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HoustonPhotog Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013 Posts: 1514 Location: Houston, TX
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:45 am Post subject: New Westy Owner... My Introduction. |
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Hey there guys... my name is Abel, I'm in Houston TX and Im a complete noob to the Vanagon community. I just purchased an 87 Westy a couple of weeks ago from a private seller in Phoenix AZ and have since had it transported home...
I've been browsing the Samba classifieds for about 6 months looking for a Westy to buy and have always missed out on them. I've never had as hard a time locating a vehicle for sale as I have for this one. It was crazy.
On a daily basis I'd browse TheSamba and Craigslist from all over searching for a Westy and I was fortunate enough to find one in Phoenix that had not been sold yet. I spoke to the sellers and I immediately bought a round trip flight to Phoenix to check out the Westy... I was sold immediately!
Whats funny is one of the things I noticed about the Westy is it had a tile floor installed and I wasnt too crazy about it simply because of the extra weight added so I ran a google image search to see what a stock vanagon floor looked like. One of the results was a photo from 2005 of the exact floor in my Westy posted here on TheSamba. Member BIG B was on of the previous owners of the Westy I just bought and is the one that installed the floor. so cool!
Link here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=134736
Original pic from BIG B :
After further review of the mechanical history of the Westy I also found out that the owner that purchased the 87 Westy from BIG B was also a member here on the forum by the name of HERSELF.
Its pretty cool to go back through their posts and get a glimpse of their experiences with the Westy that I just bought.
One thing I would like to say to both of those previous owners is Thank you for keeping such detailed records of its history. I inherited a binder and a folder full of detailed mechanical records and receipts. Wow, this has been a major benefit indeed!
Anyways.. I just thought I'd introduce myself and share this little story with you guys.. I've already learned so much from reading through the forum and I look forward to many happy years with my 87 Westy. BIG B & HERSELF, I promise I'll take good care of her. =) _________________ Abel Longoria
VanAlert App for Vanagons/Buses | Texas Vanagons | My Vanagon Build Thread | Follow Me On Instagram | Vanagon-centric Stickers Available Now |
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Ian Samba Moderator
Joined: August 28, 2002 Posts: 4930 Location: 713
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:49 am Post subject: |
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Those bumpers are sweet. I want to make ones like that for my Baywindow.
My pops lives at Memorial and Kirkwood...maybe I'll get to see your Westy when I'm down there. _________________ All your Buses are belong to us.
Love and good roads!
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROB CRESS 1968-2012 |
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HoustonPhotog Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013 Posts: 1514 Location: Houston, TX
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7733 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 7:37 am Post subject: |
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Nice rig! Welcome and please keep us posted on your adventures!
_________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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HoustonPhotog Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013 Posts: 1514 Location: Houston, TX
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tam_shops Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2012 Posts: 1530 Location: Vancouver BC
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 8:26 am Post subject: |
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Congratulations! Very nice bumpers and I like that lower trim too. Also looks like someone replaced all the window trim as well, as my 87 has what I think used to be silver trim, that's now faded and doesn't look so good...Enjoy!
tam _________________ 1987 Vanagon Westfalia GL Automatic
Making it special:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=545885 |
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HoustonPhotog Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013 Posts: 1514 Location: Houston, TX
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 8:34 am Post subject: |
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tam_shops wrote: |
Congratulations! Very nice bumpers and I like that lower trim too. Also looks like someone replaced all the window trim as well, as my 87 has what I think used to be silver trim, that's now faded and doesn't look so good...Enjoy!
tam |
yea both front windows had their trim completely replaced a few years ago. new power mirrors as well.
Im not a fan of lower trim. The rubber has shrunk and doesnt fit well. I would remove it but the worst part is that its been riveted into the body panels. ouch. Sometime in the next 6 months or so if I do get it repainted those trim pieces will be removed and holes filled in.
The bumpers are GoWesty bumpers. They are very nice and Ive already bought a couple of accessories to bolt up to them. Thankfully when I bought the Westy it have both front and rear GW Bumpers as well as the 16" wheel upgrade. _________________ Abel Longoria
VanAlert App for Vanagons/Buses | Texas Vanagons | My Vanagon Build Thread | Follow Me On Instagram | Vanagon-centric Stickers Available Now |
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whynotvw Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2004 Posts: 1322
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 8:45 am Post subject: |
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Welcome |
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HoustonPhotog Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013 Posts: 1514 Location: Houston, TX
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woggs1 Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2007 Posts: 531 Location: South Pacifica California
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 10:23 am Post subject: |
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Just my personal opinion but you should consider tinting your windows in limo tint. It looks awesome on white vans and it may be a theft deterrent if you keep expensive photography equiptment in you van.
_________________ 4 speed 88 Westy |
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HoustonPhotog Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013 Posts: 1514 Location: Houston, TX
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 11:06 am Post subject: |
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I have the tinted windows. Used some whizbang 3M extra UV proof stuff. It was expensive. $400. Perfect now for 5 years plus. Life is too short for cheap tint that turns purple and falls off.... _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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RCB Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2005 Posts: 4143 Location: San Francisco-Bay Area
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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r39o wrote: |
I have the tinted windows. Used some whizbang 3M extra UV proof stuff. It was expensive. $400. Perfect now for 5 years plus. Life is too short for cheap tint that turns purple and falls off.... |
A bit off the topic of WELCOME. r39o , so cheap tint turn Purple...didn't know if it was a choice or a symptom. I've seen Purple Tint B4 but I thought it was part of the bling. Jacked up rear end...skinny tires all around...shimmering paint color that changes color from different views...loud bass that rattles the whole vehicle and the vehicles around it. So...its the cheap stuff that changes color. I may install window tint but want it to remain the same color for quite some time. |
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HoustonPhotog Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013 Posts: 1514 Location: Houston, TX
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shadetreetim Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011 Posts: 1994 Location: Riverside, California
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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And so it begins. Nice purchase and that's a good pile of parts you have there. Keep us all updated. _________________ Tim Potts
Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!
'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5 |
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mariusstrom Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2010 Posts: 745
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 9:46 pm Post subject: |
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Nice to see a Westy in action down there. I grew up on the north side of Houston (Conroe/Woodlands) and never saw a Vanagon or Westy.. Now that I live up here in Seattle, I can't throw a rock without hitting one.
Man, I'd hate to sit on I-10 traffic between the Beltway and 610 in a Westy though. _________________ Marius Strom Otto: 1988 Vanagon Syncro Westy Camper
[SOLD] Felix: 1967 Deluxe Beetle |
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K58 Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2006 Posts: 1173 Location: Santa Barbara
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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that floor is hideous! and good idea to lose the lower trim...tacky!
but your Westy is beautiful.
Keep the updates coming _________________ Westy HID Projector Retrofit |
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