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JackConner
Samba Member
Joined: November 30, 2019
Posts: 18
Location: CA
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 Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2019 5:00 pm Post subject: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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I'm 17 and just bought a 1985 Vanagon Westfalia in pretty good condition. When I went to look at it, the odometer read 667,000 miles! The owner said that it was accurate and that it hadn't rolled over yet.
This leads me to believe that the transmission has likely been replaced and the engine may have been rebuilt or replaced at some point, but other than that I don't have evidence to support that. I hear they can go a long time if you keep coolant and oil running through 'em. It was sitting for a few years and I'm getting it smog checked pretty soon. Has anyone seen such high mileage on a water-boxer before?
Jack
1985 Vanagon Westfalia |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6572
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2019 5:09 pm Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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Nope. Uge.
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‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6833
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2019 5:19 pm Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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Was the seller the original owner?
How did not have any info on it's history?
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JackConner
Samba Member
Joined: November 30, 2019
Posts: 18
Location: CA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2019 5:30 pm Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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The seller's neighbor was the original owner. He collected a lot of parts for restoration before he got foreclosed on. I have those parts now and I suppose he could have done a lot of work on it and just never had to replace the actual engine. He is ninety something and his neighbor offered to sell it for him. I think that he just took very good care of it and went on many adventures. But of course with Vanagon death syndrome the transmission must've been replaced. But yeah, the seller never mentioned an engine rebuild ever.
Jack
1985 Vanagon Westfalia |
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6833
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2019 6:00 pm Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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Jack, Jave you read the FAQ up in the top of the first page? There is a lot of good info in there.
Also the first things you should check and probably replace just to know 100% that they are new are the fuel lines. They are rubber and get dry, crack and leak. On a hot engine that usually means a fire.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=440675
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JackConner
Samba Member
Joined: November 30, 2019
Posts: 18
Location: CA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2019 7:26 pm Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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Thank You Steve! It's in a local VW restoration shop right now. We asked them to do what they can to get it running and safe so I'll mention that to them next time I head over. I'll check out the FAQ too.
Jack
1985 Vanagon Westfalia |
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levi
Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2005
Posts: 5522
Location: Las Vegas
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2019 7:39 pm Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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It's also very easy to replace the whole cluster, including the odo.
Maybe not as common these days, but it used to be vanagons were easy to find in junkyards, and if the trip meter or blue ribbon gave any trouble the easy thing to do was just replace it.
I think I've replaced my whole cluster 3 or 4 times now.
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One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
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Going down that long lonesome highway,
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JackConner
Samba Member
Joined: November 30, 2019
Posts: 18
Location: CA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2019 7:46 pm Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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Yea, the previous owner spent a lot of time in junkyards stripping old vanagons for parts.
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Jack
1985 Vanagon Westfalia
Young Gun Westy Enthusiast |
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jimf909 
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7477
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2019 7:50 pm Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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| JackConner wrote: |
I'm 17 and just bought a 1985 Vanagon Westfalia in pretty good condition. When I went to look at it, the odometer read 667,000 miles! The owner said that it was accurate and that it hadn't rolled over yet.
This leads me to believe that the transmission has likely been replaced and the engine may have been rebuilt or replaced at some point, but other than that I don't have evidence to support that. I hear they can go a long time if you keep coolant and oil running through 'em. It was sitting for a few years and I'm getting it smog checked pretty soon. Has anyone seen such high mileage on a water-boxer before?
Jack
1985 Vanagon Westfalia |
Sounds like a neat van! There certainly are high mileage vans but just about everything would be rebuilt by 670K miles.
Is there. Chance that the original owner has a folder full of paperwork that the neighbor can get for you? The Venn diagram of owners who drive a car 670,000 miles AND keep a lot of paperwork would seem to have a lot of overlap.
Post some pics here (exterior, interior, undercarriage, motor, trans, etc.) and folks may have some additional insights.
Enjoy.
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- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9618
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2019 10:17 pm Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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| jimf909 wrote: |
| Post some pics here (exterior, interior, undercarriage, motor, trans, etc.) and folks may have some additional insights.. |
Post some pics of the brake, clutch accelerator pedals.
Shifter knob, steering wheel wear areas.
That van may have been “over-maintained”. Some old farts tend to do that.
And maybe he wasn’t rough with it, didn’t slam the doors. Lubed the locks etc when they needed lube.
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'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 |
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jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7477
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2019 10:52 pm Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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| Sodo wrote: |
Post some pics of the brake, clutch accelerator pedals.
Shifter knob, steering wheel wear areas.
That van may have been “over-maintained”. Some old farts tend to do that.
And maybe he wasn’t rough with it, didn’t slam the doors. Lubed the locks etc when they needed lube. |
The wear items in the driver's area were next on my list! I'd love to see pedals, steering wheel, etc. with 670K on them. Although my minds profile of this van has had the pedal pads replaced.
Certainly, the '85 mirrors are either very floppy or were replaced. If this is a one owner 34 year old car that's begun its second round-trip to the moon it would be an interesting study.
_________________
- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22670
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 4:28 am Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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He’s already flipped it.
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.ssS! |
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6833
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 5:14 am Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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WHAT!  Why waste the time helping people?
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There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them. |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22670
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 5:46 am Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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| Steve M. wrote: |
| WHAT! Why waste the time helping people? |
I made that up, sorry. Cynical morning
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6833
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 6:33 am Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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| Abscate wrote: |
| Steve M. wrote: |
| WHAT! Why waste the time helping people? |
I made that up, sorry. Cynical morning |
 had me going there!
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them. |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22670
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 10:31 am Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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| Steve M. wrote: |
| Abscate wrote: |
| Steve M. wrote: |
| WHAT! Why waste the time helping people? |
I made that up, sorry. Cynical morning |
had me going there! |
I was watching Wolves playing Blades. My hometown team can beat the best in the EPL and then go flat against the middle teams
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JackConner
Samba Member
Joined: November 30, 2019
Posts: 18
Location: CA
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| Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 4:12 pm Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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Thank you all for this feedback! I will get some pictures up as soon as it gets out of the shop. I’ll also reach out to the seller to see if there’s any service records or paperwork that can help me out.
The van is quite dirty and looks like it hasn’t been touched in a couple of years but no doubt it’s possible that he over maintained it before that . And no I haven’t flipped it and don’t plan on it for a long time! Sorry about your game though!
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Jack
1985 Vanagon Westfalia
Young Gun Westy Enthusiast |
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levi
Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2005
Posts: 5522
Location: Las Vegas
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| Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 5:04 pm Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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If you really want to know about the mileage and history, a carfax report will probably give you a good idea.
_________________
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 |
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SyncroChrick
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Joined: January 10, 2005
Posts: 1010
Location: San Francisco, CA
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| Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 8:55 pm Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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There is a guy on the Vanagon Diesel owner group who has 1982 for sale with 630000 miles on it.
I thought my Syncro was high at 330000 miles (documented) |
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bobbyblack
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4351
Location: United States, Iowa
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| Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 10:57 am Post subject: Re: 670,000 miles on 1985 Westy Odometer |
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If your drivers side lower door lip (top of wheel well/fender) is original and not repainted, you should see a very nice indication of age from the wear marks of sliding out. Its a dead giveaway on original paint Vanagons.
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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