79 bus part to 72 bus

[Donald91]

Hello. I have a rust free, relatively straight 72 bus with no motor or transmission. The suspension and brakes haven't been touched in 35 years.

I have a 79 bus with a rebuilt 2l, fuel injected motor, auto trans and newer (5-6 yr old) suspension and brakes. This bus ran great a few years ago but has been sitting since. The 79 is too rusty and banged up to salvage.


I'm thinking about swapping whatever parts I can from the 79 to the 72. I am interested in getting feedback about this potential project. Which parts I could swap, which parts I shouldn't. Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated.

[aeromech]

Anything is possible given enough time and money. You’ll need a new fuel tank and a place for your ecm. You’ll need to change the routing of your brake booster vacuum hose and the throttle cable. You’ll need a high pressure fuel pump for your fuel injection.
_________________
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Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
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VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
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[Wildthings]

The '72 did not come with a deck lid over the engine, so you might consider swapping the one from the '79 or maybe find and install the larger deck lid from a Vanagon.

The shift rod is a bit longer on the earlier vans, so you will want to swap over the rear section of the shift rod from the '79 and you will need to clearance the cross member just forward of the nose cone to give clearance for the shift coupler as per the '79. Or, instead of the above you could install the earlier nose cone onto the later 091 gear box.

Note that the '79 has a one year only exhaust that can not be exchanged in total with any other year. This should not cause you problems if the entire exhaust on the '79 is in good shape.

You will need to cut the air cleaner mount from the '79 and install it into the '72.

[Donald91]

I appreciate the feedback. Thank you.