'72 project bus for a complete newbie

[72camper]

Never mind...delete.

[LazyLightning75]

Post away! Some people like the build threads and some don’t. If not, they can choose to ignore it. I enjoy the build threads and have picked up a lot of useful info reading through them. My only pet peave is some of the build threads just stop dead in their tracks. Not sure if they run out of money or interest, but it sucks when the poster just disappears. It’s a commitment to follow though from beginning to end (if there is such a thing). Good luck.
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1975 Riviera 1.8L FI

[Spike0180]

[advCo]

I'm in on build threads. They seem to be hit or miss here, with either a lot of response or hardly any. /shrug

I prefer photos and text to videos personally. Videos are great for how-to's and certain procedures, but not my favorite media for build logs. Just my .02
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"He pulled the mirrors off his Cadillac ‘cause he doesn’t like it looking like he looks back"
'68/'70 Ghia Coupe Project
'70 Westy Project - Champagne I Wannabe
A bunch of vintage Japanese motorcycles
"Much ingenuity with a little money is vastly more profitable and amusing than much money without ingenuity." -A. Bennett

[Mirmathrax]

Awesome,

Thanks for the feedback. I have been reading a lot of build threads, and it is daunting because it does seem that several of them just abruptly end.

Fortunately for me, I am a stubborn s.o.b. so I hope that I will be around for a while. Wish me luck!

[TomWesty]

I love build threads. Please go for it. I always learn something from nearly everyone and it’s great to watch someone’s skills improve and the creativity they employ to solve problems.
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If you haven't bled on them, you haven't worked on them.
Visit: www.tomcoryell.com and check out my music!

[78BusGA]

Please do a build thread, they are great for others to look through and see the experience of challenge they're having, or see new problems that need brainstorming.

Plus your bus already has some fun character. If you keep that character into it's new stage or life, the ideas you have along the way to it are fun to see.
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Few will understand the passion and majesty, among the nuts and grease.

Tom H.

My '74 Super 1303 thread - https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764902&start=60

My '78 Kombi Bus thread - https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=769385&highlight=

'72 Superbeetle (retired), '78 Bus Kombi 2.0FI, '74 1303 Superbeetle

[Mirmathrax]

And so it begins!

Step 1: Get my bus running!

I started working today on finishing the wiring, which means first I have to figure out what the heck is going on!

It is a little messy:

I started by going through the wiring diagrams from the forums (thanks Spike). It has old wiring for the brakes, but a new main loom from Wolfsburg West. I see there are a few small discrepancies between the wiring loom and the diagram. Unfortunately, I don't have the WW diagram, even though it has a brand new loom. I called WW, and while tech support helped me a little, they basically told me to pound sand when I asked about getting a diagram. Buy a new loom if I want the diagram, even though mine is MINT!

The wiring for the brakes is a bit old, but looks decent:

I figured out the tail lights (I think), but there is an extra double-brown wire in the loom on the passenger side, and an extra double-black and single brown in the loom on the passenger side (see pic). I assume that the driver side black connects to the old wires from the backup light switch on the tranny. I have no idea what either brown wire is for (I know it is ground, but for what?)

I don't have a heater blower, so for now at least that is not a worry. However, there is once again an extra brown wire from that break-out that I have no idea where it goes. Is it meant to ground the blower (the wiring diagrams just show a connection to chassis)?

Wiring at the starter looks proper. There is an extra spade? Any idea what this is for?

Also, any idea's what this thing is? Comes out by the starter and looks like a control cable of some kind.

Finally, here are a few more pics from the bus as I was under and around it:

California approved:

Weber carb. Don't know a thing about this yet.

Looks reasonably good underneath.

Bushings look shot.

Next job: Figure out the fuses and relays. Ugh!

[busdaddy]

I see nothing horrible there, bus wiring kindof looks like that.
The brown wires could be for the body ground tabs beside (below) each tail light, or the tail light fixtures themselves, which one isn't grounded?
The extra spade on the starter is for FI, leave it bare.
The cable near the starter is for the heater valve on that side.
Search "suck" (no quotes) in Baywindow forums and select title only for the Weber thread.
It does look rather solid below, those things you call bushings are ball joint boots, looks like you have grease fitting holes on yours, buy some 6mm fittings and lube them up.
What tires are those?
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!

[Van Gooo]

Mir,

I too am a new owner of a bus. So, I for sure would be interested in your build thread. I may or may not comment, other than to give encouragement from time to time, as I too am just getting to know my bus and this community.
The help you will get here is invaluable. You will get smart ass comments too, but all in good fun. Others may have mentioned but, I would highly suggest getting familiar with Mayor Ratwell's site if you haven't already.
http://www.ratwell.com/ Robbie and Colin are fantastic as well.
https://www.itinerant-air-cooled.com/index.php
Buy the Bentley. Most of all have fun with your "99% complete bus".

Best regards,

J
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VanGooo
77 Westy
DOB 9-2-76
CA bus 2.0 FI

"It is what it is or else it would be weird."

[Mirmathrax]

[busdaddy]

[malcolm2]

I just found your thread. I have not been online lately, been welding and cutting alot. I also have a 72. seems to be in worse shape than yours is. With mine, I started with mechanical stuff. pulled the engine, dropped the front axle. I worked on those areas, bought stuff to repair them. Moved to stuff under the cabin, all the controls, steering, brake stuff, clutch, suspension, etc.... with all that removed I could scrape the tar off and look for rust and repaint underneath.

Getting close to done on the under cabin stuff, including floor board holes, door and threshold holes. Then the plan it to put all the under cabin stuff back on and go to the engine and wiring will be last. That way I can drive it in the spring or summer.... fingers crossed.

Good Luck
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My Toys: '75 Porsche 914, '92 Ski Nautique and now a 1972 VW Transporter Deluxe (punch list fixing)

[malcolm2]

go to Prospero's Garage dot com and get a wiring diagram. I have one for the bus, and one for my 914. laminated, color, large print..... $20

https://colorwiringdiagrams.com/products/vw-buskombi-1972
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My Toys: '75 Porsche 914, '92 Ski Nautique and now a 1972 VW Transporter Deluxe (punch list fixing)

[CessnaJon]

I have a spare heater booster you are welcome to on the south side.
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1973 Westy (shared birthday)
1990 Westy Multivan
2015 Passat TDI 6sp
2015 Sportwagon TDI 6sp
LR-JET, Gulfstream 159

[Our79Westy]

Yabsolutely and congratulations on your newest endeavor! if you hadn't noticed, while there are some, there's still a lack of good utube videos showing a restoration lIke yours will be...it makes a great story so bring it you definitely have your work cutout for you. good luck and keep the pictures coming please. we'll help out as much as we can
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1979 Westfalia DELUXE 2.0 FI manual
Mexican beigeutiful and mostly original.

See the most up to date status of Constance on YouTube
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCvO1ZedS22IepvvRYaTxiPQ

My 1979 Westfalia Campmobile's sundry Tales of Constance
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620965

1990 Vanagon, Red, Driven 70,000 miles till sold.

[Mirmathrax]

I am continuing to work out the wiring. I started hooking up the gauges in the dash and boy is it a mess. I ended up having to buy a new turn signal and wiper switch as I can't seem to find them in my bus.

As I was going through parts searching for these switches, I came across some engine tin that I don't recognize from the Bentley. Here is a picture of the engine tin from my manual:

Here is the tin I found. The outer two look like they go with the heat exchangers, but what are the two in the middle?

-Mirm

[malcolm2]

Not an expert, but my guess is type 1 tins. I would put money on the 2 in the middle being type 1 engine tins. Since I have never seen the top and bottom piece on my type 4 engine, I will go with type 1 on them too. Beetles, ghias and pre-72 buses.
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My Toys: '75 Porsche 914, '92 Ski Nautique and now a 1972 VW Transporter Deluxe (punch list fixing)

[busdaddy]

The top and bottom are indeed sled tins for a carbed type 4 bus, the middle 2 are type 1 singleport cylinder tins.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!

[spk5063]