Worthy upgrades (picture heavy)

aeromech · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 10:12 am Post subject: Worthy upgrades (picture heavy)

I received a PM from a member asking about worthy upgrades. In responding it became pretty lengthy so I thought I would share it here. Not sure if it's appropriate or not. The upgrades kinda depend on what year bus you have but I can start with a few. These aren't in any special order.

Auxilliary battery

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Fuel tank overhaul

Deep sump

Engine compartment light

Engine gauges (oil pressure and temperature)

]

External oil cooler

External oil filter

In dash tachometer

Coil over rear shocks

Curtains

Gas shocks

Wood paneling

Spare tire cover

Propane heater

A1 Sidewinder Exhaust

Serpentine belt system

Adding power brake booster to pre 1971 bus

6 Rib 091 Transmission for better freeway performance

Gene Berg gearshifter (locking)

Sidestep

Koni shocks

Heavy duty front sway bar

Wheelskins leather wrap

Steering wheel redo

Fog lights

Stainless fresh air hose

75 amp Bosch Alternator

Dual Dellortos

CB Performance breather tower

Stainless fuel manifold

Full flow oil system

Ceramic coated heater boxes

Painted engine compartment

Powder coated wheels with Hankook RA08 tires

Mud flaps

Shelfs

_________________
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

EZ Gruv · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 10:14 am Post subject:

http://www.ratwell.com/technical/EssentialUpgrades.html
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Eric
1977 Deluxe Westfalia - 2.0L FI Type IV, Completely Original
Photographer for HotVWs, VolksWorld, AirMighty, VW Camper & Commercial, Hayburner, and more.
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aeromech · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 10:18 am Post subject:

Good point there EZ,
This is already covered in that link. I did leave several out like the H4 headlights as well as the retractable 3 point seat belts. I'm sure that there are several others.
_________________
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

chabanais · Samba Member Joined: July 27, 2002 Posts: 4866

Agree with almost all but why serpentine belt? Lastly, why deep sump if you have external oil cooler?
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Kirk · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 12:23 pm Post subject:

Thats a whole lotta photo awesomeness right there.
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aeromech · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 12:27 pm Post subject:

VWDruid · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 12:46 pm Post subject:

you have 3 types of shocks, if you could pick one what would it be?

sound proofing is a good upgrade also.
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It's not the straight cut gears It's the T.A.R.D.I.S. engine.
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aeromech · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 1:02 pm Post subject:

kruton · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 1:27 pm Post subject:

i agree with kirk
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babysnakes · Samba Member Joined: August 19, 2008 Posts: 7149

Ummm....... Is that bus marking it's spot? Shocked

webwalker · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 1:58 pm Post subject:

I've heard all sorts of fluff-n-stuff about the Serp belts. Other than tastes-great/less-filling arguments, the physics seem sound on a number of levels.

There was specific research about ACVWs on this subject and I've mislaid the paper but it comes to this:

The toothed Serp belt, rides on TOP of the edge of the pulley and doesn't rely on the shearing friction with the pulleys to turn: that's what the teeth are for. That shearing friction (essentially, pinching the belt at the gen/alt pulley end) you pay for in power.

It probably isn't enough to feel in the seat of your pants. But its there. Also, the constant pull down on the gen/alt bearings is another source of friction that you can reduce. Again, not enough to feel, but still there.

The toothed Serp is capable of continuing to turn the gen/alt at the correct ratio past 4k RPM. The The V belt is not. (This is from the paper I mislaid.) Past 4000, some folks blamed cavitation for a failure to maintain the same proportion of cooling. No. The problem is that the slippery shearing friction of the V belt at the gen/alt pulley starts to lose the fight around 4000 and begins slipping so much that the ratio between crank rotation and fan rotation falls.

With the Serp belt, your fan is more likely to explode (and may, if you spend a lot of time North of 5000 without a welded fan) before the belt fails.

And the final best of: The Serp belt requires no fiddly moving of inside and outside shims, split pulleys, etc.

The only functional complaint I've heard against the Serp System is that the Scat Serp Kits have crummy Idler Pulleys that have a bad habit of falling apart, but that the original BMD Serps are pretty nigh bullet proof.

M
_________________
"Consistent maintenance with quality products is the cheapest warranty you'll ever need."
1977 CE1 Transporter Deluxe, Subaru EJ22, Skills Cooling, Steedle HD 091 w/ GuardT .82 4th
Click to view image

aeromech · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 2:09 pm Post subject:

BMD, that's what I bought.
_________________
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

webwalker · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 2:13 pm Post subject:

Figgr'd as much. The BMD is some nice kit, and its kind of cool that they broke into the VW scene with their product. I'm just waiting for them to do one for Type4, but I don't expect to ever see it, and I don't want one bad enough to bespoke the work on someone's CNC.

M
_________________
"Consistent maintenance with quality products is the cheapest warranty you'll ever need."
1977 CE1 Transporter Deluxe, Subaru EJ22, Skills Cooling, Steedle HD 091 w/ GuardT .82 4th
Click to view image

bhuser · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 2:22 pm Post subject:

Sweet thread man. I love all the pics. *reaches for wallet*....again
_________________
'76 Westy

"Choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil"
-Ralph Nader sticker in the bus when I bought it

aeromech · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 2:24 pm Post subject:

Roadcow · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 3:32 pm Post subject:

Please be careful with powder coated rims. Be sure to take a die grinder or similar proper tool to remove the powder coating from the bolt holes. Or at the very least re-torque your lug bolts after 20 miles. I've had several friends have loose wheels after powder coating rims. Excellent photos thanks.
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67 Panel
63 Bug
66 Ghia Bonneville 2014
74 Ghia Vert
69 Bonneville Ghia 150 in Chico
69 Bonneville Ghia in Ireland
80 Cabby 2.1 16v
98 Passat

aeromech · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 3:35 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the tip.
_________________
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

skills@eurocarsplus

Alex6373 · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 6:53 pm Post subject:

hello aeromech can you tell me the name and where i can get the coil overloads for the rear of my 73 bus... thanks Brett

aeromech · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 7:11 pm Post subject:


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