Newbie here. Working on my vanaru, more questions than answe

[Casa Ramos]

Hello to all the samba members. I bought an 82 vanaru (94 EJ22 powerplant) this summer in California (went through hell for four weeks) and then drove it to Montreal Canada. I solved a lot of problems along the way. But it still has issues.
The hell I mentioned was due to the fact that I bought it from a curb-stoner. The title transfer was a mess because he never transferred it or registered it. He told me it was smog-exempt... Which it wasn't. But I got it smogged and registered. Learned a lot about CA smog law while I was at it. I've only ever had motorcycles and old cars.

I'm looking over the fuel system today. I set out to replace the fuel filter, and then realized that it's not a subaru one. Mine is an in-line canister filter. I was noticing in the vanagon shop manual that it depicts the fuel filter as a little square box. Does the actual fuel filter used make any difference, or can I just go get an aftermarket canister filter that will sit nicely under the bracket?

My other question was this: In the subaru repair manual, the schematic of the fuel system shows a fuel pressure regulator on the return hose to the tank. I don't have one on mine. Does that make a difference? Should I care about this?

I hope my posting protocol is correct. Like I said, I'm new here. But I'm very excited about my vanaru. It's really beautiful, and even though it had a troubled beginning, it's mine now. Look forward to meeting other vanaru-heads.

[markmc90]

I would think almost any filter will do, but you should have a pressure regulator.
_________________
87 Syncro

[vanaguy]

Your pressure regulator should be mounted on one of the fuel rails on the engine.

Later Vanagons went to a round canister filter, early ones had the little plastic one. The canister filter goes after the pump. Some people like to run both as a way to protect the pump from tank debris.

[ftp2leta]

Fuel filter as nothing to do with your engine conversion. The square one is 1983-85 and the canister type is 86-91, canister are after the fuel pump and square are in between tank and pump.

The EJ 22 need a fuel return line, it's the one under the incoming line

The fuel pressure regulator is on the intake / fuel rail. It's very small.

Ben
_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta

[levi]

The problem with getting any old fuel filter to replace the original is the different size inlet/outlet.
I put in adapters so that I could toss that square, and just use a filter after the pump.

Curbstoners, never heard of that term before.
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[elpedro]

Curbstoner is an old term, and an old concept, but starting in 2009 in California section 22651 of the Vehicle Code was amended by AB 2042 Chapter No. 736 to specifically allow law enforcement to confiscate vehicles in the possession of unlicensed dealers aka curbstoners.

I learned this while attempting to buy a vanagon this summer from a non-posting sambanista; all I lost was a few hundred dollars of deposit and a lot of wasted time dealing with these people who lied, presented false personalities by phone and grossly misrepresented the mechanical state of a vehicle which they had incidentally purchased from another sambanista, who also discovered their ruse.

I'm watching the account of the curbstoner who posted this and other vehicles for sale here and elsewhere, and I intend to do whatever necessary to ensure nobody else gets swindled. As Ash says, "come get some".

-El Pedro
89 Blue star unnamed
71 Brave Little Toaster *sold*

[Casa Ramos]

Watch out for those curbstoners! The guys who grifted me were selling a couple of vanagons on craigslist san francisco, but they're actually based in Modesto CA. I guess they buy non-operational VWs that they see in people's driveways. They trailer them off, change the oil and the plugs, throw on a stolen tag, and claim to be selling it for a sick relative.
It was the tag on the van that convinced me I could register it (it was already registered after all). But on further inspection, the tag was some weird thing, probably for a trailer or a farm tractor. I'd never seen one like it. When I brought the title to the DMV they saw the discrepancy between the previous owner's release signature date, and my purchase date, and so they insisted that I get a bill of sale from the sellor, who of course had dissapeared and disconnected his phone.
The smog issue was even worse. I had to get it to pass smog before I could register it, but no smog shop would touch it without a plate issued by a smog ref. What a nightmare.
I got in touch with Kennedy Engineered Products, and with the purchase of a new muffler and cat, I got the plaque from them which has the exemption and the permissible code errors. But even with that, smog shops were turning me away. It was a test-only place that finally did it. Hobart Kennedy came down with me! They did a tail-pipe test, I passed, and that was it... Off to the DMV.
I still wonder if the original owner might have been in on it. I found his work number among a bunch of papers in the back of the van, and I called him up, trying to get a bill of sale. When I first talked to him, he was sounded so nervous - overly friendly, and he tells me that he sold the van to a bunch of Latinos. Not the guys I met and bought it from. It would be aperfect cover for him to sell it through these "curbstoners". It gives him the shield.
Anyway. I still love it. I'm thinking about installing the subaru fuel filter in the engine bay. There's a perfect spot for it. I would only have to change a couple of hoses. Or I can return the subaru filter and find the later vanagon canister filter. It's a question of being more suaru or more vanagon.
I'm trying to chase a small of problem of the engine lagging shortly after startup. It will hiccup as i clutch into 1st, seem to be laboring. Once warmed up it runs fine, but then after an hour of freeway driving, it will seem a little less perky. Needing more push on the pedal to keep the same RPM. The van sat for four years before I bought it, so while i have time I want to go over the fuel injection system. One mechanic suggested that I test the MAF. Another mechanic thought I needed a speed sensor (no speedo on my van) wired to the computer (ECU) so the fuel injection knows what speed I'm doing... (I've always been a carbuerator guy - I know almost nothing about fuel injection). What do people think about these counsels? I just heard from a mechanic in Ontario about benoit houde, down in Longueil. He's the guy on vanaru engines, so I will try to bring it to him, maybe for a once-over/test of the fuel system.
I need to find a heatercore/heaterbox too. My van was an air-cooled, and they didn't totally complete the conversion. But I'm having fun getting to know it. I love the conversion. I've always dug hotrods and conversions.

[Casa Ramos]

Watch out for those curbstoners! The guys who grifted me were selling a couple of vanagons on craigslist san francisco, but they're actually based in Modesto CA. I guess they buy non-operational VWs that they see in people's driveways. They trailer them off, change the oil and the plugs, throw on a stolen tag, and claim to be selling it for a sick relative.
It was the tag on the van that convinced me I could register it (it was already registered after all). But on further inspection, the tag was some weird thing, probably for a trailer or a farm tractor. I'd never seen one like it. When I brought the title to the DMV they saw the discrepancy between the previous owner's release signature date, and my purchase date, and so they insisted that I get a bill of sale from the sellor, who of course had dissapeared and disconnected his phone.
The smog issue was even worse. I had to get it to pass smog before I could register it, but no smog shop would touch it without a plate issued by a smog ref. What a nightmare.
I got in touch with Kennedy Engineered Products, and with the purchase of a new muffler and cat, I got the plaque from them which has the exemption and the permissible code errors. But even with that, smog shops were turning me away. It was a test-only place that finally did it. Hobart Kennedy came down with me! They did a tail-pipe test, I passed, and that was it... Off to the DMV.
I still wonder if the original owner might have been in on it. I found his work number among a bunch of papers in the back of the van, and I called him up, trying to get a bill of sale. When I first talked to him, he was sounded so nervous - overly friendly, and he tells me that he sold the van to a bunch of Latinos. Not the guys I met and bought it from. It would be aperfect cover for him to sell it through these "curbstoners". It gives him the shield.
Anyway. I still love it. I'm thinking about installing the subaru fuel filter in the engine bay. There's a perfect spot for it. I would only have to change a couple of hoses. Or I can return the subaru filter and find the later vanagon canister filter. It's a question of being more suaru or more vanagon.
I'm trying to chase a small of problem of the engine lagging shortly after startup. It will hiccup as i clutch into 1st, seem to be laboring. Once warmed up it runs fine, but then after an hour of freeway driving, it will seem a little less perky. Needing more push on the pedal to keep the same RPM. The van sat for four years before I bought it, so while i have time I want to go over the fuel injection system. One mechanic suggested that I test the MAF. Another mechanic thought I needed a speed sensor (no speedo on my van) wired to the computer (ECU) so the fuel injection knows what speed I'm doing... (I've always been a carbuerator guy - I know almost nothing about fuel injection). What do people think about these counsels? I just heard from a mechanic in Ontario about benoit houde, down in Longueil. He's the guy on vanaru engines, so I will try to bring it to him, maybe for a once-over/test of the fuel system.
I need to find a heatercore/heaterbox too. My van was an air-cooled, and they didn't totally complete the conversion. But I'm having fun getting to know it. I love the conversion. I've always dug hotrods and conversions.

[elpedro]