Split Window Brazilian Bus Parts

[CleverSatan]

I have a 1974 Brazilian split window bus. The style is more similar to a ~1965 bus.

Where can I get reliable aftermarket parts? I know there are a ton of shops available (West Coast Metrics, JBugs, etc) but I'm not sure if those parts will fit my bus. It's a 74 bus but when I shop for a 74 bus it obviously shows this as a bay window bus and nothing seems like it would fit the style.

Any guidance on where I should shop for what I have?


It looks like I need a replacement fuel tank, replacement door mechanisms for the front doors, wiper motor, etc. Any help would be appreciated!

[Erik G]

You'll have to learn and search by part number complete with the letters at the end, which represent revisions of that part number. Each piece is going to be unique and who knows what the previous owners did or didn't change out to make do.

for instance, your wiper motor. You're going to need to look at the part number on it, look at pictures, and confirm you are buying the correct replacement part. None of us know what's under your dash. Door latches take a pic, check the numbers, and look in the classifieds. Gas tank, a reproduction split bus tank will fit but a bay window tank is a great upgrade.

Please don't take it the wrong way but this is one of the reasons people buy nice original German buses. It's easy to know what's right / wrong / upgraded etc. You can always post pics and ask - chances are you aren't the only one.
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[CleverSatan]

Great advice. That helps a lot. I'm learning as I go, and of course if I were able to get a German bus I would turn back the hands of time and make it happen!

With respect to the fuel tank, are they universal enough that they will fit either way? What part of the bay window fuel tank makes it an upgrade? Is there a place to find one? Right now it seems like there is sediment or some other crap in the tank that is causing a problem. I figure it's easier to just buy a new tank and take the guesswork out of it.

My current bus doesn't have a wiper motor, so I'm not sure if that makes it easier or more difficult. It's a 12v bus if that narrows down the options.

[BarryL]

There's another thread that called those doors as earliest after Barndoor Icepick not recessed handles.

[Eric&Barb]

[Clara]

It looked to me that the Brazilian buses are not copies of an exact year of German split bus, and you’ll have to figure it out piece by piece what the replacement would be. ( or find a parts list for Brazilian buses?)

In regards to gas tank, I’d think a 62-67 split bus gas tank would drop in
Some people like bay tanks, as they are larger. But you do need to fuss around with inlet. There’s a thread on that I’d think you could find if with a search. Post a pic of what’s in there now.

In regards to wiper motor, what’s in there now? Take some pics under the dash.
Does it look like this:

This?

IME, generally if it doesn’t work, taking it apart, cleaning out the old grease, and greasing it with new grease does the trick.
If it has the frame like in the first pic (for my 66 kombi) generally the pivots are worn, so I install new pivots.

63 wiper motor disassembly:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3352360&highlight=#3352360
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