1972 Deluxe 9 Passenger Projekt Uber Geizig

[mikewire]

[Ceckert64]

Nice work! I’m thinking about the FI in my 72, and when you commented I decided to read through. Is it still going pretty good? Happy with it? Thanks, nice build!
_________________
1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Yellow Tin Top Westfalia -Sold
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop EJ22 swap
“Rome” 91 Syncro

[mikewire]

[NoBudgetVWGarage]

Progress is always nice. Can you tell me the model number on the CB unit? Mine gave up the ghost and in need of a new unit.
_________________
1969 Transporter - 1600 s/p
1966 Ghia - 1776 w/turbo

[mikewire]

Time for some updates. Some have been posted on social media @countdowngarage, but always like to also post here because it's so much more informative!

https://www.instagram.com/countdowngarage
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3puS0u5nG6PsRphf-VlsuQ

Decided if I was going to replace window seals, i also should do some window fixing. Pulled the windows and used some Ospho to turn the rusty bits back to good metal, then used a bit of body putty to smooth out the areas. Then used a primer and satin white Rustoleum paint, masked off the area and gave about 3 coats and let it cure for a few days before putting the new solid rear glass and middle slider in with brand new Wolfsburg West window seals. Really happy how it turned out:

Upgraded the front lights to the Hella H4 housings with replaceable bulbs:

I have a whole video on my YT channel, but I finally got the rear bumper and hitch bolted up to the back, with the OEM stock 1977 F.I. exhaust:


[youtube]mT7a1A10qR0[/youtube]

Then mounted up the gauge holder, ran 4 wire trailer wire, and mounted the gauges all with intent to wire them in with the appropriate senders

Ordered some mud flaps a while ago, and finally got to putting them on - kind of a pain because I had to bend one of my inner fenders back into place (because factory AC used to be installed) but the brackets made the job pretty easy, with only a couple of slight modifications.

Got a few more stickers on, mudflaps and a slow moving vehicle sign from @slowmovingvehiclemagnets:

Then decided I wanted to get a CB radio, so I found a compact model that would work well and am just now in the process of installing and mounting it up:

For the antenna I used a mount from Firestik, replaced the stock mounted FM antenna base that was broken, and used a spring and Firestik 2' antenna

And the finished antenna:

Not a lot of distance but I can get NOAA etc. so I'll have to get it out there and try some different channels out on the road!
_________________
-Mike

@countdowngarage
@bigskyeuro

1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe 221(5) w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC swap
1965 VW Beetle Deluxe Bahama Blue

[mikewire]

Found the issue...well, and couple of them. Got it into a shop that a couple of good friends let me use for a bit.

Did a smoke test and found that there were small and large hard to see cracks in the S boot and one PCV hose.

One was the cracked up S boot.

Repaired it with some super glue (cyanocrylate) and some Flex Tape (because why not...).

Also found a bad injector on my #2 clyinder, which I went ahead and replaced with a new on from Bus Depot.

Fired it up and took it for a spin firing on all 4 cylinders!

I also ordered a new S boot from Airhead parts https://airheadparts-kgpr.com/shop/bus-intake-bootsleeve-1975-79?category=Engine

When I get it, I'll do a quick review and post it up!
_________________
-Mike

@countdowngarage
@bigskyeuro

1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe 221(5) w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC swap
1965 VW Beetle Deluxe Bahama Blue

[mikewire]

Hey all - It's been a few years and I'm starting to get time to work a little on my Bus. I thought I would post some on the tail end of my build up thread. If you like my progress please comment, and follow along - I'm thinking of creating a YouTube series with my Bus build/fix and progress.

I've been having an issue with cyl #2 not firing, and I've chased it down to a few things. I have spark, so that's not the issue.

First was to get a visual on the valvetrain to make sure I had rockers and pushrods working properly. So here's a terrible video of me hand turning the motor over while recording the results:


Link



Those looked fine. So, onto a compression test...

Cyl #2 came out at 115 PSI

So, that's good too! Awesome, so it's probably a fuel delivery issue. Let me check the injector...yep I found a nasty spider web thingy in one of the terminals, reconnected, and it started firing! Verified with a noid light that I am getting voltage to the injector, and have ground pulse.

Howerver, that result was short lived. After a few starts I ended up finding the same result. So I'm expecting I have a bad injector, and I do a have a spare new one from Bus Depot ready to install tomorrow.

Also going to do a smoke test in the intake to check for leaks - it seems to have an issue with RPM hunting, so I expect I'll find something broken and/or cracked to fix.

More (and BETTER) updates to come!
_________________
-Mike

@countdowngarage
@bigskyeuro

1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe 221(5) w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC swap
1965 VW Beetle Deluxe Bahama Blue

[mikewire]

[jtauxe]

Mike -

Are you still looking for a full-width middle seat? I have a year-correct one for you, in original black upholstery.
_________________
John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD

[MonkeySee]

Just picked up a running '70 9 passenger deluxe myself. This was a fun read. Cheers.

[mikewire]

[volks1500]

I know this posting was a long time ago but I'm restoring my bay window and the vents on it for the deluxe are to far gone to restore, I was wondering if you know where I might be able to get some.
thanks

[fROMOHIO]

Awesome thread, man! I'll be embarking on my own soon, so this is great info to have. Thanks for sharing!

[NoBudgetVWGarage]

Searching out the elusive '72 info Came across your thread and enjoyed it. I also recently got my 72 Deluxe on the road and loving every mile
_________________
1969 Transporter - 1600 s/p
1966 Ghia - 1776 w/turbo

[mikewire]

[NoBudgetVWGarage]

So, do we have TMI seat covers yet? Any more miles racked up yet? That's the fun part.
_________________
1969 Transporter - 1600 s/p
1966 Ghia - 1776 w/turbo

[mikewire]

Made some progress today and over the last couple of weeks. I was in Vegas all last week, so I was really ready to get back home a do some work to get the bus going.

Before we left, I was able to get a few things done. First, I had a turn switch that needed replaced - that was a pretty straightforward swap. I used a switch from a 68-71 bus and just used the wires needed to make everything work.

Then I also needed to get the cluster lights etc. working properly. I also had a donor cluster housing that had a working brake warning light and no extra holes drilled by the PO. I also picked up some new bulbs and bulb housings

Swapping cluster housings - just swapped out gauges:

After that I wired the cluster correctly, and now I have all gauges and lights working

Next up was to tackle the problem with the bus not engaging the starter. I had first replaced the battery thinking it was a voltage or charge problem, but that didn't fix the problem.

So my next task was to pull the starter and clean/lube the solenoid. Not too hard, just tedious.

Get that hard to reach nut in the engine bay, right behind the intake plenum...

Then the lower nut, and carefully pull the starter straight out

Unscrew the two screws holding the solenoid in the assembly and pull the solenoid out. I didn't notice any real problem with my solenoid, but I could tell it needed to be cleaned out and lubed. So I took some WD40 and used it to clean the plunger while pushing the plunger in and out, then used a bit of lithium grease to continue to clean it out. When I was sure it was clean I wiped it down and then used just a bit of synthetic grease as a final lube. I also made sure to clean and lube the linkage - just a light film of syn grease.

After getting back from our Vegas vacation, I had a package waiting from Werksberg - ABS kick panels. So I was able to get the inside vacuumed and cleaned up, windows cleaned and Rain-X'd (Yes, that's my toe).

After getting it all back together, I have no issues with it starting. We (my wife and I) took it out on it's first real maiden voyage to lunch in town. We were both a bit nervous, but had no issues at all.

Next up, TMI seat cover replacements
_________________
-Mike

@countdowngarage
@bigskyeuro

1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe 221(5) w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC swap
1965 VW Beetle Deluxe Bahama Blue

[mikewire]

Well, I've been having an issue with the bus not starting after sitting for a few days with no start, an the battery disconnected. It appears to be a bad or dying battery, and I'll probably just end up replacing it anyway because it's about 4 years old. But as I started to think more and do a little research I found that the problem may lie in the wiring and/or the starter solenoid.

Here's what happens - I have about 12.5V on the battery, I turn the key and I hear the fuel pump run, but the starter does not turn over. I put my charger on the battery and give it more voltage and the starter turns over, and it starts and runs fine. I short the big terminals and the solenoid kicks out and starter spins.

After doing some research I found that due to oxidation of the copper wiring I may have too much resistance in the wiring from the ignition switch (which I already replaced) to the starter solenoid, so I am not getting 12V to the solenoid and the Bendix gear won't kick out. So I pulled all the wires off the starter terminals and used my favorite new-found tool...CRC electrical contact cleaner...to clean all the connectors and terminal posts on the solenoid.

Now the terminals and connectors are shiny, and I seem to be getting the proper voltage to kick the Bendix out and start the bus. I'll test it out tonight after letting it sit for a day, and hopefully I won't need to tear into the starter and clean and lube the solenoid (which I should do anyway).
_________________
-Mike

@countdowngarage
@bigskyeuro

1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe 221(5) w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC swap
1965 VW Beetle Deluxe Bahama Blue

[mikewire]

Got my booster fan and hoses hooked up and ready to wire up the relay. Next is to get the engine seal installed, and then connect all the wires in the cluster and lube the speedo cable.

_________________
-Mike

@countdowngarage
@bigskyeuro

1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe 221(5) w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC swap
1965 VW Beetle Deluxe Bahama Blue

[kuleinc]

That is bitchin, gives me hope for my 71 westy...
_________________
Check out our Our youtube channel: Https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-EbskIxNm6SYzsq4ugG81A
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=496946 1987 VW Vanagon Westfalia with 1.8T