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WahooStu
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2021
Posts: 4
Location: Alexandria,VA
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 Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 9:21 am Post subject: Northern Virginia - Mechanics |
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I'm the new owner of a 1978 Transporter in the Northern VA area. Any recommendations out there for service? I'm in 22308.
Thanks! This is a 20 year dream come true! |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50352
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| Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:33 pm Post subject: Re: Northern Virginia - Mechanics |
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| When you own one of these ancient rigs you either get dirty hands and a slow accumulation of knowledge of you get quickly drained pockets. |
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SGKent 
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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| Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 6:41 pm Post subject: Re: Northern Virginia - Mechanics |
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| WahooStu wrote: |
I'm the new owner of a 1978 Transporter in the Northern VA area. Any recommendations out there for service? I'm in 22308.
Thanks! This is a 20 year dream come true! |
September 2021 means 2022 models of cars are being made today
minus 1978 which is really the 1978 model which started August 1977, so 2022 - 1977 = 44 years old. Some guy who was working on these as a 26 year old in 1978 is now 70 years old and retired. His buddy who was 40 in 1985 working on them is now 67 and retired.
Lots of those folks however are here on TheSamba.
Best to buy a book named Bentley and start learning how to work on your own bus. Even the lists here on TheSamba of Air Cooled shops is outdated since many of those shops went under in the 2008 - 2012 crash.
Welcome and enjoy your bus!
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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Jetfxr69
Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2018
Posts: 1293
Location: White mtns nh
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| Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 3:26 am Post subject: Re: Northern Virginia - Mechanics |
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Unless your mechanically inclined and willing to learn everything about your bus, you will be spending tons of cash and being frustrated with the results. As the other guys were saying, not too many guys left that could give you a fair job for a price. If you can find one, pay him whatever he asks to get it right. Otherwise you take it to joe shmuck garage, he charges you a ton, and its still not right. Because he doesn’t KNOW these rigs.
Your best alternative is to join several vw clubs in the area, go to as many gatherings as they offer and chat up who is there. Most will be owner hobbiests, but there will be a couple that will be quietly in the wings, eager to take your money for their service and knowledge.
PAY THEM!
Cue the bears.
_________________
You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. Zappa
‘77 westy Seamus
‘76 tintop Crusher
‘77 westy The Judge
‘72 tintop bastard westy Hudson |
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SGKent
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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| Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 10:50 am Post subject: Re: Northern Virginia - Mechanics |
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done
there is a bolt on the bottom of a 1978 engine that holds the oil strainer, DO NOT under any circumstances allow you or anyone else to tighten it more than 9 ft lbs. If someone just goes by feel they will destroy the engine.
| Tcash wrote: |
Welcome to TheSamba, Bay Window Bus Forum!
73-79 NEWBIE
| Tcash wrote: |
Every Type IV engine owner should know this!!!
If you over tighten the Oil Strainer bolt, you will brake the engine case!
There is a Oil strainer in there.
TORQUE THE STRAINER BOLT TO NO MORE THAN 9 FT. LBS. |
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| Tcash wrote: |
Welcome to TheSamba, Bay Window Bus Forum!
Link
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_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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cmonSTART
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2014
Posts: 1915
Location: NH
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| Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 10:55 am Post subject: Re: Northern Virginia - Mechanics |
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Congratulations and welcome! Post some pictures when you can.
The Bears speak truth.
_________________
'78 Bus 2.0FI
de K1IGS |
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60vwnewengland
Twin #2
Joined: June 25, 2003
Posts: 1784
Location: District of Columbia & Cape Cod
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| Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 5:15 pm Post subject: Re: Northern Virginia - Mechanics |
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Not any I know of in the DMV area. I do all my work in the street or sometimes a buddy lets me work in his garage. See thread on my 77 bus https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=735669&highlight=
What do you need help with? I might be able to give you a couple pointers
_________________
77 Westy - Cape Cod Sage
LLAP |
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60vwnewengland
Twin #2
Joined: June 25, 2003
Posts: 1784
Location: District of Columbia & Cape Cod
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| Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 5:34 pm Post subject: Re: Northern Virginia - Mechanics |
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| WahooStu wrote: |
I'm the new owner of a 1978 Transporter in the Northern VA area. Any recommendations out there for service? I'm in 22308.
Thanks! This is a 20 year dream come true! |
Nice looking bus. And looks like it’s driving. Why does it need mechanical work already?
Photos from his gallery
_________________
77 Westy - Cape Cod Sage
LLAP |
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WahooStu
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2021
Posts: 4
Location: Alexandria,VA
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 6:29 am Post subject: Re: Northern Virginia - Mechanics |
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Thanks to those who provided helpful insight! Thanks for the laughs for those who assumed I don't have intention of working on it myself and assuming I was just going to farm it all out.
Regardless of how much (or little) I do myself, it's always good to have an experienced expert on hand -- and that's all I'm looking for. But thanks for helping me with my van, I mean bus.
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22670
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 8:11 am Post subject: Re: Northern Virginia - Mechanics |
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Show us some engine pix and we can tell you how much de-molestation is needed. Hopefully still running the FI system ?
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.ssS! |
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60vwnewengland
Twin #2
Joined: June 25, 2003
Posts: 1784
Location: District of Columbia & Cape Cod
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 3:40 pm Post subject: Re: Northern Virginia - Mechanics |
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| WahooStu wrote: |
Thanks to those who provided helpful insight! Thanks for the laughs for those who assumed I don't have intention of working on it myself and assuming I was just going to farm it all out.
Regardless of how much (or little) I do myself, it's always good to have an experienced expert on hand -- and that's all I'm looking for. But thanks for helping me with my van, I mean bus.
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Let us know what kind of info you're looking for. Like I mentioned, there's nobody or mechanic I know that works on these rigs in the DMV. Most of us in in the area work on them ourselves. I'm happy to give advice or point you in the right direction if you need help.
_________________
77 Westy - Cape Cod Sage
LLAP |
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Jetfxr69
Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2018
Posts: 1293
Location: White mtns nh
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 3:42 am Post subject: Re: Northern Virginia - Mechanics |
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| WahooStu wrote: |
But thanks for helping me with my van, I mean bus.
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That’s the spirit!
We’re a wicked bunch on here sometimes.
_________________
You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. Zappa
‘77 westy Seamus
‘76 tintop Crusher
‘77 westy The Judge
‘72 tintop bastard westy Hudson |
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SGKent
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 6:20 am Post subject: Re: Northern Virginia - Mechanics |
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| Jetfxr69 wrote: |
| WahooStu wrote: |
But thanks for helping me with my van, I mean bus.
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That’s the spirit!
We’re a wicked bunch on here sometimes. |
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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CDRINF
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2015
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2021 9:12 pm Post subject: Re: Northern Virginia - Mechanics |
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| I used to live in Arlington and used these guys for my 71 Bus when the work exceeded my capability. A nice family run business. https://www.foreigncarservicealexandria.com/ |
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