Rambling on about my old VW bus

[Hydrolastic]

Was at work last week and my coworker started talking about his 1981 riviera bus. and i started telling him about the 75 bay window also a riviera i had and what i did to mine.
To start off originally it was a non runner with a transmission problem. I sent the ribbed 75 trans to Transform in California and for 1200 dollars recieved the transmission back with a 4:86 FD and a lower fourth gear these were known as a freeway flyer. It was installed it with a gene berg shifter. The engine a fuel injected 1800 was running but it had a frozen front damper fan bolt and it had issues that made it the most gutless engine ever. It was rebuilt and installed and to my surprise it was not as strong as i expected. i was relegated to 55-60 in the right lane. Now nothing wrong with that but its not my style i just needed a faster bus. Around 93 -94 I ordered a stage 1 or 2 kit from Mark stephens I put the pistons and heads on the engine. At this point i scrounged the salvage yards and got all the missing sheet metal back on the engine along with the later 2 liter computer. Now the bus was becoming what i wanted... Except it was cold it didnt stop that well and on back roads felt like it was going to tip over. Next items were a 4"inline fan in the tube in the middle under the bus. whiteline front and rear sway bars, with kyb shocks, all new brakes. lowered the bus an inch or so. A new set of michelin X tires which were a little squirmy at about 65 it was kindof my speed limiter but i was super happy with the mark stephens engine being able to accelerate up the passes. To top it off i installed a Blaupunt Berlin stereo in it. One of my favorite thing were the curtains lots of fantasia merlins tipped this and that way with his magic wands all over with a couple of moons and other spellike motif. The dark blue going well with the 70's hugger orange paint. What a crusier it was and i ran the bus 9 times up and down the west coast. various trips Canada to Mexico to about 2006. It never broke down! I sold it in a bad decision time. 12 years later i spent an afternoon describing it to my coworker and now to you. I am now thinking about getting a vanagon version and doing the process over again. Thank you Hydro

[jimf909]

Welcome! Looking forward to pics.
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- Jim

[IdahoDoug]

Nice - I love reading about the passion, and the journey of a vehicle and the struggle it takes to translate that love and passion into a reliable vehicle we can be proud of. Thanks for the insights and the reminders why I love my own Mango.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[B.O.B.Wanders]

Funny how when you think you've finally gotten your ride sorted out, there is always "that next thing on the list". Looking forward to seeing the process as it unfolds.
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83.5 WBX 2WD Assuan Brown Westy, B.O.B.

"It feels good to be lost in the right direction” - unknown

[Gnarlodious]

Joined 2006, first post. Cool!
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Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit

[Abscate]

Not everyone feels the need to share everything, which is cool

Abscate, the oversharer.
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.ssS!

[Hydrolastic]

Found a photo of my old bus! Didn't think any existed sorry its a photo of a photo and i know its an old thread. Hydro

[Hydrolastic]

Here is my next project, will do a similar thing. Five speed more power better handling. Hydro

[dabaron]

[jimf909]

Cool. I like your style.
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- Jim