A Vanagon, a Highschooler, and a Passion

[10degnorth]

I’ve been making some good process in the last couple weeks. The last time that I did this it took me a whole summer, but now that I know what I’m doing it’s only taken two weeks or so. The new engine came pretty dirty so I gave it a good wash and scrub to start.

Then I went ahead and stripped it down to the long block.

Check out that billet thermostat housing!

And now I’m in the process of building it back up again.

Didn’t take any pics today, but I also started getting the stuff on the top of the engine together, intake is painted and together, and so is the fuel system. I’m waiting on some darn install manifold gasket from Van Cafe before it can really get the intake in place for good!

I still need to get the CV joints done, I already have the new trans in there. The space I use for my van work recently got a lift installed so the plan is to just drop the whole van on top of the engine fully assembled.
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1984 Wolfsburg Vanagon (Daily): https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=773912&highlight=

1988 Microsquirted, Wolfsburg Vanagon (Sold): https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=708000&highlight=

Microsquirt Conversion Guide (Work now Discontinued): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1laXykNPbRYS8MT...2imqd2pnx7

[10degnorth]

Haven't updated this in a while. Back in January I managed to get the new WBXer engine in the van and all hooked up and the 944 CV's installed. I did a little test drive around the block and then headed back to college the next day. I am now back for spring break and getting everything tuned in just right. I am hoping to finally get to take a little trip in the van next week, something longer than an hour away from home. I have a bit of newfound confidence thanks to the new drive train. I have been tuning the microsquirt for the new engine over the past two days and this is truly the best this van has ever ran as long as I have owned it which is very rewarding.

Here's the maiden voyage, just a little 20 minute jaunt out into the desert.

I have a westy weld-in swivel seat eyeing me from across the shop that I think I am going to try and throw in today, then later this week I hope to swap out my cracked fiberglass bumpers for some early model year metal ones (I've heard neither do much in the ways of protection).

Does anyone know the volume difference on the ATF dipstick from the two marks? Is it a quart?

I just got my ticket for Descend on Bend (though, I don't know if I can say I'm descending when I already live here). I'm hoping to meet some of ya'll out here in September.
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1984 Wolfsburg Vanagon (Daily): https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=773912&highlight=

1988 Microsquirted, Wolfsburg Vanagon (Sold): https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=708000&highlight=

Microsquirt Conversion Guide (Work now Discontinued): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1laXykNPbRYS8MT...2imqd2pnx7

[valvecovergasket]

right on! sounds like great progress

descend is on our list probably for next summer

[10degnorth]

I spoke too soon....

I was driving around yesterday doing the tour de van shops in Bend to show all my friends here in town that it finally runs and something went terribly wrong. The van ran and drove fine for the first hour or two, then when I was on my way to German Transaxle of America (GTA) to turn in my warranty card for my transmission I started smelling ATF.

Pull over, check under the van and there is definitely a leak from the transmission. I check the ATF level and I am still a little over half way between the two marks on the dipstick. At this point I was less than a 5 minute drive to GTA's parking lot so I hopped in and drove cautiously the rest of the way.

Got my warranty card turned in and then told them about the new leak. The guys there got my van up on the lift to check it out and we find out that the fluid is clearly coming from the back to back seals between the differential and the transmission. Now, this transmission only has 40ish miles on it since being rebuilt, kind of strange for something like that to happen already.

The shop tech who was helping me seems pretty confident that it is a parts issue and therefore their fault (they are the ones who rebuilt the trans). He mentioned the only thing that I really could have done on install to cause this is not have enough end play between the engine's flexplate and the torque converter, he mentioned that the torque converter should have been able to spin freely before being bolted up. I am pretty sure that was the case since I have to spin the torque converter to match the holes up between it and the engine, however I cannot be confident in this.

To those of you who are more knowledgeable regarding transaxles, what could cause these seals to fail preemptively? Do you agree that its probably bad parts rather than an install fault? The fluid was leaking from the failsafe hole right below the seal.

To add insult to injury, while we were topping up the transmission with ATF so that I could get home a pinhole opened in one of my coolant lines and started spewing, I borrowed the tools that I needed but didn't already have with me and clipped the hose back to where there wasn't a leak and put it back on while dumping about a gallon of coolant in their parking lot. Luckily I carry spare coolant with me.

Anyway, that was my adventure yesterday. Fingers crossed that the trans issue is a part problem so that it is covered under warranty, if it is install related I'm at fault and will be paying for it.
_________________
1984 Wolfsburg Vanagon (Daily): https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=773912&highlight=

1988 Microsquirted, Wolfsburg Vanagon (Sold): https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=708000&highlight=

Microsquirt Conversion Guide (Work now Discontinued): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1laXykNPbRYS8MT...2imqd2pnx7

[Jake de Villiers]

Boy, that's tough luck on the trans leak when the rest was going well!

I hope it turns out to be lousy parts.
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'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7.5 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com

[10degnorth]

Lousy parts. I got the van back today after dropping it off Wednesday. They replaced the back to back sea under warranty and sent me on my way.

Here’s the van getting towed by the good ol’ IDI Turbo Diesel F250.

That said that they have been trying to buy the best parts they buy, but it’s always kind of a risk and a roll of the dice, I got unlucky with the seal. They mention that they’ve had this issue a couple times.

On my way home from GTA I stopped by Crooked Finger Designs to check and make sure nothing was leaking, but mostly to just pose with some other vans.

This evening I through in the westy swivel seat base that I have had sitting around, finishing up that job tomorrow.

Here’s to more than 50 miles on this transmission job!
_________________
1984 Wolfsburg Vanagon (Daily): https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=773912&highlight=

1988 Microsquirted, Wolfsburg Vanagon (Sold): https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=708000&highlight=

Microsquirt Conversion Guide (Work now Discontinued): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1laXykNPbRYS8MT...2imqd2pnx7

[ALIKA T3]

It`s actually very easy to mess up the back to back seals since one of them is going against the natural angle of the lip. They`re a reputable shop, I`m sure they developed some techniques by now to install the bearing cup holder plate ( I dunno the name in english).
I use a piece of plastic sheet wrapped around the snout to slide the part on like a funnel, it`s perfect.
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Silicone Steering Boots and 930 Cv boots for sale in the classifieds.
Syncro transmission upgrade parts in the Classifieds.
Subaru EJ22+UN1 5 speed transmission
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=416343
Syncro http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...num+gadget

[jimf909]

[10degnorth]

[dhaavers]

[jimf909]

^^^Agreed!

The title doesn't throw me off, it's just the fact that I must be getting older too. Oy.
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- Jim

[bobhill8]

As a long time high school teacher, I've seen them all. (The other day a girl came into my room, looking for one of the lenses of her glasses. She said she had been wearing them for hours before someone told her one of the lenses was missing). It's kids like you that provide hope for the future to old grumpy people like us.
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1986 Westy
1971 Squareback

[10degnorth]

Hey folks, it's been a minute.

Bad news, then good news.

Last year I found myself commuting 2.5 hours between my home town and my school town pretty much every weekend and made the hard decision to sell my van to get a 2000 Tacoma. Sad, I know.

I found I wasn't super happy at the school I was at and now I've transferred to a school back in my home town and don't need that ol' reliable Toyota anymore. I am working as the "design guy" at a VW shop in Bend, OR where we're producing new custom products for Vanagons.

I've been inspired by the community and company I've been keeping recently and am looking furiously for another Vanagon while putting together a vision of how exactly I want it to turn out.

NOT INTENDED AS A CLASSIFIED AD (though I'll take any leads I can get)

Right now, my goal is to find an 83+ manual tin top, preferably in a two tone paint or brown with a blown motor that I can do a Subaru swap in (I have support for this from the shop I'm doing work for).

I have a pretty distinct vision in my head, here's to hoping I can make it happen!

Anyway, I just like giving updates. Hope everyone is doing well! Looking forward to re-joining the ranks of Vanagon caretakers soon.
_________________
1984 Wolfsburg Vanagon (Daily): https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=773912&highlight=

1988 Microsquirted, Wolfsburg Vanagon (Sold): https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=708000&highlight=

Microsquirt Conversion Guide (Work now Discontinued): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1laXykNPbRYS8MT...2imqd2pnx7

[Abscate]

Nice to hear from you.

Life, happens.


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🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🍊 🍊 🍊

[DuncanS]

So glad you are back on the forum. You had very creative ideas and I'm sure the pop top solution has come to you and I'm looking forward to hearing about it. For what it's worth, and I know there has been a ton of critiques saying I'm nuts for dicking with the structural engineering of the tin top, but here's what I did for reference.

This gives max headroom when the canvas is off and allows for super flexibility in creating something. For example, I only need the high top very infrequently and so don't want the draping cloth hanging down or even furled up during daily use. So far, the only version I have is:

But planing on a different version of this which will give rain and mosquito protection. This boat weighs 21 pounds.

Duncan

[ALIKA T3]

[10degnorth]

[PDXWesty]

[10degnorth]

[Mckinleyvillian]

I'd be looking in southern Oregon. I picked up a running 85 tin top, very excellent body, down Medford way for under 4 grand last summer. I've been seeing em for even less this summer.
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so many roads i know
all i want is one to take me home

85 Vanagon GL 1.9 stick