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ThomasC
Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2018
Posts: 53
Location: Olney, MD
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 Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 10:55 am Post subject: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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Hi all, am I posting this in the right forum? I'm 14 years old and I'm looking to buy my first vanagon. I've been interested in them since I was 6 yrs old. I am looking into buying a westy, or possible a weekender. Can anyone help me figure out what I need to watch out for when buying one? I am mechanically inclined, and I want one that doesn't run, but not something that's not easily fixable. Thanks in advance.  |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Team WorldTour
Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 2426
Location: Der Vaterland
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 12:34 pm Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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Welcome to The Samba!
Change your fuel lines!
Oh, wait. You're not that far along yet.....
_________________
1990 Feldjäger Syncro AAZ
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H6 Subaru Engine Swap Thread
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"Where am I going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?" -Nicodemus Jordan
When All Else Fails: Lather, Rinse, Repeat! |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9808
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 12:56 pm Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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Good for you - starting early on something that can become a life-long hobby, passion, madness & one that you can share with others in your life in years to come.
My dream van would be a Westy still wearing its original paint. You want to be wary of rust and of rusty vans that have been poorly repaired. There are a lot of short-cuts owners take to hide rust for awhile - maybe just long enough to sell the van.
The surest way to know what condition the body is in is to be looking at a van that has never been repainted.
Fortunately, 'easily fixable' covers a lot of what can be wrong with one of these as someone willing to learn and get greasy can fix almost anything.
Best of luck in your quest. |
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Pinetops
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2007
Posts: 2987
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 1:49 pm Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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May as well get one that runs if possible, you will have plenty of work ahead of you either way. Way more if you have to go through every system just to get in the road to see what else it needs. These things are money pits, fun money pits.
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"A rolling bus gathers no rust." |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6556
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 2:34 pm Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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| Team WorldTour wrote: |
Welcome to The Samba!
Change your fuel lines!
Oh, wait. You're not that far along yet.....
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Change 'em anyway! 
Welcome, young enthusiast, you've chosen the right affliction and we'll be begging you for advice soon enough!
As indicated, AVOID RUST!!!
Secondly, if your paper route pays this well, I must look at that business again.
Kidding, naturally. Your attitude fits, if your type of Vanagon Mania is of mechanical curiosity and grease-up-to-and-including-the-elbows sort of sickness, you are amongst equally-afflicted friends here. I for one admire your diligence!
Oh, AVOID RUST!
-- The End --
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22665
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 3:49 pm Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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These threads are totally awesome
Welcome to the fold , young person.
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.ssS! |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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is the seller happy or sad to be selling..
that's about it.
_________________
| Abscate wrote: |
| These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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mbwesty
Samba Member
Joined: July 28, 2007
Posts: 295
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 8:59 pm Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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| A for sale sign and don't ever leave your contact info on one asking to buy it...lol |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6556
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 9:07 pm Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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Well yeah, I would *never* leave that!
I leave yours.
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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jimf909 
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7468
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 9:53 pm Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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| danfromsyr wrote: |
is the seller happy or sad to be selling..
that's about it. |
Outstanding advice. My POs outgrew the van (they bought a diesel Jeep and an RV trailer to accommodate their family). She bought the van nearly 20 years before the sale. The man she married was almost as meticulous as she was in caring for the van. She cleaned every nook and cranny before the sale. He attended to every maintenance item. Their boy loved the van. She cried when we drove away. Caring POs are one of the most important elements of a PPI. Years later I continue to appreciate all that they did for the van. A few inches of seam rust is a tiny drawback when compared to awesome POs.
Even non-runners can have a great PO or a slob. Look at the wires running to the radio, crawl around the van and look for zip-ties used as short-term repairs, worse, zip ties that haven’t been trimmed. Look for the cludgey attempts to “improve” the van.
When I was your age I was wrenching endlessly on bicycles. A passion for fixing a Vanagon is similar (just a different platform).
You may find that you keep this van for 20 years or more so find one that’s as original as possible. As folks have mentioned, original paint, original dings (no hacked body filler), an absence of lame mods (hacked closet door in a Westy, etc.). All those things can be fixed but there are plenty of things that will already need attention.
Enjoy!
_________________
- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22665
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2018 4:28 am Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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| Quote: |
| zip ties that haven’t been trimmed |
I respectfully remind the community there are young people present.
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.ssS! |
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vanagonjr
Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2010
Posts: 3431
Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2018 10:09 am Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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I have a friend who bought an Edsel station wagon at age 13. He is upper 50's for now ands still has it. Drove it across the US as well.
It's a good plan. I think the main thing to look out for is rust, but he learned and did body work - but you do need someone to guide you there.
The van is pretty perfect to buy, they are great for travel. Also, relatively easy to access most items for repair or replacement.
To be the best find is a rust free body, and don't sorry about the mechanicals. You can dress those as systems - brake system, fuel system, engine, suspension, etc.
Best of luck.
_________________
John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
LiMBO (late model bus club) www.limbobus.org
LiMBO is on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/groups/
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798 |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6556
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2018 12:05 pm Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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| Abscate wrote: |
| Quote: |
| zip ties that haven’t been trimmed |
I respectfully remind the community there are young people present. |
Good catch, close call.
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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essjayarr
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2004
Posts: 65
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2018 7:19 pm Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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| vanagonjr wrote: |
I have a friend who bought an Edsel station wagon at age 13. He is upper 50's for now ands still has it. Drove it across the US as well.
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Is his name Rick and also have an MGB GT? |
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mg93108
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2009
Posts: 263
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| Posted: Mon May 14, 2018 8:45 pm Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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You're wise to seek advice from others...on this topic and on any problems you'll face in life. No one can REQUIRE you to take the advice. But just seeking advice tells me that you are bound to be a wise man.
One of the things that I look for is rust. The place that most people don't look is at the bottom of each of the windows. This is especially true at the bottom of the windshield but it can show up on any of the windows. From what I've told, they designed the window rubber incorrectly and it causes the rust. If you see even small bubbles then there is probably a bigger issue under there. I've owned 7 Westy's. On the ones that had this damage, I had the windows removed, the rust cut out, repaired the metal, installed new rubber, and had the windows reinstalled. It's not the end of the world, but if you want to do a total remodel, it's something to be aware of.
I've owned an 86, 87, 85, 85, 87, 82 diesel, and an 85 |
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Brownj
Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2017
Posts: 33
Location: Southern Maine
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| Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 8:55 am Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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As others have said, get the most rust free example you can afford. Mechanical things can be removed and replaced but rust repair is far more difficult to do correctly.
I like your thinking though. 14 is a great age to start with a vehicle. You'll learn an incredible amount about electrical systems and mechanics. I've found that knowledge has helped me throughout life. (My start was @ 15 with a very rusty Triumph TR3B) |
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vanagonjr
Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2010
Posts: 3431
Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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| Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 8:58 am Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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| essjayarr wrote: |
| vanagonjr wrote: |
I have a friend who bought an Edsel station wagon at age 13. He is upper 50's for now ands still has it. Drove it across the US as well.
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Is his name Rick and also have an MGB GT? |
Yep!
_________________
John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
LiMBO (late model bus club) www.limbobus.org
LiMBO is on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/groups/
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798 |
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SyncroHead
Samba Member
Joined: May 23, 2005
Posts: 1145
Location: Northern Nevada
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| Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 7:37 pm Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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You might find this site useful to list all the models for most years that VW sold Vangons in the USA.
www.Vanagons.org
Sorry, I've not nearly completed all I hope to with this site and it's currently missing 1982-1985 vans. Hope it might help you know which van models existed each year and what options were available. Might save someone from looking for some combination that never existed.
Jim
_________________
"A Vanagon? It's not a car or a van. It's a hobby!"
Check out:
www.VANAVATION.com
www.SyncroSafari.org and
www.Vanagons.org
| sphet wrote: |
| I have *no* idea what the previous owner carried in his Westy... angry donkeys? |
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owokie
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2003
Posts: 533
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 6:22 am Post subject: Re: What To Look For When Buying A Vanagon |
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| Great advice you've got so far, particularly regarding rust. I bought my first (rusty) beetle in Ohio at 15, learned my lesson and bought my second (rust-free) beetle in California at 18. The difference in wrenching on the two was night and day. If you can swing it, a road trip west/south to bring a van home is probably worth it. In addition, the advice I got 20 years ago when I asked the same question was not to get an old VW and attempt to use it as my only means of transportation. Good thing I had a bike. |
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