Rehab Inside or Outside First?

[TrailBear]

I just started a rehab of a '83 Westy and my first priority is getting the engine running. After that, i dont know whether i should tackle the outside body work and paint first, or build out the inside parts (fridge, cabinets, dash, bench seat, etc). Thoughts?

[shagginwagon83]

I think you should get the van running/usable before any paint. You might underestimate the amount of mechanical work that is needed.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[markswagen]

I go for the inside first.
If you spend more time in it, than looking at it, inside first
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markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.

619 201 0310

[mikemtnbike]

My vote is for mechanical, then start on the interior, then back to the mechanical, repeat about 10x until you have the interior done. Then replace interior work with exterior, knowing you will be back to the mechanical intermittently.

This is where I'm at after about 3 years of being my van's caretaker.
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual

[joetiger]

I agree with all of the above. Mechanical then interior then exterior.

If the van's been sitting at all, you'll want to get all of the mouse poop out ASAP.
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Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present

www.josephtrussell.com

[bobbyblack]

Engine/mechanical first, replace all old fuel lines. Stabilize exterior corrosion second, interior prep/build with notes on best practice to get these back out so as to address seam rust when time comes to do inside of seams prior to exterior finish and paint. Last last last would be bling, rims, etc. UNLESS you already need new rubber. In that case, safety rules.
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[TrailBear]

wow, The Samba doesn't disappoint.

Joetiger... spot on, removed a mountain of mouse poop and mouse castles from the walls and ceiling.

bobbyblack, any recommendations for stabilizing the exterior? Got several rust spots.

In the process of replacing wires and vac lines in the engine compartment that were chewed through by the rodents. Replacing the gas tank, and fuel filter. Fuel lines are next. Then flushing the coolant and refilling. Should be able to attempt to start after that.

If it starts (its definitely not going to), i will start thinking about any suspension/steering issues (looks like there is some cracked rubber in a lot of places).

[llilibel03]

I had a friend back in the day who had an old jalopy (66 Valiant?). The only part of the exterior he took care of was the hood. It was always clean and shiny. I asked him why he kept the hood so shiny and he said, "It's the only part of the car I see when driving."

Since the vanagon has no hood I'd say the interior first, maybe the dashboard.
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87 syncro tintop
90 gl tin top
85 westy 2.0 tiico automatic (present)

[bobbyblack]

[djkeev]

Mine was a three year project.

I purchased a non running unmolested unit.

I pulled the engine and trans.

While that was out I redid everything on the chassis and the body.

The last thing done was the engine went back in.

That removed all temptation to stop short and call it finished!

It wasn't finished until I turned the key and drove away.

Dave
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Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[Merian]

get the van SAFE before any paint.
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[jimf909]

I agree with most that a Vanagon can be a multi-year project starting with critical mechanicals followed by a mix of additional mechanical improvements and interior improvements. Paint can come last.

We’ve had Bullet (as in silver bullet, fast as a speeding bullet, etc.) for four years and we basically haven’t touched the exterior finish. The shiny new VW emblem for the grill I bought years ago? Still in the plastic bag. The to-do items of painting the washed out grills black? Still on the to-do list. The seam rust that will eventually need attention? Basically at a standstill (creeping slowly, but very slowly).

The van has gladly gone 30K miles over the past 24 months across dozens of states and provinces and national parks w/out a complaint about the paint. It’s got patina but it’s not even a good patina (body filler here, touch-up paint there). It also has little to zero rust underneath and solid foundation of mechanicals that’s at a state of ongoing maintenance now. I still see the paint blemishes and get nagging feelings about seam rust...usually when I’m opening the door to head out on a multi-week trip which I much prefer to sanding, etc.

Enjoy the process!
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- Jim

[TrailBear]

[Pinetops]

Lets see some pics!
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"A rolling bus gathers no rust."

[metropoj]

For me it was get it running, certified for road use and plated, yank the whole interior and take care of rust, etc. Then, upgrades and fixes.

No point paining if the rust will bleed through from the inside as they almost all inevitably do ...
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John.
86 TiiCo powered Westy.

[bobbyblack]

[?Waldo?]

A lot depends on the person doing the work and what the desired finished product is. If you want a pristine van with the most efficient use of time, then pull the drivetrain and pull the interior, address the underside of the vehicle, paint it, install rebuilt drivetrain/suspension, install fresh interior.

[bobbyblack]

?Waldo?,

Indeed! For that kind of thing, I would need at least two Westy's... One to drive, and one to be tearing down to the ground and building back up, properly.

Hey, I think I will start looking right now!!!!!

BTW: where are the plans for the Vanagon Rotisserie ???


-bobby
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch