My 1979 Riviera

[Tumbledown76]

Heya,

Yup, I am the guy who snagged the Dakota Beige 1979 Riviera from West Coast Samba (the ad is actually still listed as SALE PENDING). I have been nosing around these forums for a little while, and it's high time i posted.

I actually just returned from a week in WA state climbing Mt. Baker and Mt. Silver Star, but made the bus purchase 2 weeks after I already left. So I could not drive it home and had to have it shipped. It arrived a bit late, but it's here safe and sound. My family and I (2 little ones) are already having a blast in it. We have several trips lined up soon.

There are some minor electrical issues (no emergency signal lights or turn signal light on the dash), saw a few missing relays, and currently figuring out the auxiliary battery setup as it looks like some janky wiring took place. It'll get shored up. Shore power, hook-ups, sink, stove, propane all work like a dream. It drives amazingly well, what a nice clutch...aah.

Noticed some oil dripping and I am having that checked out till I further my education in the air-cooled world. Under the oil pan and to the left and right have drips a' happenin', and it's pretty soaked. I welcome the challenges and the test to my patience. It's been fun already getting in there and looking around. Been reading the HTKYVWA front to back and just got a fresh Bentley Manual.

I have been a life-long lover of VW Buses and blessed to own my own bay. My earliest memories are of my mother driving us around in hers, no heat in the freezing NE weather, with an external propane tank sloshing around (with a pilot light) on the floor, just waiting to spill and catch fire. Ha! I remember just looking into the rear view mirror as a kid, and smiling at her.

I look forward to meetings folks and learning a ton.

[crushie]

I shudder when I think of what you paid wcs.
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1974 VW Combi 1800 Auto. Weber 32/36

[curtp07]

Im just down the road if you ever need a hand. 20 mins away.

What was the sale price?
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Subaru

[Tcash]

Welcome to TheSamba, Bay Window Bus Forum!

[Abscate]

Great to see them on the East coast.

See you on the Mass Pike....
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[Tumbledown76]

[VDubTech]

Reach up under the dash where the 4 way flasher switch is, pop the back cover back on it and secure it with a zip tie. That'll fix your flashers and turn signals and you'll never have to worry about it again.
Without seeing your wiring for the aux battery it's hard to say but I'm gonna put it out there that what you have is factory. The wiring for the aux battery looks like an afterthought in every camper I've ever owned. Very small gauge wiring. Post up a pic of yours, I bet it's original, especially judging by the looks of your Bus.
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First Trip in the RustyBus:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=279077&highlight=

[Xevin]

Congrats on the Rivi. Good times ahead.

Consider ripping out that not museum quality or VW front side marker and replacing that 68-72 silver rear marker to original style. That bus is pretty and should have the correct details. Cheers! Some links to the proper look.
Sometimes it's fun to hit the swap meets or Samba classifieds to find OEM stuff. (Not suggesting you buy from CIP1. Just examples)

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C16%2D221%2D363B%2DLR

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C16%2D221%2D119B%2DLR
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Keep on Busin'

[Tumbledown76]

[Tumbledown76]

So the engine was degreased, source of the oil leaking is from the head gaskets, which from the little I know, I suspected. After 15 miles of driving, post degrease, droplets started forming on the right side of the engine. Looks like the engine already needs to be dropped.... There is no way I can justify paying a garage to do it. In labor it could more than half the price of a rebuild. Was not expecting to have to do it quite so soon...but I know it's a gamble, which I tried to minimize up front. Some good advice here from some pros would be much appreciated. I know I am newb in light of you all but "I'm on the road to find out". Be looking at buying this aye? ( http://www.jbugs.com/product/029198009.html )

And...it most likely needs front brakes as well (was feeling some shaking lightly applying the brakes when in fourth, bearings have been since repacked, slight shake still there), disks are rusty, calipers seem to be working ok. Gotta remove those too now to further inspect.

Thanks!

[jtauxe]

FIRST: Disconnect the battery.

[Tumbledown76]

@jtauxe!

Thanks for adding that "FIRST" to VDubTech's response, definitely the first thing I've been doing before working on the electrical One new discovery, the hazard light was modified to run the marker lights (upon replacing a broken switch and damaged relay.) Finding traces of laziness...be gone demons.

Both feet at once in lava. That's how it feels. I mean there could be a chance that it's more than just the head gaskets right? My fear is that I will have it apart and perhaps not have the know-how to further check for issues at that time. Put it back together, which I am sure will be a chore for a first-timer, only to find out I jacked something up.

When the bus arrived, I noticed the small drip right away and when talking to the seller upon delivery was told "I am not sure I have ever had a VW that did not leak a little...". Not the greatest response, haha, but what's he really going to do for me at this point...? Nada, nor do I expect it. It certainly did not make me feel any better after that conversation. But is this true? Is there ever a time a leak is slight enough that it can actually drive for a while...? Of course the problem will compound. Not that I don't want to do it.

Thanks for the welcome and the help. I am certainly stoked about my bus.

[alman72]

But is this true? Is there ever a time a leak is slight enough that it can actually drive for a while...?

Man, are you asking for it.....
but I will say yes, and prepare for the hate.
(it really depends on where it is leaking from)

[lil-jinx]

I don't think that a head gasket would leak oil, more then likely the leak is from the push rod tubes.The o-ring seals can be replaced without to much effort or cost.
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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620186
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=668799
1974 Bay Westfalia. she likes to be called Ethel.
1968 Dune Buggy sold dec 2024

1974 parts bus
A smart man learns from his mistakes,a very smart man learns from other's mistakes.

[Tumbledown76]

In 4 days, not a drop of oil on the ground. I wonder if the engine was just sweating some oil from gunk build-up and having been sitting around? Good news I suppose.

But...the bus doesn't even start now. 3 days ago, broke down with family in tow while in 4th gear (going about 50). Bus started to lose power, lightly pressed the gas...it kicked a bit, as I pulled over into the breakdown lane, shifting down to the 3rd as I slowed down, the power kicked back on, finished the few miles till I got home. Noticeably losing power.

Yesterday, it started (barely), felt...meh...drove it about 100 yards. Died. Luckily very close to my house. Had to push it down the road and home. Aw yeah...let the good times roll.

Internally, this bus is certainly not meeting up to what it was chalked up to be thus far "ready to drive across the country or as a daily driver". Looks nice though. haha.

I'll take the steps from Muir's book to troubleshoot why it's not starting (getting very light power turning the key, chug chug....chug). In terms of the power loss issue while driving, that kicking feeling (where you feel as if you push on the gas it will buck you) I have read it could be a heat riser issue, perhaps I am fuel starved...but it somehow all seems related.

Either way, certainly not driving it (and not with the family) till I start to make progress. I need to buy an ATV jacks and stands and get ready to drop my first engine (following Ratwell's steps). At that time, replaced fuel lines and a slew of other things that are suggested while the engine is out.

[aerosurfer]

[aerosurfer]

[Randy in Maine]

As you have discovered you don't have a heat riser. That was for carbed engines.

If I might make a suggestion....

Set up an appointment with "Stanagon" over in Natick.....

www.stanagon.com

He can show you how to make sure your ignition system is 100% and will also show you how to make sure the Temp Sensor II is working correctly.

[Tumbledown76]

@aerosurfer:
I appreciate the time you've taken. I have started to discover the good that is Ratwell.com and will keep my focus there and on the Bentley Manual. I am just soaking in all the resources and do intend to repair everything properly.

I will start getting some pictures up today. And as suggested...I will start simpler before and check those 'simple' things first.

The seller had written that the bus was updated with electronic ignition (no more points).

In quickly poking around at hoses and tubes, as an aside, the right hot air fan hose (connected to the air blower) is severed in half, and the thicker plastic part (which the oval end goes over) is not connected to the metal tube that comes up from the right heat exchanger (hopefully my terminology is right here). The rubber seal seems to be intact (that prevents the hose from being cut by the metal/tin). The metal tube (oval shaped) that connects the right air hose and the right heater exchanger is also not bolted in (seems the screw popped out, i can feel the hole when I get under the bus). This should not affect anything related to my dying while driving issue should it? Other than the heat being weak? I did notice when I crawled the bus back to my place after the first breakdown, it smelled super hot, and I could not even touch the dipstick.

In having spent a good amount of time reading and researching last night I am also starting to suspect the TS II, based on exact symptons others had on the AirCooled Rescue site.

@Randy in Maine: suspecting the TS II, and I think I saw your name in the thread I am talking about on the AirCooled Rescue site.

Great suggestion, thanks. I will give Stanagon a ring. But I am not sure what to do at this point, I am super low on bread and I would never trust driving it to Natick from here. It's tough, I clearly spent a good chunk of change on this bus, hoping it would buy me some time to enjoy it while I reload the wallet for upcoming issues. Hoping to start with the chips stacked in my favor in a way? I have two little ones, a 1 and 3.5 year old (who is as stoked as me) who I want to have these early bus life experiences with, as I had, but I also need to make sure they are safe. So far, they have broken down three times in the bus with me...oi.

So, I went out this morning to see if I could drive it form the bottom of my driveway back into the garage, turned it to the first position, all appropriate lights came on, back to 0, and then to Starting Position. It started!....died within 2 seconds. I tried again, it started (both times held the key no longer than 4-5 seconds in the start position)...I could feel it start to die and I gave it some gas and it held (not much, I hear it's not good to do?). I could feel the longer I let it idle (only 30 seconds or so) that it was getting slower on the idle and getting ready to die. So I gently revved it, reversed it and drove it about 50 feet up my driveway (15-20 degree incline). It felt like it had plenty of power while in first getting up the hill. But I still don't trust it. At least I can start getting into the 'simpler' tests tonight, enclosed away from the swarm of mosquitos...

[aerosurfer]

Still sounds like vacuum leaks. You said it ran good then it didn't.....

That's likely fuel delivery, electrical or a hose broke/ came loose.

You are right about the heater hoses, nothing to do with running at idle. You can just tape over the holes with aluminum tape for now to seal it up.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=649039&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Never mind this guys crazy wiring concoctions in the first 2 pages, he does do a good job of finding and fixing vac leaks, albeit with homemade hoses, as well as some common fuel injection issues to eventually get his bus running. You may find some good inspiration there, as well as a clean engine bay to work look at
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77 Westy 2.0L Rockin and Rolling Resto!

72 Sportsmobile (sold)
79 Tran$porter... Parts car money machine (gone)