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sonofamitch
Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2012
Posts: 325
Location: Evergreen, CO
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 Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 6:51 pm Post subject: Brought home my first VW this week. I couldn't be happier! |
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My new bus is a 1977 Westfalia. I picked it up for $3400 (I'm not sure if that's good or bad). It's in pretty good shape for spending most of it's life in Chicago (the southside likes the salt....a lot). It has been whacked a couple times but the body work appears to be done correctly. There is also a fair amount of filler in it. That I don't like. Other than that, it's pretty solid. The underside is incredibly clean and the interior is almost perfect. As for the engine, it's a FI 2.0 with hydraulic lifters and it's completely out of the bus but it's all there. Plus, I have the original 2.0 that came with it.
I have absolutely zero experience with Volkswagens. On the plus side, I like to think I have a pretty good head on my shoulders for a 19 year old. I've been around vintage tin for pretty much my whole life. I want to daily drive this bus when I move out to Colorado next summer. Any advice I can get would be greatly appreciated. I think I've come to the right place.
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ultralite 
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011
Posts: 579
Location: GA
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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Congratulations! Love that color.
Please, order yourself a Bentley Manual. Then enjoy your maintenance and tinkering, it's half the joy of ownership, for me at least.
_________________
Godspeed
'76 Beetle (sold)
'69 Beetle (sold)
'72 BMW 2002 (RIP)
'69 Westy
'02 BMW wagon AWD w/stick shift(sold)
'67 Beetle (sold) |
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Randy in Maine
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003
Posts: 34890
Location: The Beach
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Loos like a nice bus. Enjoy the ride!! |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 53212
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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Agreed, doesn't look horrible at all considering the price and location, nice score!
Read up on fuel lines before you plan any drives 
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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tizzfishin
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2010
Posts: 309
Location: Huntington Beach, Ca
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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And tires. Get some 6 ply or higher tires on there. It makes a huge difference in stability on the highway.
_________________
1971 westy
"An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea" |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52734
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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Does look like you have mighty small tires on there.  If they are low profile (50 or 60 aspect ratio) verse just plain small they might not be too awfully bad. But if they are 70 or 75 A/R then they may handle horridly.
Your bus is also sitting high in the rear and low in the front, normal they sit the opposite when unloaded. Think someone may have set the rear torsion bars a bit high. This will cost you a bit of caster and add to the instability.
Replacing both the fuel lines and the brake hoses should be high on your to do list.
Looks nice otherwise, so you may have gotten a very good deal. |
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poptop tom
Samba Member
Joined: July 27, 2004
Posts: 1607
Location: The Hoosier State
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| Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 3:39 am Post subject: |
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Nice clean looking ride!
| Wildthings wrote: |
Does look like you have mighty small tires on there. If they are low profile (50 or 60 aspect ratio) verse just plain small they might not be too awfully bad. But if they are 70 or 75 A/R then they may handle horridly.
Your bus is also sitting high in the rear and low in the front, normal they sit the opposite when unloaded. Think someone may have set the rear torsion bars a bit high. This will cost you a bit of caster and add to the instability.
Replacing both the fuel lines and the brake hoses should be high on your to do list.
Looks nice otherwise, so you may have gotten a very good deal. |
Sounds like there might not be an engine installed at the moment.
_________________
'76 Deluxe Campmobile |
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Kirk
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2003
Posts: 5492
Location: North Texas
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| Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 5:20 am Post subject: |
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Looks like a great start! What ever you do, don't start stripping it apart. I'd park it and start slowly putting it all back to perfect. With the motor out that gives you the ability to get in and work in the engine bay, cleaning painting and replacing whatever you need to. What are you going to do motor wise?
Wish I'd had a westy at 19. I had a silly super beetle.  Oh wait I still own it and its been 20 years or so. Do her right and you have a lifetime of memories waiting. Welcome to the addiction!
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MAKE FORUMS GREAT AGAIN
Bear
Fasty
Super |
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tootype2crazy
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007
Posts: 1276
Location: St. Louis Missouri
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| Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 5:40 am Post subject: |
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Kirk you have a super and it's not in your signature line with its own thread? How sad!
Anway, nice bus! My advice is gather as much information as you can before touching it. This forum is awesome. See the Tech Tips in the stickies. Ratwell's site is very useful too. And if you are really starting from square one get John Muir's Idiot Manual, although you should take its advice with a grain of salt. Also the official service manual published by Robert Bentley is crucial.
_________________
air-cooled or nothing for me
1978 Sunroof Deluxe Bus (daily driver)
1978 Transporter (mom's, making into a camper)
1970 Single Cab 2.1 turbo/EFI 6 Rib, 78 front beam, vanagon backing plates on rear (project)
2001 GTI VR6 (wife's) |
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shiningstar76
Samba Brewer
Joined: July 12, 2003
Posts: 2689
Location: Savannah
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| Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 6:54 am Post subject: |
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I love that interior.
_________________
KK4NTP
96 Tacoma
86 4Runner
My bus caught on fire and is now on the other coast with someone who gave me money for it. |
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hoagy86
Samba Member
Joined: September 18, 2012
Posts: 367
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 6:57 am Post subject: |
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| congrats im down In Peoria illonois about 3 hours south of Chicago, hard to come across good buses. best of luck with your new bus |
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aryue
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2006
Posts: 1027
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 7:08 am Post subject: |
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| shiningstar76 wrote: |
| I love that interior. |
The tie-dye would look awesome in my 71. 
- Andrew in Austin, TX -
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OldandSlow - but still chuggin.
http://www.ph.utexas.edu/~yue/VW/VWBus.html |
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curtis4085
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2011
Posts: 4806
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 7:21 am Post subject: |
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Nice score!
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Special Thanks to:
Headflow Masters - Vista, CA
www.headflowmasters.com |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52734
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| Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 11:22 am Post subject: |
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| poptop tom wrote: |
Nice clean looking ride!
| Wildthings wrote: |
Does look like you have mighty small tires on there. If they are low profile (50 or 60 aspect ratio) verse just plain small they might not be too awfully bad. But if they are 70 or 75 A/R then they may handle horridly.
Your bus is also sitting high in the rear and low in the front, normal they sit the opposite when unloaded. Think someone may have set the rear torsion bars a bit high. This will cost you a bit of caster and add to the instability.
Replacing both the fuel lines and the brake hoses should be high on your to do list.
Looks nice otherwise, so you may have gotten a very good deal. |
Sounds like there might not be an engine installed at the moment. |
That would probably do it. |
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russwiththebus
Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2007
Posts: 930
Location: Chattanooga, TN
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| Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 11:40 am Post subject: |
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| Nice score, I was about your age when I bought mine. You'll love it... |
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69rulz
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2009
Posts: 867
Location: On a trip on my couch
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| Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome man, I'm 20 and have rebuilt most all my bus, but alas I must park it while I travel for school, looks like you got a good deal, treat it good, stay calm when theres problems, and smile when there are none
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Id rather die on my feet than live a life on my knees Right turn clyde |
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ivwshane
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2011
Posts: 1921
Location: Sacramento ca
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| Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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Very nice!
I wish my bus was that color but the PO painted white:(
The interior looks great too!
I'd say you scored a good one!
_________________
77 westy 2.0 FI
69 ghia coup 1600dp
70 single cab |
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Marleybus
Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2013
Posts: 314
Location: Oro Station, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 5:47 am Post subject: |
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Sweet Bus, I also have a Chrome Yellow 77 Westy, I didn't think much of the color originally but love it now. Good luck.
_________________
1972 VW Westy (Hit by dumptruck)
1963 VW Beetle (RIP)
1974 VW Beetle (RIP)
1981 Vanagon Westfalia (Sold)
1969 VW Beetle Convertible (Wifes)
1977 VW Westy 2.0L FI Chrome Yellow
1978 VW Westy 2.0L FI (Under Restoration)
1973 VW Westy 1.7L Tourist Delivery Orange
Check out my thread!!http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=556709 |
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WaterDawg
Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2013
Posts: 142
Location: Poultney, VT
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| Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 8:28 am Post subject: Re: Brought home my first VW this week. I couldn't be happie |
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| sonofamitch wrote: |
| My new bus is a 1977 Westfalia. I picked it up for $3400 (I'm not sure if that's good or bad). ... On the plus side, I like to think I have a pretty good head on my shoulders for a 19 year old. |
ANOTHER Teen taking on a Restoration...LOVE IT!
There is hope for this country 
Congratulations and look forward to following your progress. |
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Bala
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2003
Posts: 2637
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 11:37 am Post subject: |
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Nice!
I'm with Kirk, do what you need to get it on the road and start enjoying it!
Oh, yea, and Chrome Yellow Westy's rule!
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1976 Westy
1966 Beetle |
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