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mcr1edit
Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2021
Posts: 1
Location: Los Angeles
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 Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 9:17 pm Post subject: Engine Fire Restore |
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Hi and Happy New Year 2021!
I'm looking for a project van that I would install a Subaru engine into. I've seen a couple of cheap Westies with fire damaged engine compartments.
Couple of questions...
Is this a waste of time? Is it impossible to get the smoke smell out of the main cabin?? I've hear it's hard to repaint metal that's been burned? I've also heard that the metal is now weaker due to the fire?
Let me know your thoughts/experience. Thanks |
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jimf909 
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7466
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 10:31 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Fire Restore |
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I think this is a case of "it depends".
There's a Westy camper here that burned (solar controller behind the driver's seat) and was restored but it seems it sat a few years airing out.
Not only would the burn damage not have been devastating, but the core of the van needs to be worth restoring, i.e. not previously rusted.
Are you looking for a cheap base to build on? Some may say that a $2.5K un burned base is better than a free burnt base. Are you looking for a tin-top or a camper?
Sorry, no personal experience so others can chime in with that expertise.
_________________
- 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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jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7466
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 10:34 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Fire Restore |
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Here's the phoenix I referenced...
| xoo00oox wrote: |
Stay tuned for an updated view on this van soon! It had been sitting in my lot for the past 3+ years, the smoke smell is finally gone! I pulled it out and brought it inside my shop about a month ago, January and February are always slow times around here.
Just fired it up for the first time yesterday. It’s now powered by a 2003 Audi A4 1.8t (AMB code) and an Audi five speed manual transmission. The gauge cluster is updated to a Passat unit. |
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
Burn...
After...
_________________
- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
|
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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markswagen
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2018
Posts: 1030
Location: san diego
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 11:17 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Fire Restore |
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it completely depends upon how bad the fire was, and how far you take it apart and clean it out.
i've worked on a westy that had been fire damaged, it was taken apart every nut and bolt, there's now no trace, that the van had ever been burnt.
completing the westy interior is the difficult bit, especially a late westy.
grey interior parts don't come up forsale often, and when they do, they are usually spendy.
i'm working on another now, the engine compartment and everything under it, was burnt to a crisp, the bench and the tall closet, upper cushions, water tank and closet were badly damaged, as was the headbanger, they have been found, it's taken a few months, and cost about $1500 just for those pieces.
the interior has been stripped back to the shell, it's ALL been repainted, it came back from the paint shop, this week.
you cannot tell, there's not even a HINT that there was ever a fire.
it's about to get FULL and COMPLETE rebuild, every nut and bolt is coming off, EVERYTHING.
we have a hell of a pile of new parts to build it back up again.
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markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.
619 201 0310 |
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