Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 18:02:42 -0500
Reply-To: Greg Potts <Greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Greg Potts <Greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Subject: Re: Where to start?
In-Reply-To: <41E05198.7080804@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
Hi Volks,
It's an 83.
BTW, This afternoon my dad put a bit more charge into it, and turned
the key, and it started. He wasn't expecting it to, but it did. He shut
it off right away, because it needs an oil change and the cat has
rusted out, making it VERY loud.
Happy trails,
Greg Potts
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1973/74/79 Westfakia Conversion **Bob the Tomato** LY3H
1977 Sunroof Automatic L63H/L90D
http://www.pottsfamily.ca/westfakia
http://www.busesofthecorn.com
On 8-Jan-05, at 4:33 PM, Ken Wilford wrote:
> What year is it?
>
> Greg Potts wrote:
>
>> Hi Volks,
>>
>> I got a chance to see the "new" wasserboxer in the Potts' fleet last
>> night... it's in much better condition than we had dare hope for. It
>> probably helped that the van came east from CA in 1997, and has only
>> seen 2 or three winters up here, if that. It has 180,000 miles on it
>> and the 1-2 side cylinder head was replaced at 120K. Dad put a charge
>> in the battery and the engine turns over, but there's no fuel so it
>> won't start. All of the hoses appear to be good and the service
>> records indicate that the camper has been well cared for. Way better
>> than expected for something that sat for 4 years after the PO lost
>> interest.
>>
>> The story is that the van "just quit" one day and the PO parked it at
>> his mothers place and bought a Ford instead. It was later moved to a
>> local VW guru, but since the owner never came up with the funds for
>> the
>> repair it just sat there. For four years. The Guru is moving, and
>> needed it gone, so he arranged to sell it on behalf of the original
>> owner, and we wound up with it.
>>
>> Lots of possibilities in the above scenario... a blocked fuel filter,
>> bad fuel pump, electrical glitch, vacuum leak....
>>
>> Here's the plan:
>>
>> 1. Put some fresh gas in it.
>> 2. Pull the plugs, and squirt in a bit of oil.
>> 3. Check compression.
>> 4. Check coolant. (Service records indicate it was always serviced at
>> a VW/Porsche specialist, so we should be OK.
>> 5. Check for spark
>> 6. see if it starts.
>> 7. Check vacuum and timing.
>> 8. Inspect the brakes.
>> 9. have a pressure test done on the cooling system.
>>
>> It will get new fuel lines front to back before it hits the road. It
>> will need a complete coolant flush and brake fluid flush as well. And
>> it's wearing under-rated "car" tires, so they will have to go too. And
>> there's a nasty tear in the pop-top canvas, looks like we'll be adding
>> a window on the driver's side to take care of that.
>>
>> It also needs a thorough steam-cleaning inside and the passenger door
>> mechanism is jammed. And there are a lots of dents.
>>
>> This thing could *possibly* be put on the road in a weekend for under
>> $1,000 US. But not this weekend... I have an engine swap to do on my
>> aircooled bus.
>>
>> If anyone has HELPFUL suggestions on what to look for, it would be
>> appreciated. I am up to speed with L-Jetronic FI, but the arrangement
>> of the parts on the wasserboxer is a bit different. Heck, I'm still
>> getting used to the idea of being able to see the ground through the
>> engine compartment.
>>
>> Happy trails,
>>
>> Greg Potts
>> Toronto, Ontario, Canada
>>
>> 1973/74/79 Westfakia Conversion **Bob the Tomato** LY3H
>> 1977 Sunroof Automatic L63H/L90D
>> http://www.pottsfamily.ca/westfakia
>> http://www.busesofthecorn.com
>>
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