Getting a Type 4 engine to start after 10 years

[Jason0115]

I might be able to get my hands on a 1975 westy, the owner drove it to his house then it sat for 10 years and hasn't been started since. I'm not good with engines or general mechanics but I want to learn. What should I be doing to get this engine started and what other parts of the bus should I check/replace before I get it on the road. All of the busses paperwork including service logs and title has burnt up in a house fire so I don't have much of a working history of the bus. I'll check if there is any but I dont think so. Any advice would be much appreciated!

Edit: Thanks for the help so far. I'll attach the pictures I have right now, and I'll add more here when I get to it again. Here's a link to photos of the underside and the engine:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1m9xnpc0n_SKLp0Cxd-1PJSqaYzvFst1e?usp=sharing

I'm trying to price out the repair work too, mainly body and mechanical as the interior is good enough for me.[/img]

[mikewire]

Having gone through similar experience multiple times, there's lots to do before even connecting a battery. If you're not good with mechanics I would get someone who is, revivals are not always for the curious novice.

Full fuel system refresh - I would pull the motor and get the tank out, flush it and replace any and all rubber lines and hoses. New filter, pump and everything there, then work your way into the ignition system, inspect the tins etc. etc.

That's just a start...but before even jumping into all that work above, what was the condition that made the PO park it? You'll want to make sure you have a good T4 engine that can be revived.

Not trying to discourage you, but being realistic and calling out the fact it may be too much to take on without understanding the full scope of work.
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-Mike

@countdowngarage
@bigskyeuro

1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC swap
1965 VW Beetle Deluxe Bahama Blue

[busdaddy]

After 10 years the gas will have turned to goo, and it's highly possible critters have filled the cooling tin with nests and debris, don't count on just sparking it up and driving off. Speaking of sparks, all the fuel lines will be suspicious, have a good fire extinguisher on hand. Also make damn sure you know where the other ends of the battery cables connect, reversing the polarity makes all sorts of expensive smoke and sometimes the negative has been replaced with red.
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[Jason0115]

[mikewire]

[Abscate]

Be aware that NJ title backlog was 16 weeks in Feb.
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[sjbartnik]

[timvw7476]

bad rubber, like the tire rubber & fuel lines. Orange/brown brake fluid to flush.
Repack front wheel bearings. Grease the front end zerks. Fun stuff. Five hours worth before you get to the engine stuff.

[Wildthings]

Any rubber hoses or elbows in the engine bay will likely have long before begun to fail or will begin to fail shortly after being put back into service: fuel lines, vacuum lines, fuel tank fill and vent lines, and some others.

[JaimeH]

You don't need to take your bus to a mechanic yet. Post some pictures and especially multiple good photos of the engine. There's a host of Bus experts on this site that can lead you through an engine revival.
Even if you're mechanically challenged you can an will learn much about your bus if you jump in and try.
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1978 Transporter 2.0 FI, BA6
Special Thanks to Razor's Customs, Boscawen, NH

[aeromech]

If you just want it to start that’s one thing. If you want a non leaking, well running, strong and reliable engine then that’s another.
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[Jason0115]

[wagohn]

I'm impatient and would probably throw gas in it, charge the battery, check the oil and turn the key.
I think I've watched too many YouTube "will it run" videos.
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1976 VW Transporter, 2.0 FI Engine

[Manfred58sc]

After it starts, the push rod tubes, oil cooler seals, and maybe the main seal will start to drip,drip,drip. then after a few warm ups they will happily leak. I've revived many ACVW, pull the engine, evaluate, re-seal to have some peace of mind.
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Fat chick owner/operator

[ToolBox]

[alman72]

if stored outside, window rubber will be likely cracked and leaking. likes to leak on the front windshield right down onto the fusebox and a couple of relays, like blinker and wipers.

[60vwnewengland]

I just refreshed a motor that sat for ten years. Here what it looked like when I took it apart.

Critter set up a good home in there...
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77 Westy - Cape Cod Sage
LLAP

[jlrftype7]

[Rider_Surfboards]

Whereabouts in NJ are you located?
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1979 Bus Weekender -- Gertrude McBus

[60vwnewengland]

Pictures of OP engine

No engine bay seal, probably disintegrated over the 10 years. Center mount carb with some FI components still in engine bay. But based on these two photos, I wouldn’t turn the key to try and run it.

Maybe pull a spark plug wire one at a time, stick your finger in between the tin and engine and see if you can feel any mouse houses that may have been built
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77 Westy - Cape Cod Sage
LLAP