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davevickery Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2005 Posts: 2887 Location: Fort Collins, CO
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 6:03 pm Post subject: The Saga of my 1.8T Vanagon |
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A big day today after a year and half of slow but steady progress on this van's comeback, I passed my emissions test. Wahoo. The van has been off the road now for 4 or 5 years and the emissions numbers were 1/5th of the limits. And that is without a cat.
Some of you who follow the classifieds will recall that no one wanted to buy my van in its project state. And a few of you may even remember when the previous nimrod tried to sell it for a couple years, before I came along and make a drunken bid on ebay.
Here is one of the before pictures so you all can appreciate the level of mistreatment this van receieved while in this guy's hands.
Fortunately it isn't all bad. Here is the exterior a few years back and I figured when I bought it I could redo the interior and remove that dreaded sunroof and put on a poptop.
The last year I spent what spare time I had on the cosmetic stuff because trouble shooting turbo engines and cleaning up old wiring isn't my strong suit.
I finally got around to the engine and replaced old intake hoses, and fixed leaks, some hoses didn't have hose clamps on them and others were cracked. I figured out from this that unmetered air getting into a turbo engine really creates a lot of issues. I changed the oil, plugs and the thing runs like a scalded cat.
Some of you will appreciate frustration of fixing someone else's dumb stuff. And the pain of realizing you got into something you should have run from. Finally a year and a half later and I am not kicking myself for buying this van. The 1.8T will throw you back in your seat and has a ton of low end torque. It is very fun to drive.
So I thought I would do up this post to show the come back of this van. I have million little things still to fix, but I am relieved not to have an unregistered vehicle sitting in my HOA controlled neighborhood anymore.
Dave
Last edited by davevickery on Tue May 28, 2013 9:19 am; edited 1 time in total |
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TequilaSunSet Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2012 Posts: 2109 Location: Philippines
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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Holy fucking Dr Octopus, I could never be that drunk to to buy a van that looked like that... were those tubes from the Blue Man Group?
All razzing aside... glad to hear you giving some respect back to your Vanagon... keeps us updated. _________________ Don't harsh my mellow...
1985 Hightower Vanagon 1.8T- Gone
1972 Panel Bus- Gone
1967 Bug- Gone
1964 Euro Sunroof Bug- Gone
1969/72/63 Sunroof Bug- Gone
1975 Brazilian Bug in the Philippines 🇵🇭- New to me |
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chazz79 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2008 Posts: 2268 Location: ohio
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Zeitgeist 13 Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 12114 Location: Port Manteau
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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OMG, epic cluster-frogging. Clearly a genius in his element _________________ Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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greenbrier62 Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2012 Posts: 223 Location: Victor, ID
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 10:26 pm Post subject: Hoses |
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Uh....what are the hoses for? _________________ 1987 Vanagon camper
2005 VW Passat TDI
1962 Chevy Greenbrier |
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 10:37 pm Post subject: |
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I imagine the hoses were an attempt to direct the A/C up to the front in place of the center duct that was removed for the sunroof. |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10367 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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Andrew A. Libby wrote: |
I imagine the hoses were an attempt to direct the A/C up to the front in place of the center duct that was removed for the sunroof. |
Something to do with the AC was my first thought.
Or an attempt at a communications system.
I jest. I've had worse ideas I'm sure!
_________________ 1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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D Clymer Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2005 Posts: 2978 Location: Issaquah, WA
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 11:43 pm Post subject: |
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Ah, the infamous Horrido Beetle (Previous owner's user name on VWVortex) 1.8T Vanagon. I always wondered what happened to that van. Aside from all the strange touches, it looks like it has a lot of potential. I'm glad to see you're putting some work into it. Do you have any shots of the engine conversion? If memory serves, I think that was a really early Stephan's Autohaus conversion.
D |
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shadetreetim Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011 Posts: 1994 Location: Riverside, California
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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That awesome display of technical genius has left me speechless.
What the... Who the... _________________ Tim Potts
Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!
'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5 |
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ietalon Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2012 Posts: 39 Location: Caliphia
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Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 7:36 am Post subject: Getting ready |
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shadetreetim wrote: |
That awesome display of technical genius has left me speechless.
What the... Who the... |
Maybe he's getting ready to go for Cali smog test?
Tim |
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tangojeff Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2005 Posts: 209
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Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 7:57 am Post subject: Hoses! We don't need no Stinking Hoses! |
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Maybe those hoses were an attempt at a communal bong? Actually, I once saw a We$ty with a cool plenum system to extend the rear A/C past the kitchen and to the front headrests. The owner used Raingo vinyl square downspout material and some couplings. This product comes in brown or white. |
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davevickery Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2005 Posts: 2887 Location: Fort Collins, CO
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Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 8:47 am Post subject: |
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D Clymer wrote: |
Ah, the infamous Horrido Beetle (Previous owner's user name on VWVortex) 1.8T Vanagon. I always wondered what happened to that van. D |
I knew someone would recognize it.
Stephan didn't do the conversion but the guy who did (around 12 years ago) must have been a pretty good mechanic aside from a couple things I don't like, the exhaust hanging way out the back for example, but then again that may have been the last owner/nimrod extraordinaire.
I believe the hoses were part of the very rare and desirable swimming pool comfort group which also included 100's of fish hook hangers. I stuck myself with rusty fish hooks several times untangling that mess.
This was the mount that the converter made. Looks like good work and solid welding. I'll probably pull and repaint the cross bar, and replace the rubber mounts.
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Zeitgeist 13 Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 12114 Location: Port Manteau
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Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 12:09 pm Post subject: |
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That's a stout looking crossbar. How is the engine vibration with those stock WBX rubber mounts? _________________ Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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davevickery Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2005 Posts: 2887 Location: Fort Collins, CO
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Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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The cross bar only uses the 2 outer vanagon mounts but seems fine. When it was running rough I could feel a bit of vibration but it idles very smoothly now, so I don't feel anything and once you are moving you don't feel anything out of the ordinary. The rubber mounts are beat and dry rotted so they need replacing.
Here is one of my clean up photos. I do like the rubber mats up front but I put down pergo and carpet in the back. The front seats had already been swapped for GL seats which are better than those cheap tweed seats.
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davevickery Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2005 Posts: 2887 Location: Fort Collins, CO
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Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:14 pm Post subject: |
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A few more things getting done.
Ordered a new exhaust system for the van. Having no cat and an open performance muffler and a leaking downpipe gasket made the van way too noisy for me. I drove one of Stephan's conversions and I liked how quiet it was. I went online and ordered something that looks like it will fit and is supposed to be quiet. I'll have a shop bend and weld the tubing. Hopefully I picked a good muffler. I got a Walker Quiet Flow III in a 6" diameter x 28" long with 2.5" inlet/outlets and a magnaflow generic cat made for a 6.0 liter truck and a flex coupling. I recall with a subie conversion I went through a few different mufflers before I was happy. I just want quiet, I'm sure I'll lose some power, but I really don't care as long as it isn't too much and it still runs smoothly. The current exhaust is ugly anyway, I want it tucked up a little better.
After that I need to get the temp gauge working. I'm thinking an aftermarket gauge might be easiest or figure out how to connect something to the stock cluster gauge that will work.
Dave
And the new exhaust looking good and sounding a lot better, and DEI Titanium exhaust wrap, to quiet it down a bit more and hopefully keep the engine compartment temps down. Next up adding some heat shields and maybe a scoop to funnel air past the turbo and downpipe.
Last edited by davevickery on Sat Jun 29, 2013 11:12 am; edited 1 time in total |
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purplepeopleeater Samba Member
Joined: July 23, 2005 Posts: 3117 Location: E. Washington
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Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:21 pm Post subject: |
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ohhh, hehehe...I remember that off the vortex.
glad its in your hands now.
FYI, I have had that same muffler...its fairly quiet. |
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dredward Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2007 Posts: 1081
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Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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D Clymer wrote: |
Ah, the infamous Horrido Beetle (Previous owner's user name on VWVortex) 1.8T Vanagon. I always wondered what happened to that van. Aside from all the strange touches, it looks like it has a lot of potential. I'm glad to see you're putting some work into it. Do you have any shots of the engine conversion? If memory serves, I think that was a really early Stephan's Autohaus conversion.
D |
Yer memory doesn't serve friend. Stephan had nothing to do with this. His workmanship is top notch. _________________ Cars owned: 1979/89 scirraco, 1983 gti, 1984 gti, 1986 gti, 1990 gli, 1989 cabriolet(2.0,16v conversion), 1992 gti, 1982 Westy, 1987 syncro Westy(w/ 1.8t conversion stg1 chip), and finally 2004 r32.... |
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xoo00oox Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2010 Posts: 2672 Location: East Nassau, NY
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Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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davevickery wrote: |
A few more things getting done.
Ordered a new exhaust system for the van. Having no cat and an open performance muffler and a leaking downpipe gasket made the van way too noisy for me. I drove one of Stephan's conversions and I liked how quiet it was. I went online and ordered something that looks like it will fit and is supposed to be quiet. I'll have a shop bend and weld the tubing. Hopefully I picked a good muffler. I got a Walker Quiet Flow III in a 6" diameter x 28" long with 2.5" inlet/outlets and a magnaflow generic cat made for a 6.0 liter truck and a flex coupling. I recall with a subie conversion I went through a few different mufflers before I was happy. I just want quiet, I'm sure I'll lose some power, but I really don't care as long as it isn't too much and it still runs smoothly. The current exhaust is ugly anyway, I want it tucked up a little better.
After that I need to get the temp gauge working. I'm thinking an aftermarket gauge might be easiest or figure out how to connect something to the stock cluster gauge that will work.
Dave
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You can use the stock 2.1 2wd van gauge temp sensor. If you look back at my 50° 1.8t thread I explain it there. |
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davevickery Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2005 Posts: 2887 Location: Fort Collins, CO
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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Making some satisfying progress on this restoration. Installed a new 3 window poptop canvas. This is the BusDepot brand. It isn't as drum tight as their "OEM" version but seems like the best cost/quality combo out there for $279.
I also added some poptop shocks. These came off a Subaru forester for $12.
Got a good start on the rear cabinets. Haven't cut the doors yet as I am still trying to decide what I want to do. This layout is far superior to the stock westy layout. 2 small cabinets vs. one huge one that everying just get piled into. The rear width remains the same, just lets you organize things better. The Formica 927-58 which is supposed to be stock grey is on order.
And the all important 1.8T badge.
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greebly Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2009 Posts: 966 Location: Here and now
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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What a hooka bong dude.How did it smoke? |
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