Date:         Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:08:24 +1300
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <goose1047@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <goose1047@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      93 Microbus arrives: Anyone have a South African ETKA?
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Having just had my silver 93 T3 Microbus 2.5i dropped off (not
literally, fortunately... that does happen) the truck at home, I'm
wondering if anyone has the RSA ETKA available for copying. I might
want to get parts to repair the engine (AAY-series Audi 2.5 five), and
the NZ VW agent has no listings for this engine.

It is reluctant to start and once running refuses to idle; it runs
sweetly for a minute or so (but lacking any low-RPM torque
whatsoever), then loses one cylinder; after a minute or so more it
loses another and begins to blow oil smoke. Probably just rings, but
could be a cracked piston or head. But the lack of torque says "badly
worn rings" to me.

The gearshift reminds me of exactly why I wanted a G50 transmission!

Looking the van over, I see that few external panels are shared with
the German vans. Even the nose is different:
-no blank LHD wiper bosses
-slider has waist-height extension over the rail, with corresponding notch
   door-opening
-waist-level slider rail cover panel shorter than German due to notch
-rear upper corners totally different (due to engine vent redesign)
-right-rear side panel has no slider track or place for one
-therefore no track cover panel on right
-cargo-bay side windows extend about 30mm lower
-no "windowsill" below cargo-bay side windows, giving much more
   modern look
-dash totally different apart from instrument binnacle
-HVAC controls are 3 rotary switches; not good, but better than German
-folding third-place seat on middle bench; great for rear-seat access and
   makes bus an 8-seater
- engine deck about 10cm higher  than boxer-engined vans

External parts the same as German:
-tailgate
-cab doors
-roof
-probably sills, bumper structure
-rear panel

Bumpers are black-painted steel with endcaps which wrap around the
body corners. There are no side body-moldings/cladding. It has factory
aluminum 14" wheels, which will eventually go on the 84 Caravelle for
sale, as probably will the 2.5i engine.

I'm going over it with a camera to snap the differences.

I will swap bits between it and the 84; particularly the seats, which
are very nice in the 84 (blue/check velor, contoured,  with armrests
all round) and plain-jane in the 93 (gray tweed, flat and with no
armrests). I'll cut the folding seat mount off the center bench and
adapt it to bolt onto the Caravelle middle seat.

The only rust is a hole in the middle of the driver's (right!) door,
where I guess the window mechanism presses against the skin and
trapped water. This and the scrape damage to both rear wheelarches are
the only blemishes, and will be fixed at some stage. Otherwise it
looks VERY smart!

It has factory alarm & immobilizer.

I'm thinking of naming it the "Flying Wedge" after what some Poms call
T3s... though there's nothing wedgelike about these vans.

--
Regards
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin
New Zealand
Fossil preparator
Molluc, Toyota & VW van fan