Buggeee's 1984 Puma GTS

[Buggeee]

Well, it's not like I needed something to do but I find myself scouting ground in another Samba forum nonetheless. My buddy Joey was sitting on this 1984 Puma GTS and decided his kiddos were better worthy of his time (the right decision every time). On a lark, and involving a series of transactions that lend proof to the devine nature of the order of our universe, I said goodbye to the MGB that none of you would care to wash any more than I would, and said hello to my Brazilian crush. Here she is as found.

Waking her from sleep took not much more than a kiss on the cheek and a quick field tuning of the dual carbs. The cloud of smoke eventually cleared, we found usable idle and hit the road together on life's long adventure.

She pulled eagerly at sustained highway speeds but smelled terribly of mouse pee and began to gather high temperatures, and corresponding lower oil pressure, at the half hour mark.

Back home on the farm, we got to know each other better, removed the PO's fender mirrors, and had a bath.

Then we were off to a quick local cruise-in to announce our engagement to the outside world. Back-firing, occasionally sputtering and getting hot at the half hour, she enjoyed her first night on the town in many years (the inspection sticker in the window reads 1991)

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Big Time 1988 Vanagon Westy
Release the Krankenwagen! 1966 Sportsmobile Camper
Dr. Kompressor 72 Super Duper
61 Turkis Pile (adopted out)

[Buggeee]

Well I have found that the shortest path to vetting a new air-cooled arrival is to drop the engine, strip the tins, clean out the debris, torque the heads, adjust the valves, power wash the thick insulating sludge from the case and heads, reassemble with fresh plugs, wires, points, condenser and then set the dwell, timing and tune the carbs. Fresh valve cover gaskets. Adjust the thermostat. Here when cleaning the carbs, I found a plugged jet. Also the intake manifolds here are cast iron, so I painted those. The oil cooler needed some fresh gaskets.

Chasing gremlins for weeks is a waste of time. Just drop it and get to it.

Joey had already cleaned the tank and freshened the fuel filter. Here I added to the regimen with some K&N air filters, and sand blasting all the tin. I found the original Bosch 050 distributor in pieces in a box, cleaned, lubed and assemble it and threw out the imposter 009 clone that had been scattering due to a loose drive gear. The engine starts right up and pulls hard into the 5k redline like a champ. No stumbles, no back firing. Runs cool and oil pressure stays up. A joy to drive. Took it to a quick local cruise and the dudes were like "what in tar nation is that?". I tell them "It's from Brazil... You'll never see another one!". Here is a pictorial.

Oh... And some axle boots while I had easy access. Then the fresh transaxle fluid stays in better.

_________________
Big Time 1988 Vanagon Westy
Release the Krankenwagen! 1966 Sportsmobile Camper
Dr. Kompressor 72 Super Duper
61 Turkis Pile (adopted out)

[Buggeee]

Drive 'em if you've got 'em Airheads!!!

_________________
Big Time 1988 Vanagon Westy
Release the Krankenwagen! 1966 Sportsmobile Camper
Dr. Kompressor 72 Super Duper
61 Turkis Pile (adopted out)

[Buggeee]

Heel toe driving was hampered by a way-out-of-adjustment pedal cluster so I adjusted the little plate in front of the brake pedal to bring it line.

I've read this is, essentially, a shortened 411 pan so am not able to source brake cables. Luckily I found these bolt on tops in the car and fished out perfectly good cables from the tunnel. Hooked everything up and the parking brake works great.

Celebrate with an evening therapy session.

_________________
Big Time 1988 Vanagon Westy
Release the Krankenwagen! 1966 Sportsmobile Camper
Dr. Kompressor 72 Super Duper
61 Turkis Pile (adopted out)

[GArBa]

[Buggeee]

[Petfisheric]

Nice GTC (81-end of production)the GTS is the earlier steel bumper model (71-80). The air-cooled Puma's started out on Karman-Ghia pans but change to the Brasilia Pan in the mid 70's and both were shortened.

[Buggeee]

[Buggeee]

It is good to get outside again!

Sleep well.

_________________
Big Time 1988 Vanagon Westy
Release the Krankenwagen! 1966 Sportsmobile Camper
Dr. Kompressor 72 Super Duper
61 Turkis Pile (adopted out)

[Buggeee]

I haven't had various lights in the rear, ever, so decided to trace down the problem.

Using a 30 dollar scope from Amazon that sends color, lighted, real time video feed to an app on my phone wirelessly, I followed the wiring harness into the body cavity.

In there I found a mouse nest and a bunch of chewed through wires. Using a small cut-off wheel I gained access and repaired the harness.
I used lineman splice (Google it, you'll be glad you did -its an awesome splice), solder, marine shrink wrap (has melting glue) and shoved it all back in. Now I've got all lights in the rear and, as an added bonus, all idiot lights and engine gauges in the dash now work. Gas gauge is another issue.

One day when I'm doing body work, I'll fiberglass the hole shut. For right now I threw a piece of Gorilla Tape over it because I have places to go and people to see.

Ice cream time!!!

_________________
Big Time 1988 Vanagon Westy
Release the Krankenwagen! 1966 Sportsmobile Camper
Dr. Kompressor 72 Super Duper
61 Turkis Pile (adopted out)

[NJ John]

Cool investigation skills. Love the Puma.
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[Buggeee]

[Buggeee]

Time for some ice cream! Once again the Puma had some car folks scratching their heads. What is that?!

_________________
Big Time 1988 Vanagon Westy
Release the Krankenwagen! 1966 Sportsmobile Camper
Dr. Kompressor 72 Super Duper
61 Turkis Pile (adopted out)

[NJ John]

Hey, look at that Alfa parked over there!
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[Buggeee]

[oprn]

I love it! Keep on driving, fixing and posting it here!
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[Buggeee]

Well, Jim's Custom VW has the big summer Jubilee in July, so I drove this puma for about 5 hours at 70 mph in one day, round trip, and it hummed along the whole time with steady oil pressure and steady temperature. It was a beautiful day with sunny skies and hot (for Ohio) temperatures.

Here I've stopped for gas at a rest stop on the Turnpike on the way out there in the morning.

Took my spot right under the sign so you can all see where the action is.

Here are a few random pics of the show. There were more than 150 air cooleds there, plus swap meet, food and music.

_________________
Big Time 1988 Vanagon Westy
Release the Krankenwagen! 1966 Sportsmobile Camper
Dr. Kompressor 72 Super Duper
61 Turkis Pile (adopted out)