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Serpent7
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2008
Posts: 410
Location: Temple Hills, MD.
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 Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 6:03 am Post subject: What not to do! |
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Ok, thought I'd start a, "What not to do!" thread. I love my VW's. Aircooled, watercooled, for me it really dosen't matter. As long as it has a VW sign, and VW parts I'll drive it with a grin. TheSamba.com is a great resource for all of us, but what I think it lacks is a thread(s) on things you shouldn't do on a VW. Not only list what not to do, but list also why, or what the results are from doing it, so without further delay this is my, "What not to do"....
Never put Champion spark plugs in a Bay Bus. Pep boy was fresh out of all spark plugs and I had no choise at the time. My Bus ran ok, (just ok) for about three days before it started missing and running super sluggish with very low torque. I will be installing Bosche plugs as soon as I can get soe at my local stores.
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2019 Audi Q5
2014 Volkswagen Touareg X
1997 Honda Shadow
1979 Kawasaki KZ1000
1979 Volkswagen Transporter
1973 Volkswagen Thing |
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Bezzer
Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2006
Posts: 288
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 6:42 am Post subject: |
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Aint it so. My 914 came with Champion plugs, and it did not start or run. Put one Bosch plug in and she ran on one cylinder(skip skip skip bang), second Bosch, two cylinders, well you get the picture. At first I could not understand why it would not start, she had spark at distributor, then I pulled the POS plugs and she runs like a super star.  |
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VDubTech
Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2002
Posts: 9142
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 7:17 am Post subject: |
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Don't waste your time with any plugs other than NGK.
_________________
First Trip in the RustyBus:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=279077&highlight=
| borninabus wrote: |
| a measurement of your rod would be extremely useful. |
| notchboy wrote: |
| my dad wasnt a belittling cock when he tought me how to wrench on cars. |
| EverettB wrote: |
One photo = good for reference.
10 photos = douchebaggery |
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germansupplyscott
Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2004
Posts: 7093
Location: toronto
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 7:22 am Post subject: |
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don't cheap out. buy the best quality parts available so next time you need something, the good stuff will still be available. the more people who try to cheap out and buy garbage replacement parts, the more impetus the parts suppliers have to bring crap to the marketplace.
also don't forget to support your local shops. this might sound strange coming from someone who runs an online business and has customers who come from all over the world, but we have lot of local customers too and the only way to ensure these the local business will be there for you when you need them, is to support them. even if it costs a few bucks more, give them the business and it will benefit you in the long run.
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RIOMX
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2005
Posts: 1234
Location: La Crosse, WI
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 7:56 am Post subject: |
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| germansupplyscott wrote: |
don't cheap out. buy the best quality parts available so next time you need something, the good stuff will still be available. the more people who try to cheap out and buy garbage replacement parts, the more impetus the parts suppliers have to bring crap to the marketplace.
also don't forget to support your local shops. this might sound strange coming from someone who runs an online business and has customers who come from all over the world, but we have lot of local customers too and the only way to ensure these the local business will be there for you when you need them, is to support them. even if it costs a few bucks more, give them the business and it will benefit you in the long run. |
x2
This is why I don't mind and never get upset when I have to take my bus to the shop. Though it's frustrating paying for repairs, I know that I am helping them stay in business and continue to stock hard-to-find parts. I'd hate to think how life would be if there wasn't a local VW shop to get me out of tough situations when myself or my friends have hit an impasse.
My contribution is directed at those who wish to do T4 to T1 conversions:
If you feel that you absolutely *have* to do this for whatever reason, please make sure that you purchase a fiberglass conversion tin from Creative Car Crafts to help the T1 motor stay cool. When I bought my bus, there was a hacked aluminum metal "tin" that didn't cover the whole area, had no engine seal, and wasn't keeping any hot air out. The poor bug motor could barely breathe and constantly overheated. |
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Stuartzickefoose
Samba Post Whore
Joined: February 07, 2008
Posts: 10350
Location: SoCal for now...
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 8:57 am Post subject: |
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dont forget to cover the intake manifold when you take the carbs off...  
and DONT forget to tighten down those wheels, even if its the maiden voyage...lucky me i was only a block and a half from home.... 
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Stuart Zickefoose
2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual
206-841-7324
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 21519
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 11:05 am Post subject: |
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| VDubTech wrote: |
| Don't waste your time with any plugs other than NGK. |
I find the Bosch Nickle coppers (any category) to be as good or equal to NGK (W7DTC's especially)...which is all I use on type 4 engines. NGK are good...but no better in quality than Bosch. It matters the series. Ray |
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Stuartzickefoose
Samba Post Whore
Joined: February 07, 2008
Posts: 10350
Location: SoCal for now...
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 11:28 am Post subject: |
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Dont put the fuel filters in the engine compartment.
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Stuart Zickefoose
2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual
206-841-7324
[email protected] |
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Serpent7
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2008
Posts: 410
Location: Temple Hills, MD.
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Stuartzickefoose wrote: |
| Dont put the fuel filters in the engine compartment. |
Ha, ha! Good one!
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2019 Audi Q5
2014 Volkswagen Touareg X
1997 Honda Shadow
1979 Kawasaki KZ1000
1979 Volkswagen Transporter
1973 Volkswagen Thing |
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Sawsalesman
Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2009
Posts: 796
Location: Ashland, NH
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Don't post engine questions without letting others know what you have for a motor in your bus. |
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cr@M
Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2007
Posts: 1199
Location: Moscow, ID
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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| RIOMX wrote: |
| germansupplyscott wrote: |
don't cheap out. buy the best quality parts available so next time you need something, the good stuff will still be available. the more people who try to cheap out and buy garbage replacement parts, the more impetus the parts suppliers have to bring crap to the marketplace.
also don't forget to support your local shops. this might sound strange coming from someone who runs an online business and has customers who come from all over the world, but we have lot of local customers too and the only way to ensure these the local business will be there for you when you need them, is to support them. even if it costs a few bucks more, give them the business and it will benefit you in the long run. |
x2
This is why I don't mind and never get upset when I have to take my bus to the shop. Though it's frustrating paying for repairs, I know that I am helping them stay in business and continue to stock hard-to-find parts. I'd hate to think how life would be if there wasn't a local VW shop to get me out of tough situations when myself or my friends have hit an impasse.
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You're both completely right. That's also why i refuse to shop at Wal-Mart.
_________________
1972 Deluxe named Lucidity
1973 Transporter
"He who fights with monsters must see to it that he himself does not become a monster...
when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."
-Friedrich Nietzsche
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Stuartzickefoose
Samba Post Whore
Joined: February 07, 2008
Posts: 10350
Location: SoCal for now...
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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dont over rev or lug you VW at all....
not much of a thing to not do while working on it, but something to not do while driving.
btw, where is the sweet spot that i would want to be cruisin at around town? 78 westy fi 2.0, i usually try to get it around 1800-2500, sometime when im trying to get heat in the bus, around 3-4000. wheres a good spot? wheres a spot that would count as over revving?
Stuart
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Stuart Zickefoose
2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual
206-841-7324
[email protected] |
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Stuartzickefoose
Samba Post Whore
Joined: February 07, 2008
Posts: 10350
Location: SoCal for now...
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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| cr@M wrote: |
| RIOMX wrote: |
| germansupplyscott wrote: |
don't cheap out. buy the best quality parts available so next time you need something, the good stuff will still be available. the more people who try to cheap out and buy garbage replacement parts, the more impetus the parts suppliers have to bring crap to the marketplace.
also don't forget to support your local shops. this might sound strange coming from someone who runs an online business and has customers who come from all over the world, but we have lot of local customers too and the only way to ensure these the local business will be there for you when you need them, is to support them. even if it costs a few bucks more, give them the business and it will benefit you in the long run. |
x2
This is why I don't mind and never get upset when I have to take my bus to the shop. Though it's frustrating paying for repairs, I know that I am helping them stay in business and continue to stock hard-to-find parts. I'd hate to think how life would be if there wasn't a local VW shop to get me out of tough situations when myself or my friends have hit an impasse.
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You're both completely right. That's also why i refuse to shop at Wal-Mart. |
wal mart wont let me shopt there....i got kicked out... 
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Stuart Zickefoose
2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual
206-841-7324
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Randy in Maine
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003
Posts: 34890
Location: The Beach
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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| NEVER put more than 9 foot pounds of torque on the type 4 sump bolt. |
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blitz18qb
Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2010
Posts: 138
Location: Sacramento
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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Don't waste your time prying the springs off of drum brake assemblies with 2 screwdrivers or screwdriver/plyer combo's. Buy the $7 tool thats designed to take them off and more importantly put them back on.
Do not test an alternator by taking the terminal off the battery and seeing if the motor dies.
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TheShane
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2008
Posts: 356
Location: Lexington, Ky
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Randy in Maine wrote: |
| NEVER put more than 9 foot pounds of torque on the type 4 sump bolt. |
x2...
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'78 Sunroof Bus
Central KY VW Club
| NASkeet wrote: |
| I suppose that's what happens when one drives a passion wagon, which comes factory-fitted with a double bed. |
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TheShane
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2008
Posts: 356
Location: Lexington, Ky
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bigbore
Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2003
Posts: 3297
Location: Wasilla Alaska
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Randy in Maine wrote: |
| NEVER put more than 9 foot pounds of torque on the type 4 sump bolt. |
Man I used to see that all the time back when thay were new. Time to pull the engine down.  I would tell some guys when thay would bring them to me.
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VDubTech
Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2002
Posts: 9142
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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| hazetguy wrote: |
| no i don't, fuck off. |
You're like the brother I never had. 
_________________
First Trip in the RustyBus:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=279077&highlight=
| borninabus wrote: |
| a measurement of your rod would be extremely useful. |
| notchboy wrote: |
| my dad wasnt a belittling cock when he tought me how to wrench on cars. |
| EverettB wrote: |
One photo = good for reference.
10 photos = douchebaggery |
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Stuartzickefoose
Samba Post Whore
Joined: February 07, 2008
Posts: 10350
Location: SoCal for now...
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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dont let your bus run low on oil. or fill it too full.
Stuart
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Stuart Zickefoose
2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual
206-841-7324
[email protected] |
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