Difference between US and Canadian Wesfalia?

archicarp

I am looking at a 1990 Westfalia with the full camping setup. It was imported to Canada and brought to the States in 2000. Anything I should know about any differences between it and its American sisters? The odometer was switched to miles when imported.

Thanks folks....

Jon_slider · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:13 pm Post subject:

nothing major different
I have a canadian syncro westy, and a US 2wd Westy.

The stove lid is different on the US model, it has a drainboard, on the Canadian the metal it is attached to the stove lid and does not pull down.

the canadian electric power port on the outside of the van is down low, not between the water outlets, and the canadian power cord is very fat, and permanently attached. To connect to shore power you have to pull the cord thru the hole..

I was concerned it would invite water in if I waded deep, so I changed the outlet to a US version, but its still down low

my canadian westy had a webasto coolant heater, and a block heater

Some canadian years had 14" steel rims, when US models went to 14" Alloys. In my canadian syncro, the clamshell tire carrier pan was shallower than US model, and I had to change it to fit the spare when I went to alloy wheels.

other than those minor details, I cant think of any reason not to buy a canadian.. as long as you can get it into the states and registered.. which can be a problem in some states..

66 dormi · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:38 pm Post subject:

As far as I can tell Cdn models never got the alloy option or the side planks on the multivan version I really like the draintray on my US westy
the block heater was an option im sure you could get in the states too
_________________
DORMOBILE TOP WANTED!!!!
1978 westy daily driver
1960 panel camper project

Mini R53 bob the tomato

ftp2leta · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 11:19 pm Post subject:

morymob · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 5:18 am Post subject:

Never saw rust that bad,did it actually run? Mine from Canada and with kilo-speedo and everything printed in French.Operation stickers in both english/french. swapped speedo out and giving a thorough going over ,getting ready for spring and getting anxious as we seem to be having an early and actual winter this yr.

archicarp · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 10:31 am Post subject:

Well, I'm hopefully getting it inspected today. If there is any rust, the mechanic is going to tell me about it. I know that there is some at the horizontal seam above the propane tank. The owner reports that this spot has been stable for the last 6 years, but I am still a little worried about it.

66 dormi · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 8:53 pm Post subject:

Lol you got that right Ben! when I picked up my US westy I couldn't believe it the seams were still holding the body together!! and no rust in the engine bay! Very Happy

_________________
DORMOBILE TOP WANTED!!!!
1978 westy daily driver
1960 panel camper project

Mini R53 bob the tomato

ftp2leta · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 7:02 am Post subject:

Wellington · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 1:12 pm Post subject:

Ben, being a Montraler myself, I know about rust, you should see my daily driver. That is why I chose to pay a bit more for an area Westfalia than others because mine has never seen winters. I use to work in a body shop and can only admire your work, but I didn't have the patience or time to restore my own, I paid for a nice one, some might say too much, but I'm happy!!

RCB · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 2:46 pm Post subject:

Thats not rust...........its patina, just buff it out. Laughing

66 dormi · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:10 pm Post subject:

you still patching and painting ben??need some work done on the us bus should be a piece of cake 1 minor seam and the usual dent behind the slider
_________________
DORMOBILE TOP WANTED!!!!
1978 westy daily driver
1960 panel camper project

Mini R53 bob the tomato

ftp2leta · Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 7:22 am Post subject:

66 dormi · Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 7:29 am Post subject:

ok I will pm you I checked out your site you do some fine work!
_________________
DORMOBILE TOP WANTED!!!!
1978 westy daily driver
1960 panel camper project

Mini R53 bob the tomato

RCB · Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 11:42 am Post subject:

ftp2leta · Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 1:14 pm Post subject:

Sodo · Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:09 pm Post subject:

I had a 1985 Canada Westy.

The Poptop was much thicker+heavier than USA westy poptop.
Also it had a gasoline heater.
And it had a km speedo.
No fold-down 'drainboard' over the stove.
Whenever you take your foot off the throttle it says "eh?"

Tom
_________________

'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w ~~47k~~ 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

Gauche1968 · Samba Member Joined: April 13, 2006 Posts: 1518

Crughy · Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject:

Extreme cold is better. It's a dry cold. Vancouver van are nice but sometime can be rusty too. from the air. But nothing that compares with road salt exposure.

The nice thing about extreme cold is that it is quite sticky. Things stick well. You get pretty good adherence on ice or snow if it's extremely cold. Hence they don't use road salts as much.

Extreme cold vehicles may suffer from other failures though. bad lubrication. hoses, parts, gasket that collapse or break due to the cold.
A good owner is essential. Good warm up, good oil. Every thing becomes sensible in the -20-40C (close in F).

JP


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