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championbaum
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2017
Posts: 91
Location: Texas
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 Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 3:04 pm Post subject: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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Picked up this 78 Westy from a friend who had it parked in a campsite for the last several years. It's in pretty good shape, replaced the fuel lines, battery, distributor cap, wires, plugs and it fired right up and the fam and I went on a camping trip. I told them to expect to break down but we made it the 400 miles without incident.
I am starting to do a bit of body work and taking care of a few rusty spots to get it prepped to get painted. The wiring is a mess and I will start working on cleaning that up as well, there are a bunch of switches added I have no idea what or if they are connected to. Ordered some coil overs to try to bring the rear up a bit and new shocks for the front, new tires (those General Grabbers I've seen on here), new CV joints/boots, and a few seals. Hoping to keep it operable while I slowly improve upon its current state.
This is my first post so if I did anything wrong please feel free to berate me into compliance.
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williamM
Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2008
Posts: 4333
Location: southwest Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 3:18 pm Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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 wow 400+ miles on --not just a mystery motor, but a mystery everything-- not bad-- nice looking bus too.
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opinion untempered by fact is ignorance.
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wcfvw69 
Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 13389
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 3:22 pm Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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Welcome to The Samba! 
The bus looks nice and dry but if it's lived in Texas, there ya go! Good on you for already getting out there and driving it. Hopefully Tcash will post his welcome with some good reminders too.
Make sure you check ALL the fuel lines in that bus and have a fire extinguisher on board. There is TONS of great information on this site to help you navigate putting your bus back in great condition.
Keep updating this thread with your progress too. We love pictures.
_________________
Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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Stuartzickefoose
Samba Post Whore
Joined: February 07, 2008
Posts: 10350
Location: SoCal for now...
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| Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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Return the coilovers, bad idea. They break the body of the bus at the shock mounts. They work, but you won’t like them most likely if they break the bus 
Awesome Bus, wax it don’t paint it. Paint looks find from here
Look up the lift kit from wagers west, proper way to go up if you want to.
Fuel line, LED engine lights, the usual. You’ll hear a lot more I’m sure. Nice Bus!
Look up how to re index the rear torsion bars. New bushings and re index and just standard shocks will do wonders.
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Stuart Zickefoose
2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual
206-841-7324
[email protected] |
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honestcharlie56
Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2017
Posts: 87
Location: Houston, Tx
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| Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 6:18 pm Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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| Good lookin westy, I like the untested travel! |
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championbaum
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2017
Posts: 91
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 6:53 pm Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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| Thanks for the heads up on the coil overs Stuart, I’ll look into other solutions including what you mentioned to bring the rear up. We go on trips that require short stretches of decent clearance, nothing crazy but forest roads that may be rutted out a bit. |
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championbaum
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2017
Posts: 91
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 6:57 pm Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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| Thanks Charlie, we even got it stuck in the mud and had to get pulled out! Pretty fun first trip with the wife and kiddo. I honestly expected to break down, but we were ahead of a few friends so I thought it would be a good opportunity to see how it ran, which was surprisingly good. |
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wcfvw69
Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 13389
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 7:33 pm Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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| championbaum wrote: |
| Thanks for the heads up on the coil overs Stuart, I’ll look into other solutions including what you mentioned to bring the rear up. We go on trips that require short stretches of decent clearance, nothing crazy but forest roads that may be rutted out a bit. |
I'd reindex the rear torsion bars first to see if that resolves your ride height in the rear. Several good threads on how to do it. If the rear torsion bar bushings haven't been changed, they need to be.
_________________
Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22665
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 3:01 am Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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If your CVs aren't making noise, return the ordered ones and just clean and lubricate yours...and put new boots on.
The stuff that came from Germany is far superior to aftermarket
How many miles on the beast??
Cue the tcash post
Cue the Bears....
(Our initiation ritual)
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.ssS! |
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Tcash
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011
Posts: 12844
Location: San Jose, California, USA
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| Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:10 am Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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Welcome to TheSamba, Bay Window Bus Forum!
73-79 NEWBIE
| Tcash wrote: |
Every Type IV engine owner should know this!!!
If you over tighten the Oil Strainer bolt, you will brake the engine case!
There is a Oil strainer in there.
TORQUE THE STRAINER BOLT TO NO MORE THAN 9 FT. LBS. |
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Tcash
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011
Posts: 12844
Location: San Jose, California, USA
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| Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:17 am Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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| Stuartzickefoose wrote: |
Return the coilovers, bad idea. They break the body of the bus at the shock mounts. They work, but you won’t like them most likely if they break the bus
Awesome Bus, wax it don’t paint it. Paint looks find from here
Look up the lift kit from wagers west, proper way to go up if you want to.
Fuel line, LED engine lights, the usual. You’ll hear a lot more I’m sure. Nice Bus!
Look up how to re index the rear torsion bars. New bushings and re index and just standard shocks will do wonders. |
This is what can happen, if the rear upper shock mount is not reinforced.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=685886&highlight=shock+mount
Best to adjust the rear spring plates.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=121703
Good luck
Tcash |
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Manfred58sc
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2009
Posts: 3382
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| Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:20 am Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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I've run coil overs for years w/o issue. Just drive it sanely without overloading and you will be fine. The torn upper shock mounts come from abuse or fatigue after many,many miles.
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championbaum
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2017
Posts: 91
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 12:16 pm Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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| Fair point Abscate, I figured if I was removing the boot to replace that I might as well replace the joint, but you are probably right. I planned on inspecting them, so if they are in good shape I will just clean up and grease them up. |
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wcfvw69
Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 13389
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 12:50 pm Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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| championbaum wrote: |
| Fair point Abscate, I figured if I was removing the boot to replace that I might as well replace the joint, but you are probably right. I planned on inspecting them, so if they are in good shape I will just clean up and grease them up. |
Abscate is right on point. Sadly, a lot of the original VW parts are miles ahead in quality than what's sold "new" today. My 67 bug has 160kish miles on it. It's running all it's original tie rods that have zero play and no leaking grease boots.
If a parts bad and worn it, it needs to be replaced. However, many parts are not and only need to be cleaned up and serviced and have thousands and thousands of miles left on them.
_________________
Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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TomWesty
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2007
Posts: 3482
Location: Wyoming,USA
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| Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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| Manfred58sc wrote: |
| I've run coil overs for years w/o issue. Just drive it sanely without overloading and you will be fine. The torn upper shock mounts come from abuse or fatigue after many,many miles. |
Ditto. I've run coil overs for at least 20 years. They are now worn out and I am going to replace them with air shocks. I'll report back and fall on my sword if and when I break a shock mount.
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Bleyseng
Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2005
Posts: 4752
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 11:06 pm Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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| championbaum wrote: |
| Thanks for the heads up on the coil overs Stuart, I’ll look into other solutions including what you mentioned to bring the rear up. We go on trips that require short stretches of decent clearance, nothing crazy but forest roads that may be rutted out a bit. |
Look up how to re index the rear torsion bars. New bushings and re index and just standard shocks will do wonders. Pretty easy to do to!
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70 Ghia Black convert-9/69 build date-stock w/133k 1600 SP-barn find now with a rebuilt tranny and engine
77 Westy 2.0L w/Ljet, Camper Special engine-95hp and with LSD!(sold)
76 Porsche 914 2.1L L20c, 120hp Djet (sold)
87 Syncro Westy Titan Red 2.1L 2 knob 100k miles |
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championbaum
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2017
Posts: 91
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:22 am Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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So I am looking into doing the torsion bar reindex, my question is, should I be taking the angle with the the weight of the vehicle on the suspension or free and hanging? I went through a few write ups, but for whatever reason I can't see all the images so I am trying to imagine it.
Edit: Manual says "spring plates unloaded" FYI
Last edited by championbaum on Mon Oct 30, 2017 3:07 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:31 am Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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Man, I love me them bears... 
Link
| Abscate wrote: |
If your CVs aren't making noise, return the ordered ones and just clean and lubricate yours...and put new boots on.
The stuff that came from Germany is far superior to aftermarket
How many miles on the beast??
Cue the tcash post
Cue the Bears....
(Our initiation ritual)
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_________________
| Abscate wrote: |
| These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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wcfvw69
Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 13389
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:38 am Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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| championbaum wrote: |
| So I am looking into doing the torsion bar reindex, my question is, should I be taking the angle with the the weight of the vehicle on the suspension or free and hanging? I went through a few write ups, but for whatever reason I can't see all the images so I am trying to imagine it. |
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=399837&highlight=torsion+bar
This thread covers it well. You want your bus to be level front to back and side to side with it up on four jack stands. When you disconnect the torsion plate, you lift it off the ledge with a jack. It's under a lot of tension so be careful. When you pull it off the ledge and lower it so it's not under tension, measure the angle. Again, the bus needs to be level front to back and side to side.
_________________
Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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championbaum
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2017
Posts: 91
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:53 am Post subject: Re: Picked up a 78 Westy |
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[quote="danfromsyr"]Man, I love me them bears...
Link
| Abscate wrote: |
If your CVs aren't making noise, return the ordered ones and just clean and lubricate yours...and put new boots on.
The stuff that came from Germany is far superior to aftermarket
How many miles on the beast??
Cue the tcash post
Cue the Bears....
(Our initiation ritual)
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[/quote
I saw those Bears on another thread and sent them to my wife.
Thanks for that link. |
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