Learn me something about Vanagons!

[taylorb1]

Hey, this is my first post in the vanagon forum. I'm looking at a 1980. the pancake engine and Vanagons are totally foreign to me. What do I need to look out for?

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It's not dented, it's just been environmentally streamlined!

76 STD Bug-Sold
71 Transporter Converted To Camper.

[insyncro]

Welcome.
You found the Samba, so tools and spare parts are really all you will need to keep it going.

[taylorb1]

And money ha. I'm Very familiar with upright engines, bay windows, and all beetles. But never owned a van. I've heard bad story's about these late model air cooked engines. I see tho was concerned to carb, and obviously the Intake boots are shot.

In my eyes it looks clean with these pictures. But didnt know what y'all thought.
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It's not dented, it's just been environmentally streamlined!

76 STD Bug-Sold
71 Transporter Converted To Camper.

[danfromsyr]

I'm not a fan of the single 2Bbl carb but it will allow the bus to go down the road.
but there are several worries in this pic
* the blue tape on the intake runners.. that's a issue already in progress, replace with some quality silicone rubber ones.
* the fuel line looks sketchy to me. it's rubber in from the firewall on the pass side. then goes to the taillights area and is braided
* the red wire runs alongtop of the gasoline, if the wire were compromised it's a bad place to apply heat.
the connection of the red wire to the ignition coil is again sketchy. and just what does the wire power? I'll wager a guess that there's a low pressure fuel pump over there.
* on the Side of the distributor, is the vacuum can hooked up to anything?
these vans really, I mean REALLY need the timing to be correct and happy. yes it'll run w/bodged timing but it'll also only run for much less miles while a valve burns or a piston shreds from predetonation. Ahh I think I see a blue hose from the Dist to the carb.
* what would the 4 strand of trailer wiring be hooked upto?
* the Choke isn't hooked up, so it may not like cold/damp mornings. or it may not open the throttle plates 100% either.. it may be fine for some of the time.

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[insyncro]

Yes, plenty of money.

[danfromsyr]

heheh.. what he said

you'll want to bookmark and learn to love this site www.ratwell.com
and although it does not have factory fuel injection anymore there are plenty of tips to timing and keeping a happy Type-IV motor
the motor is it's heart, the rest is just a metal box on wheels.
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[onemat]

I have an '82 factory fuel injection, and it runs great. It leaks oil which I am going to fix. I have been on long trips without incident.
If that Vanagon is well under $2000.00 it's in the ball park.
If you're considering that one, there are lots of things to check.
1. Gas lines should be checked and replaced if they look old. Also all fittings from the gas tank to the carborator. Plastic stuff breaks easily causing fires. This is true in both aircooled and later waterboxers.
2. Brakes and suspension
3. CV boots leaking?
4. Tranny or engine leaks.
5. Stay away from automatics just my opinion.
6. General body and chassi condition, how's the rust?
7. Glass and glass seals.
8. Interior...

That chair in the back... well... I don't know if I would keep that..
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'82 Vanagon GL with 2.0 4-speed. Long term plan is to turn it into a camper.

[taylorb1]

The only thing y'all pointed out that I'm wondering and worried about is the odd trailer wiring loom. Everything else could be fixed in 30 mins.

He says it has lots of pep. Was DD then parked for a couple months, now this gentleman has it and knows nothing about VW's he said the battery whent dead after a short drive. however it ran out of gas and was subject to lots of cranking. Im thinking a bad battery, ground, or the alternator(or generator). Either way its a fairly easy fix.

I'd hate to get her and drop a valve seat 100 miles down the road.
Type 1 heads are cheap. Can't say the same for these. Type 4??


I'm trading my 64 F100 it's worth about 3k. I'm in GA and would value the bus at about 3k. 2.5k
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It's not dented, it's just been environmentally streamlined!

76 STD Bug-Sold
71 Transporter Converted To Camper.

[randywebb]

Ask yourself this: if a PO will put blue tape on the "won't start well in the cold" aftermarket intake manifold, then what else awaits an unsuspecting buyer?
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

[djkeev]

I like the gold living room swivel chair!

This van has been PO'd! Proceed carefully!
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Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[danfromsyr]

OK this is a completely differant take on things than your "Learn me something about vanagons" Subject heading..
you know they can be fixed with a pinto carb, blue tape and trailer wiring loom (I have trailer loom in mine fwiw)

do you want (de)constructive criticism or creative criticism,
if you can make it better than the last guy, good for you. now what were you asking for?

[canasync]

Having owned both older and newer VW cars and vans I personally would at least go for a Vanagon that is mid to late 80's. Otherwise I would not consider it an upgrade from your bay window. A newer van will give you things like power steering, fuel injection, a working heater etc.

I think that if you are considering this one then you may as well consider a late 70's bay window.

Instead of a early production model you would at least have a later more refined one.
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1987 Syncro
3 knobs
PumpeDüse TDI (17mm Garret Turbo, bigger injectors, stage 4 malone tune, intercooled)
Cruise Control
Planar Coolant Heater
Remote Start/locks
Custom Lift
Custom Bumpers with receivers
Coast Mountain Hightop - Comming Soon

1985 2wd Vanagon Pre-runner in the making
soon to be powered by 2.5L Subaru
Custom Lift

[geo_tonz]

I don't know what Vanagons go for in Georgia but up here they're usually higher priced and I would never touch an old air cooled tin top for the price you're talking unless it ran spectacularly and was obviously well maintained. Taping up intakes instead of replacing is not "well maintained". The body does look nice but the few interior pics look kinda gross and worn. $3k sounds very overpriced for what is currently a lawn ornament with "potential" and some mold to scrub off the seats and headliner (by the look of the picture). Tin top air cooled Vanagons just aren't worth that much that I've seen. Maybe I missed something? Fixed in 30 min? Sure....and only $20 in parts too! Just like my vans that "only needed..."

EDIT: looking on CL shows a few vans in your area including a nice 1990 Vanagon or a 1980 Westy in ok shape for not much more that $3k.
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"Ron Burgundy": 1991 Vanagon Multivan (Weekender) 2.1L Auto - Driver/Camper

[CessnaJon]

$1000 at the most, even here in GA.
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1973 Westy (shared birthday)
1990 Westy Multivan
2015 Passat TDI 6sp
2015 Sportwagon TDI 6sp
LR-JET, Gulfstream 159

[randywebb]

I would touch an old air cooled tin top to drop a Porsche 6 cyl. in to it. Otherwise, no.
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

[rubbachicken]

depending on how the body is it doesn't look too bad from the pictures, it could be a great please to start enjoying life in a vanagon.
if you can get the engine to run well, leave it running well, it is entirely possible to convert it to water cooled, if you wanted a subaru conversion, or similar.
yes it might be cheaper in the long run to buy a later bus, but there is something in the earlier vanagons.
i like the rear vents, they're plastic on later vans, it probably doesn't have that much of a padded dash, to another plus.
if you like the look of the bus, and it feels right, go ahead buy it.

only if it feels right, don't feel pushed into buying, you won't enjoy the bus as much
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lucy our westy

lucy's BIG adventure

meet 'burni'

[Howesight]

As a recovered air-coolaholic, I can tell you that there is just no joy in the Type 4 air-cooled engine in the Vanagon. The Vanagon is much heavier than the Bus and the Type 4 barely managed to push the Bus around.

That van is not worth any more than $1,000. The stock fuel injection that should be on it works far better than that crappy 2-barrel setup that some vendors fooled too many type 4 owners into buying.

That van is the "No" van - - no heat, no power, no reliability, no way.

You will find lots of decent mid-1980's Vanagons with reliable water-cooled engines for $3,000. Keep looking.
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'86 Syncro Westy SVX

[Howesight]

Just one example off Craigslist in Atlanta:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/cto/4181909846.html
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'86 Syncro Westy SVX

[CessnaJon]

Yeah- that 2 barrel has to go, and the custom chair.
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1973 Westy (shared birthday)
1990 Westy Multivan
2015 Passat TDI 6sp
2015 Sportwagon TDI 6sp
LR-JET, Gulfstream 159

[oldhuldy67]

TaylorB, I'm in Woodstock. I have a 80Westy barn find, sat 15 years but was all there, paid $1200...16K later?? well, I am finishing up... check out gallery and send me a Private Message, John in GA