Possible Bay Search

[63 vwnotch]

Maybe looking for another bay sometime soon, truth be told I'm window shopping now

I'd like a '69 as it was my birth year, yeah I know '71 is the way to go but......

I was looking at one a while back with metal sunroof but it wasn't functioning and over the years water got the best of it.. Are the sunroofs to be avoided?? seems everyone I've seen leak, don't work or have been sealed shut..

Ultimately I'd like to lower the bus, not to the ground but I want it pretty close tastefully and still operable and comfortable to drive.....

Realistically how much would it cost to lower it a few inches? maybe an adjustable beam and spindles?? are the drums still usable after this??

my '70's brakes (drums) worked very well but it wasn't lowered either... seems every lowered bus I've seen has disks..

is it worth looking for a 69 rather than a 71 because of the disk issue?? or is there something else the 71 has to offer that I haven't considered...

here is my old 70....

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BUS WANTED: 13 window BUS any year considered..

[aeromech]

Nice looking bus.
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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

[airschooled]

In order of preference, I would give none to VW discs or VW drums. I've crossed the continent with drums, as has almost every country-traversing bus owner in this forum.

Point is, it's bus and especially your money. You can spend it or blow it; we won't judge you for doing either, but lurk around here and you'll find the four or five members who do the most driving run four-wheel-drums as delivered from VW.

If you group aftermarket setups into the list, I would add them well towards the bottom of my three item list. I also can not speak to drum brake performance with a lowered suspension. Skills has a '78 brake setup on his slightly lowered '70 bus that felt very good when I drove it this summer. I didn't have to haul down to zero from seventy like I do with mine, but I'm 100% certain the setup would be great if needed.

Robbie
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Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
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[Xevin]

What they say. Call me kooky. But the bus you'll love will find you. You will know it as soon as you test drive it. You can't make it happen. Get whatever bus year puts a smile on your face. Like buying a house. You know it as soon as you walk in. Happy hunting.
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Keep on Busin'

[HelmutofBuffalo]

Lacking the place to do it myself I had the drum brakes on my '70 Westy gone through by a VW professional. Doing it right makes all the difference, I'm very happy and I often carry heavy loads and a small trailer. Before that I had a 1971 with discs for many years and do not see a great difference .
Just a random thought, if you wanted to get really particular you could also try to find one that came out in the same month, for instance my '70 left the factory 9/69. Happy Hunting!
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1979 Type I Convertible

[63 vwnotch]

December 69 it is... that would be cool... I found my '70 in back of a guys field left there for 7yrs, completely rust free had some body and a lot of mechanical issues but for $400 it was a steal.... not going to happen in today's world....

any comments on the sunroof action??
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BUS WANTED: 13 window BUS any year considered..

[williamM]

sun roofs leak when the drain tubes plug up the the water has no where to go- A low pressure blast from shop air can get them cleared if the hoses don't blow off.
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some days I get up and just sit and think. Some days I just sit.

opinion untempered by fact is ignorance.

Don't step in any!

[dasdachshund]

My '70 (3/70) is mildly lowered, drums, stops fine. The price to do it was $700 for the adjustable beam from WagonsWest up front and $10 for new donuts in back, torsion's rotated one notch.
Yes it is for sale. Don't have pics on me here at work at the moment.
Sorry, couldn't tell you about the sunroof stuff, mine's a small pop top Riviera day camper.

-dasdachshund

[ROCKOROD71]

could add a westy pop-top to a sunroof model as a cooler and likely less frustrating alternative to tryin to fix a leaky sunroof.
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1971 STD BEETLE- DD-1st car, 1st love. keepin' it stock! 1600DP, Solex 34-3 Mexi Bosch SVDA Dist NOW w/POINTS
1977 WESTY "KrustyKamper" 2L FI