Bostig RG1 install group....anyone? Also RG2 etc!

[JudoJeff]

I hope my name is not being spoken in vain!

Most of my aggravations with a conversion had little to do with Bostig, mostly with my own ineptitude, and inability to see things up close. Try attaching things you can't see, using only "feel".

Bostig did a great job with the instructions, but because there are so many variations, you need a little "Kentucky windage" when you assemble things.

I have no background with Windows and that was my biggest PITA. Not Bostig's fault, others rescued me, though.

My second install has been a breeze, the learning curve is very flat.....
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1989 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Burned up on 7/31/16.
1987 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Bostig & Rebuilt, sold
1986 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Bostig Sold May 10, 2021
1999 Ford GTRV Westfalia camper (30% bigger Westy layout)

[Bassyaks]

Thanks, Which is the "Going " thread on the Bostig stuff. That's the problem it's scattered all over the place, when I said I watched all of the videos, I watched them 2or 3 times including a few Bostig band videos .
Judo Jeff seems to have the newest stuff posted along with his aggravations.

[insyncro]

Conversion harnesses are to run in place of the WBX or stock harness, when the owner wants the works under the rear seat.

It makes the most sense to run the Bostig one this way due to its length and where they have branches off the main harness.
Do not bend the new harness into very tight corners, it was not made to do that and wires in general prefer straight shots.

If you have Bostig specific questions, please create a ticket with Jim and have a log of your work.
This will greatly help down the road...IF...you ever have issues.

[jbnova]

There are two variations on the fuel pump terminals. I bought a new fuel pump for my install and had to cut off the connectors on the Bostig fuel pump wire and replace with the "ring" style connectors as the new pump has posts instead of spades.

As for the "inside vs. outside" of spring perch question, I can relate to your confusion. In the video at 13:10, Brady or Jim refer to running the main harness wire "behind" the spring perch. The way he is pointing, I kinda of thought he might have meant on the "outside" of the perch. After giving it more thought, I was able to figure out the correct answer based on common sense. The problem for me, was that "common sense" seemed to frequently escape my mind during the process. I certainly could have put many more questions out to the internet, but just stepping back from the problem for a minute would often reveal the answer. I would sometimes get frustrated with the amount of "interpretation" required in the Bostig manual, but in the end, that interpretation really helped me better understand the overall system and empowered me to have more confidence in my own decisions.
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1986 Westfalia Weekender
2wd; Bostig RG3
GoWesty (H&R) 1.5" Lift Springs + 0.5" pad in rear.
Bilstein Shocks
16" Mefros, Cooper Discoverer AT3 (215-70-16)

[MsTaboo]

[insyncro]

[Bassyaks]

86 Syncro Weekender
When routing the main wiring harness from the cabin does the harness go on the inside or outside the shock tower. Also do the fuel pump wire get cut or coiled , my wire is about 3 feet long (meant for a 2wd),also the terminals are wrong, which is no problem other than it wastes more time.
I spend more time on the computer than working on the van

[plysaker]

Let me know if I can come help, I started a new job and haven't been on much. Jim is good on tickets, if a little bit overloaded.
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"Darth Blue" 1985 ASI Bostig Reemo-falia! More than the Sum of His Parts, Which are many. Curently on the rack, getting a new heart. From Ford.
"Snowball" White 1967 Franken-Fastback, a survivor's story. At least 3 cars donated to the project.

[VanMorrisSon]

thanks - had a vacuum leak that the log showed, fixed that. fixed my MIL. ran another log for jim and then didn't hear anything for the rest of the day. the guys are awesome, but they're busy. i hope i can get through and run around the block and get approved tomorrow.

[SyncroBilly]

Good to hear. Congrats !

[VanMorrisSon]

i worried way too much during this whole process and it's right there in the manual DON'T WORRY.

got her started - had the fuel lines reversed D: kind of embarrassing, but jim reassured me i wasn't the first submitted my first run log and am waiting to hear. sounded good.

thanks for all the input.

[SyncroBilly]

Didn't realize you had an 84. My wiring was unlike any others that I found. Was frustrating as he'll at the time. Was a great feeling when I got it right finally.

Bostig is great about getting back to you. Open a trouble ticket.

Hope you get it sorted out soon

[VanMorrisSon]

OH - duh. so, in hacking the sub harness, i cut into the wires in the white plug - blue/green, yellow/red, blue. i wired the blue/green to the blue/green and the yellow/red to the yellow/red. the blue/black (oil pressure switch) goes to A blue/black wire - not QUITE sure this is the right one. my van did not have it in a nice little yellow connector like it shows in the videos : \ and when i turn the ignition key on with or w/o engine on, the old oil temp gauge sky rockets.

in answer to your question about adding a fuel pressure gauge - i don't think so? but the description under that photo of the sub harness has the oil pressure switch connected.

i wonder about that brown ground in the center of the plug - if i needed to compensate for it. contacting bostig.

[VanMorrisSon]

you're the bomb. i fear i've made a mess of my wiring. and i think i fried my fuel pump - although i think it's still pumping.

so, i didn't get the sub-harness for the '84 vans that connects to the big white plug on the main harness - see photo. i hacked it and i think that's where i went wrong. HOWEVER, that plug doesn't seem to have anything to do with starting.

when i loaded the tune into the ECU, my fuel pump ran the whole time like crazy. i was afraid to turn off the key mid tune so i just let her run. sounded like normal fuel pump pressuring, but for like a full minute and a half. since then, it kind of sounds sickly. still pressures, but sick.

van won't start. tried the following:
unstuck the injectors with the 9V battery method mentioned on another thread.
set the cam timing.
confirmed and reconfirmed the order of the spark plug wires.
confirmed i get spark.

can the SCT equipment give me any insight if the motor just won't start?

[SyncroBilly]

Here's a couple shots of mine. Hope it helps

[SyncroBilly]

[SyncroBilly]

In the picture (2nd up) I see your positive post has the wire going to alternator. Do you also have the other wire from post to starter?

[SyncroBilly]

np. Is the engine cranking? Do you hear the fuel pump kick on when you turn key half way on? Fuel pump is noisy enough to hear.

[VanMorrisSon]

Thanks for posting back - it's something I'm getting used to - doesn't have to be perfect, it just won't start

From what I've read - and it's all so blurry at this point - the oil pressure switch wire becomes a 'dummy' after the conversion. I assume wiring it keeps it from coming on constantly. Of course, I've been wrong a lot on my assumptions!

[SyncroBilly]

I had similar wire dilemmas myself. Your blue wire looks right and the black looks right. I never found clear instructions about the wiring. After putting a couple trouble tickets into Bostig I finally got it right. I don't think you'll screw anything up if your wire combinations are wrong, the van just won't start is all.
As far as an engine oil level.... they did away with that on my kit rg2.
Do they have oil pressure in newer kits? I added an aftermarket sender that I'll have to run a new wire all the way up to console.