Date:         Mon, 13 May 2002 13:11:13 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: Bus for sale....(which year is best)
Comments: To: Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Ben huot wrote:

> >>>The '68->'71 buses used an upright air-cooled
>  motor.<<<
>
> What the hell is an "upright air-cooled", in my book an upright engine is
> like a 4 cyl inline??? does all VW Van have flat-4
>
> I am just curious as i am also looking for a old bus project.
>
> My friend as a 71 bus (non Westy) an he as a 1600CC flat-4!
> Ben

Ben, the aircooled engines with the upright fan shroud have often been
referred to - and incorrectly, by the way - as the "up-right air-cooled
engine". These  flat hrizontally opposed engines with the upright fan shroud
were used in both beetles and buses up to 1972. The oil cooler was also
vertically mounted within the shroud.

In 1972 , on the buses only,  VW, while keeping the basic flat four
configuration , switched the cooling system around and located the fan on the
end of the engine rather than on top and also relocated the oil cooler
horizontally. This allowed the engine to occupy less space vertically which
in turned allowed the bus to have a deeper rear cargo bay area.

The the upright fan shroud configuration remained the same for the Beetles
and did not change for the life of the Beetle series .

Hope this helps clear things.

BTW, of the buses, I liked the '71 models best. It was the last year of the
engines with the upright fan shroud. The 71's  had dual carburetion, and it
was the first year for a power (vacumn) booster on the brakes.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver