
Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2008
Posts: 1414
Location: Cambridge, MA
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 8:59 am Post subject: |
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| mptrauber wrote: |
It won't start. He's replaced points, coil, plugs and rotor. He's also calling for the fuel pump to be replaced and claims that he's put a meter on or otherwise tested these things.
FWIW, the bus, when it was running, had the "hot start" issue but otherwise ran well. That's not usually FI, though, is it? |
Did you drive it to the mechanic? Now it won't run? Sounds like you need to stay away from this guy.
The fuel pump is easy to diagnose so don't be to quick to buy a new one. If you have a pressure gauge that you can put on the fuel rail that helps immensely. They're a lot cheaper than a new pump.
One thing I did, which is something to consider, is buy a box of used FI parts off the classifieds for relatively cheap (I think I paid $100). Then I (in the comfort of my own home) thoroughly cleaned and tested each used part with a multimeter and voltage source. Swapped ECU's and fuel injectors, send the old fuel injectors out for cleaning and testing, then swapped again.
Now I have a complete duplicate set of every F.I. component which I know works and which I can carry around in the bus when I take a long trip.
All this was considerably less money than any carb conversion.
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1977 Westy, Automatic. Big Valve heads, CS Cam. |
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jah_B
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2008
Posts: 1147
Location: Tempe, AZ
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 9:14 am Post subject: |
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You may be in luck being in Houston. I can't volunteer someone else's time of course, but there's at least one real smart guy over there who can probably hep ya. Good decisions, good luck!
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1984 CABRIOLET 6spd, quaife diff, Neuspeed springs, sway bars, tie bar, short shift kit, bilstein shocks, 16X7 RSE 3pc wheels, BFG TA 205 40s
1972 tintop P30 CAMPMOBILE: M/T, 1.7L, dual kadrons, 019 diz. Sunny the S'kool Bus
You gotta know what you don't know. That's the key to wisdom. man. |
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mptrauber
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2009
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 9:35 am Post subject: |
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| jah_B wrote: |
| You may be in luck being in Houston. I can't volunteer someone else's time of course, but there's at least one real smart guy over there who can probably hep ya. Good decisions, good luck! |
Yeah. When I was a teen, my first car was a bug and under the care of the legendary Jeff of Jeff's Bug Shop. He was the kind of guy you just knew intuitively that it would be the wrong thing to do to waste his time with idle chatter. Like, "Put your car there, give me the facts and get out of my shop before I start charging you rent." |
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Air_Cooled_Nut
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004
Posts: 3069
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 11:04 am Post subject: Re: Thank you to all...plus my location |
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| mptrauber wrote: |
Wow!
I'm amazed at how you guys came through for me here. Thank you very, very much. If any of you are ever in the neighborhood, the microbrew is on me.
The bus says goodbye to mechanic on Monday. A Bentley manual gets bought today. The FI stays. Your responses get printed out as back up in case I need them for domestic tranquility.
My location, by the way, is in Houston--southeastern Texas. |
Couple things:
Fill out your profile, at least your location, for future reference. Create a signature. Nothing fancy but put some of your Bus info in it. DON'T EVER SEE THAT "MECHANIC" AGAIN!!!! He obviously has no freakin' clue about FI (fuel injection). Always do the simple/cheap stuff first, like replace the fuel filter. I had engine starting troubles on my Bus and two fuel filters later she's now fine (she had been sitting as well).
Get a Bentley shop manual, it's your best friend.
http://www.rb.com/vw/transporter/1968-1979/VW-Type-2-1968-1979-Repair-Manual.html
Or find one used at your local book store or Amazon.
A digital volt/ohm meter is nice but I actually recommend using an analog meter. Not only are they less expensive but I've found it easier to see voltage or resistance swings easier because the needle moves between the values...that's the one beef I have w/my digital, it just flashes the numbers at me and sometimes the pulsing is too fast to get a good reading. Anyway, the meter is instrumental in fixing your FI. Chances are extremely good that your ECU (a.k.a. brain) is not damaged -- it takes a lot to kill one of them!
Replace all your fuel lines unless you know they are new or close to it. It's a simple process with the most annoying part being to empty the fuel tank. You'd be amazed at the number of Buses lost to engine fires. I've personally seen a Bus go up in flames and it happens quickly!
Here's a good read: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=301454&highlight=florida
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Did I mention that I'm an original Darksider?
'72 VW Squareback, 2007cc, GB 5-speed, rag top; '76 VW Riviera Penthouse Sundowner 2.0L; 2015 Audi S5 Cabby w/Stage II APR; '06 Ducati Sport Classic 1000; '14 Ducati Diavel Strada
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