Mom and Dads 1971 Westfalia - Bringing it back to life!

[Spoonfed]

This 1971 Westfalia was driven off the lot new by my mom. When my dad passed at the end of 2014, the one thing I asked was if the bus was still there. I turned 45 today and I was fifteen when I last saw it. Amazingly enough, Stuart got it started for the first time today. More to come!

[Stuartzickefoose]

So I showed up and found this today...

Added a ground strap, fresh fuel (gallon or two) in the tank..cleaned the points a tad...

Link

Got it to turn over but wouldn’t catch, so checked points and added more fuel...


And she fired right up!


Link




Took a few pics of what’s going on here, more details to come

This hubcap and rim were simply washed and clear coated 5-6 times...that’s all original paint and rust !

And after a empty and vacuum (still needs a wash down) we came up with this:

The goal is to get the brakes done, clean and adjust the carb, and test drive it by Thursday! Stay tuned. This ones gonna be similar to sunnydogs westy story, because there’s a bunch of vintage phones of the bus soon to be posted, wanted to get the thread started right away to put pics and videos up of progress though
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Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[EDragnDean]

That's an amazing back story, and a great project.
Stay the course, you will be frustrated and tempted to sell.... don't.
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66 Bus Click to view image - SOLD
73 Thing http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8111202#8111202
70 BusClick to view image

[richparker]

Sweet rig! You gotta post those pics on the moss thread!
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Adventure thread
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[Stuartzickefoose]

[71whitewesty]

Awesome story I really like this bus. Glad you’re resurrecting her.
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71 Westy 1600 DP, all stock Bus 1
1970's Snow Trac 1600 SP (sold 12/2016)
1968 Tucker sno cat, sold 2021
1969 Tucker Sno cat 542
2017 VW Alltrac
71 tin top stock 1600 DP (project but runs)
Twin 71 White Westy, Bus 2, that I pulled from a 15 year slumber in a dry eastern WA field in 2015.
1966 Sundial Camper "Boomer"

[wcfvw69]

Nice! How long was it parked there or when was the last time it was driven?

I'd also wonder what it looks like under that fan shroud?
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[Stuartzickefoose]

We were estimating (Chris, the OP) that it hasn’t moved since 94, maybe 95. It was towed to San Diego from Silverdale WA around 2 years ago.

The fan shroud is on the list to remove once it’s running smoothly.

But first we needed some brakes! Now that it started, we wanted to test drive it so that means we gotta be able to stop!
Got it up on jack stands:

Busted the brakes down...
(Note the pad material was GONE) the other side had like new shoes so material must have pulled off with the drums? I didn’t take them apart, they were seized whoever towed it pulled things apart...

They also loosened the calipers up to unstick it. Likely was nothing wrong with them...

But we went ahead with all new from Vee Parts in El Cajon (ask for mike, they do ship!) very helpful and friendly. Got everything I needed in less then a days time, and ended the day like this:

Unfortunately the “loaded” (comes with pads) new calipers had no pads, and they hit the rotor. I think I bent a rotor before I saw it rubbing by tightening it down as assembly happened, so tomorrow I gotta deal with missing pads and wrong calipers. Then the carb comes off for a clean and reinstall, new fuel lines and filter (out of engine bay) and a new battery and a ground strap to the body rather then my extra positive cable to the generator stand as seen prior.

Stay tuned! More to come tomorrow...


Oh and we had a very brief visitor for about 5 minutes en route elsewhere...

The right bus is chris’s 77 transporter which will go under the knife next
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Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[calvinater]

Is that blue ford available?
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"Albatross"!

[Spoonfed]

[Abscate]

Hope you saved those mushrooms..some scallops and butter and good to go...
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.ssS!

[Spoonfed]

[zerothehero]

[Stuartzickefoose]

SO.... Todays adventure...I spent 2 15 mile one way trips (60 miles total) and about 4 hours on the phone with 15 different parts and brake and VW shops... finding out that the supplier of the parts store gave me some late bay calipers...the 14 mm holes simply don’t sit flat, obviously. not to mention a few rubbing spots where things hit wrong...all ending in the two non returnable calipers becoming spares for the 77, which currently doesn’t need them but at least not a total waste. I THINK we can get them returned but it’s up to the store owner, as it clearly said on receipt no return because they were special order. I’ll get into that in the morning! The weird part is the part numbers are all correct and such and there’s DIFFERENT numbers for new late bay style. Funky.

So...once’s that’s sorted out...brakes will be done. Anyone got a source for 71-72 calipers?

The engine....

Going to bypass the cooler on the left side, that leaks. Eventually new hoses will run to a new thermostat controlled fan style unit, but for now a bypass. Then change the oil, the transmission gear oil, and maybe hose the bottom of the bus off...so many spiders and junk...bleh.
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Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[[email protected]]

Do yourself a favor, and replace the fuel tank. I recently went through a 70 that had run much more recently than yours, and when I went to replace the gauge sender, the inside of the tank wash trashed. Even if you drain what fuel was in it, the top of the tank that didn’t have fuel in it will be horribly rusted. It will eventually get washed into the filter/carb if you add more fuel. You could clean/treat the tank, but for $170 Wolfsburg West’s tank was a cheaper option for me.

[static]

[Stuartzickefoose]

Well...just found these...

http://www.busdepot.com/j12816


Now I have a failsafe plan. Gonna see what happens in the morning and then I’ll either be rebuilding originals, or buying that kit and fitting the new ATE calipers I got on hand right now.
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Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[Spoonfed]

September 1983, probably San Jose at a baseball game.

[Spoonfed]

To quote from another thread... We found all this stuff in the bus. Look closely, who can spot the two pictures that have same item in them. 1983 to 2018.

[airschooled]

The new VW of Brazil calipers are excellent, and the pads they come with are great.

VW Paradise in San Marcos sells caliper rebuild kits for $20 that don't include caliper bridge seals. Make sure wherever you get the rebuild kit has all the seals…

Robbie
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