Finally found my Westie!

[decay]

After searching high and low, almost buying one in Fla. & Conn.,
My wife was driving to the local thrift shop, and low and behold, not 5 blocks from the house, was a unadvertised 84 Westie for sale. She Promptly called me and we went to check it out. Automatic, good, she can't drive stick, body, not too bad of shape( the Westie), started up fine, took it for a 20 mi. ride, back roads and highways, was doin 70 and didn't even know it, rode suprisingly well. Got back from our test ride and proceded to raise the top, it looked as if it was never used, sleeping area was pristine, I don't know if the fridge works, stove has no blueing on the burner grate and sink, who knows, I'll figure it out. We thought holy cow, this is is. We got it for $4,000, from what I saw locally it seemed like the deal. If I paid too much, so be it, it seemed right. Anyway, it has all receipts for all work and every oil change, has 150,000 mi., mtr & tranny both rebuilt @ 100,000 mi. I guess I can say we stumbled accross our diamond in the rough. I am going to take it to our local German car shop and he said for $100 he would go over the Westie and prioritize what we should replace in order of severity. I think it will be worth it, as I know nothing about the German mechanics of what makes things tic. I hope I don't drive you all nuts with questions, as I have been following this site and it is very informative. Thanks in advance for all the well needed advise and input. Best Regards.

[ChesterKV]

Decay Dude,

Sweet. Sounds as though you got a deal.

Photos are mandatory . . .

- Chester
_________________
1984 Wolfsburg 7-passenger stock sunroof
1992 Subaru Legacy EJ22 boxer motor installed.... van is now sold.... currently playing with a 1987 Toyota MR2 with 1.6 liter twin-cam motor. Better than the Subaru boxers....... I'm impressed. Well, okay, in an "apples and oranges" kind of way.

[FNGRUVN]

Congrats. I hope it takes you to lots of good times. You might want to invest in the Bentley manual(well worth the money) and John Muir's Idiot book. He breaks things down so that anyone can understand. Good luck and have fun.

[Perales]

Welcome to a serious addiction. I don't think you paid too much. Sounds like a good find. Two pieces of advice:
1) change all the fuel lines now!!!!
2)Buy a Bentley manual!!!!
3) Enjoy The Samba (OK I can't count)
others will chime in soon with more advice.
_________________
-- 1987 Westfalia automatic (Captain Vino)

[floggingmolly]

Welcome to the family. This is the place you want to come for everything you need. Lots of guys and gals have tons of knowledge about everything for it. Sounds like a good deal from what you say.

Check the fuel lines, or at least have the mechanic focus there. You don't want to see or be a part of a BBQ. The lines should be replaced as a precaution.

You are now part of the cult...

Lots of others will chime in. Check the stickys at the top of the main page, there's info on what to do when you first get your westy as well as lots of good topics on what to look forward to....
_________________
'85 Wolfsburg Weekender

[Van-go108]

What does the receipts say on the motor and tranny rebuild? That was probably close to $4000 right thar. Congrats and welcome Newbie. Can't wait to see the pics. Rust?
_________________
"Okay, so there's 6 beers and 5 of us. You know what this means don't you? 4 of you are going to have to leave."


1973 Thing
1957 Continental Mark II Click to view image

[decay]

Yeah there is some rust, mostly on the driver side at the bottom seam. It also has to have some dents pulled on the driver side rear, but it didn't affect the hatch. I plan on pulling the wheels this weekend and grease bearings and just stare at the underside a while. It came with 4 manuals and one is the Bentley, they were never used or even opened, from the Bus Depot.

[PDXWesty]

where's the pictures man!!!!

[Perales]

Learn to use the Search feature of the Samba. There is a ton of knowledge at your fingertips and many of the issues you will be dealing with are very well documented. I think you made a great decision!
_________________
-- 1987 Westfalia automatic (Captain Vino)

[decay]

I'll have to work on that picture thing.

[bucko]

Congrats on the purchase. Enjoy it, drive it, and just plain have fun with it.
_________________
Current VW drives: 1984 Westfalia

Past VW drives: 1967 Beetle, 1973 Beetle, 1977 Bus, 1971 Military Type 181

[Vanagon Nut]

That sounds awesome!

Good buy! Hey even if the fridge is funky, for the price you paid for the Westy, you could get yourself a nice Norcold or one of them Italian AC/DC fridges!

Congrats!

Neil.
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)

1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[stumpy]

Welcome to the "Samba". Now give that baby a name, shine it up, and maybe I will see you over at Beavertown for "Granny Groses Campout". Not terriably far from Allentown. First weekend in May!!! Stumpy

[larrytrk]

Enjoy the ride both figuratively and actually!
_________________
It's all in your mind.
I Hate BAMBI!
87 Westy full camper "Bluie" aka-"busturd"
JUST SOLD HER, WESTYLESS!
Good by cruel world!

[tikibus]

Congrats!

Your close by to some good folks in PA.
My .02's is to get in touch with local VW club. plus your close to the Vanaru folks, Hans and crew, a Engine conversion from the WBX to Subie engine.

If she rides nice and you want to camp, Granny Grouses IV is coming up May 1st in PA.

Do I do Everybus or Granny's Campin'.... do both!! Check out the fine Folk at the Full Moon Bus Club for members in your area, if ya stuck or to chill.

Cheers on your find!
_________________
Happy Trails!
Mark
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Founding member of the Empire State VW Camping Club.
http://www.empirevwcamping.org/
1984 Westy - Tiki
1997 Honda Civic -The Green Hornet
1971 Volvo P-1800E- needs TLC

[danfromsyr]

points to the top... CHANGE YOUR HP FUEL LINES
have your mechanic change them, even if they 'look nice' also there's a poorly designed plastic fitting in the HP fuel source that easily breaks from age. it's a poor initial design.. too many of these newly loved VWs start out by ending in fire.

oh and look over in the NJ region for some nice campouts on the coast, though they don't allow dogs so check if you need to 1st..

also check the events, the Campbeltown VW show is coming up in mid april and you very well may see a few of us from upstate NY coming down.

if a mild trip is in your potential future, check my sig links for our annual Westies at Watkins Glen, held in the southern Fingerlakes not too far from PA. and take your camper on the twisty road course after spending a weekend camping with 60+ other westfalias.. great fun for family kids and pets.
welcome aboard.
Dan
_________________

[tikibus]

Fuel lines yes.
Plastic connection between firewall changed, yes.

Camping.

Priceless.


_________________
Happy Trails!
Mark
______________
Founding member of the Empire State VW Camping Club.
http://www.empirevwcamping.org/
1984 Westy - Tiki
1997 Honda Civic -The Green Hornet
1971 Volvo P-1800E- needs TLC

[ZimmerVan]

In addition to replacing to fuel lines (I almost waited too long, imagine fuel dripping on the starter due to failure of the aforementioned cheapo plastic piece that traverses the firewall), I would recommend cleaning up the grounds. The ones to check are the large braided ground strap on the tranny and the ground point in the engine compartment.

I sanded them until shiny, replaced the flat washers with some "toothed" ones that bite into the metal, and coated with a little dielectric grease.

After a lot of reading here on TheSamba, I found that these easy fixes can nip a lot of heartache, frustration, and confusion in the bud.

Congrats on the purchase, and welcome to the loony bin!

[kevinbassplayer]

Another congrats, sounds like a good score. Me thinks we will be seeing you here a lot!

[MattVW]

Congrats on the purchase! Just be sure to go over the fuel and coolant lines, and being that it's an automatic make sure the ATF cooler is in good working order!
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-Matt