'72 project bus for a complete newbie

[Mirmathrax]

So...

I bought a '72 bus on EBAY "99%" complete. Here are a few pictures:

Being 99% complete, of course, everything needs to be replaced. I'm new to this, so please bare with me. I have a few immediate questions as I have already started realizing that I know nothing.

The engine runs excellent according to the ad... but needs a muffler first, and the heat exchangers were sitting in the back of the bus... They are whole, but rusted pretty bad and I can hear shtuff clanking around inside when I shake them like a Christmas present. I can upload pictures as soon as I get them in daylight, and I am pretty sure I should just get new ones, but I don't know. How bad do they have to be before they need to be replaced?

Also, as I was under the bus, I noticed some cracks in the bottom piece that connects to the heat exchangers. I am unable to find the darn name for this part, it seems to be part of the fan shroud and exhaust system, but I can't find it on any of the usual sites for the life of me. Here are some pics.

Could somebody please enlighten me as to what this piece is and where to find replacements. Does it need replacement? The top is cracked too. Is this a major piece of the block? I know the top has the VIN stamped on it.

Thanks in advance for anyone kind enough to help me out. I look forward to asking way too many stupid questions here. Should I have posted this in the stupid questions thread?



-Mirm

[ivwshane]

That's your fan housing. To make things easy on you, I would find the engine code on it or the part number and ask one of the used resellers if they have it.

While most housing are interchangeable, they aren't all the same and can be a headache for a noob (ask me how I know).
That being said, the part is relatively inexpensive (used) but the cracks aren't necessarily detrimental.

More importantly, what you should be doing for your new bus is to replace all the fuel lines, fuel filter and I would replace all the vacuum lines as well, along with a distributor refresh (points, condenser).

Also make sure your tires are the proper type, truck tires not passenger tires.


http://bustedbus.com
http://www.thebusco.com
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2121797
_________________
77 westy 2.0 FI
69 ghia coup 1600dp
70 single cab

[SGKent]

[Abscate]

Isn’t all the engine tin missing? Don’t start this thing up yet!
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.ssS!

[alman72]

[Spike0180]

First off: Welcome!

Second: Heat exchangers can be used for as long as you like... if they don't have leaks in the piping, you will be fine. If you are looking for good heat, you may need to take them apart for cleaning and inspection to make sure they are genuine vw (The heat exchanges word like a radiator and the genuine ones have many more fins allowing for more heat to be exchanged and sent to the cabin) and not some Chinese nock off.

Third: That is the fan shroud, it routes air over your cylinders to keep the engine cool. If you don't feel air coming out of them when it is running, you're good to go. But keep an eye on it, because if it breaks and starts letting all the air out of your cooling system you will roast your engine in no time. Check out the classifieds here on thesamba for a used fan shroud if you find you need to replace yours.

And lastly: Please read through some of this material on thesamba. We like to see vans on the road here and no in fire or broken down. So do replace your fuel lines (unless they are clearly new), Check all your break lines (especially the rubber ones, but metal rust out over time), buy a Bentley manual (the green one: https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=ucW...lKo8yTrs), and go through a proper full tune-up procedure and tuning.

[Mirmathrax]

[Mirmathrax]

[Mirmathrax]

Here are some more pics of my bus:

As advertised, no rust:

99% complete?

All that is needed is to finish the wiring...

Oh boy

Anyone know what this thing is?

I can see that I have my work cut out for me...

[RalphWiggam]

I have a 72 camper and am also in atlanta. I have quite a bit going on right now but could possibly help out sometime.

[SamboSamba22]

[Mirmathrax]

I will be getting the interior floor (and seat backs) blasted in the next week or so. After that, I plan to use Rust-mort to treat the floors, clean and then apply an epoxy primer.

Does this sound reasonable to all of you? Should I consider doing anything else for treatment? There is only surface rust on the floors (I will append pics later). Should I consider POR-15? I have a body shop buddy who recommends using the rust-mort and then the primer, since I will be painting the entire interior (including floors) white.

Anything else I should consider before I schedule the blasting? Also, do you all have any recommendations for the brand of primer to use? If not, I will probably go with my buddy's suggestions.

Thanks Samba World!

-Mirm

[udidwht]

Last pic is the lower heater tube to the junction box. There should be 2. In the pic (my bus) you can just see it at the top.

_________________
1972 Westy Hardtop/Type-4 2056cc
96mm Biral AA P/C's~7.8:1CR
Headflow Masters New AMC 42x36mm heads w/Porsche swivel adjusters
71mm Stroke
73 Web Cam w/Web solids
Dual 40mm IDF Webers - LM-2 - 47.5 idles/125 mains/190 air corr./F11 tubes/28mm Vents - Float height 10.45mm/Drop 32mm
Bosch SVDA w/Pertronix module (7.5 initial 28 total @ 3400rpm)
Bosch W8CC plugs
Pertronix Flamethrower 40K coil
S&S 4-1 w/Walker QP 17862
3 rib 002 Trans
185R14 Hankook tires

[Mirmathrax]

Thanks for the info Udid, I have been looking everywhere for that, it is quite hidden, now I see I am missing one!

[Yarkle]

I also had a random heater tube in the cargo compartment. Weird.
_________________
Tilda the Mustard Tigress 1973 Squareback (o'''^'''o)

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=771024&highlight=

[Mirmathrax]

Does anyone have any good sources for listings of miscellaneous bolt sizes? I need bolts/screws/nuts for everything from muffler mounts, heater box mounts, engine tin mounts, etc.

I have service manuals, and they list them as "bolts". No sizes...

Is there a standard or a one stop source for finding which bolt and nut sizes I need?

-Mirm

[Abscate]

[busdaddy]

[Mirmathrax]

Thanks! I found them after some digging. Right under my nose this whole time!

[Mirmathrax]

I am lining up a bunch of work to do on my bus. I am trying to figure out if I should make videos and take the time to document everything that I do.

I have some seriously cool stuff in mind to try (if my wife doesn't kill me first). I also have two kids young enough that they both still have that new car smell so my time is precious.

Is anyone interested to follow my build or would I be wasting my time? Of course I am still going to document and be active asking dumb questions in the forums, but if there is enough interest I will make detailed videos and post on youtube about the whole process.

Anyone along for the ride?