Are Vanagon parts interchangeable?

[Rmpoetzl]

Are all type 2 Vanagons and there various off models parts interchangeable. I have a 86 Vanagon GL. I am new to anything VW so any basic beginners tips would be such a help. I am picking up my van this weekend. I paid 600 for a 86 Vanagon GL that has had the head gasket replaced in 07 and various other minor repairs since. All the paperwork shows in depth. The previous owner says she thinks it over heated an they had it towed home and let it sit for a few months. The battery was dead when I looked at it. What did I get myself into? Any ideas of things to check first or common problems to address. Thanks in advanced.

[Merian]

[Terry Kay]

Nothing in a Type 2 , & an 86 Vanagon are compatible, interchange.

Maybe they both have 4 tires , headlamps,tail lamps a licence plate light, & a battery .

Moderator Edit: the above statement is absolutely wrong! ^^^^ the early Vanagons shared many parts with late Bays, among them the engine.
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I think you should float over to the vehicle want ads here and do some sniffing around.

Hold onto your hat.
You'll find out pretty quick what you just did to yourself.
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T.K.

[WLD*WSTY]

[Zeitgeist 13]

All VW vans are kinda-sorta Type 2s, but technically each model series has its own T classification; T1 (Split), T2 (Bay), T3 (Vanagon), T4 (Eurovan), T5, T6.

Most Vanagons here in North America from '86 to '91 share a majority of their parts, although Syncros, campers and Carats all have some specific variations on the theme.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[kamzcab86]

Lots of parts interchange; easiest swaps for your van are those from 1986 onward. If in doubt about a specific component swapping over, simply ask.

[syncrodoka]

[tristessa]

Nothing interchanges? I guess I've just been imagining that the wheels on my buddy's '77 Type 2 came from an '87 that was being upgraded to CLK's...

[pablum]

It is correct to say the vanagon is also a type 2.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Type_2
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The wise man learns from history, the fool from experience.
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I see [a cat] in the street and i aim for the pest with my car. -- bluebus86

[Wildthings]

There were five basic Type 2 (T3) Vanagons sold in the US.

* 80-83 2.0L aircooled
* 83 1/2-85 1.9L WBXer
* 86-91 2.1L WBXer
* 2.1L WBXer Syncro 4wd
* 1.6L NA Diesel

They all have a lot of interchangeable parts, plus a pile that are not interchangeable.

[Mellow Yellow 74]

[ZsZ]

The ETKA and former the ETOS (VW's part recognising and ordering software) lists our cars (the third generation of VW vans, also referred as T3 here) as typ2 on the European market, but as Vanagon on the US market.

The fourth generation (T4) is listed as Transporter (Eu) / Eurovan (US).

Here we had a lot of problems finding parts, as former all the part catalogues and service software referred the T3 as typ2, but in he mechanics head it was the T2 baywindow.

If you search trough the part nrs, there are a lot of parts that were used first in late bays, and there are a lot of parts that used on the early T4s, so even you may find bay parts in an eurovan but ususally these are trims or small rubber parts. And of course there are the standardized parts like bolts, clips, connectors, etc.
Like the rear brake cylinder is used from '68 to '92, or the front grab handle which is used from '80 to '04

the offline version of ETKA is more accurate (you can find illegal copies on torrent sites, or you can buy from VW), but here you can play on the online version:
http://etka.cc/
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Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
Van since 2006, engine since 2008

[Steve M.]

One driver will fit into many different Vanagons.
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This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[Steve M.]

Not to mention the Jetta's and Passat's of the same time period using the same electrical connectors and sensors.
Or pretty much any Bosch vehicle in the junk yards for relays and other electrical bits of opportunity.
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[Terry Kay]

You guys are nuts---

Your parting fine hair's & whiskers here.

As a general rule of thumb--other than the suitcase engine's which is used in the earlier Vanagon, nothing is intended to be swappable other than the Taiwan radio somebody might have stuck in the Type 2 Bus--some of the tail light bulbs--the air in the tires for sure.

Nothing suspension, body sheet metal, interior parts, Nothing is shared between A T 2 Bus & Any Vanagon, other than some parts off of the air cooled suitcase engine.
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T.K.

[OddN]

Oh, no. Not one of those Type 2 discussions again...

All third generation VW Vans, be it a Transporter, Caravelle, Multivan, Vanagon, Microbus, Westfalia, syncro or whatever it is called in your part of the world, are VW Type 2's. (not to be confused with a T2 where the T stands for Transporter, not Type)

Type 1 is the Beetle, Käfer, Karmann Ghia, 1200, 1303 or whatever they are also called.

Type 3 is the 1500, 1600 fastback, notchback or squareback

Type 4 is the 411 and 412

So the Vanagon is a third generation Transporter, or Type 2, T3

Type 2 T1 is the split window buses

Type 2 T2 is the Baywindow

And although not everyone agree it is common to call even the fourth generation Transporters (like the Eurovan) Type 2 T4

So to answer the OP's question: Many parts throughout the Type 2 T3 range (1980 - 1992) are interchangeable, but there are some generations changes, like for example the early vs late sliding door, early vs later fuel tank, early vs later electrical system, and so on.

And many Type 2 T2 parts also fits the early Type 2 T3.

There are also many parts on the Vanagon found on other VW's of the same generation.
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1991 VW Multivan syncro 1,9 TD

[Rmpoetzl]

Very negative... Why? I'm not just talking about engine parts I mean anything I.e. seats , door panels, and just miscellaneous. I am very good with cars I have a lot of experience with domestics. But this is my first time putting my hands on a VW. Just wanted to know some basics

[Wildthings]

[crazyvwvanman]

There are hundreds of parts in Vanagons that came from earlier buses. The sliding door alone has more than a dozen. The front and rear wheel bearings, rear hubs, various pieces of the brakes, many transmission parts, CV joints, on and on.

Mark

[dobryan]