Date: Fri, 4 May 2007 21:18:16 -0400
Reply-To: Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Friday ramblings about a 66 Bus with A/C
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"Installed a pointless ignition system ....."
Why bother?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kenneth Wilford" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 6:17 PM
Subject: Friday ramblings about a 66 Bus with A/C
I just wanted to share my current project with you folks. It is a 66 VW bus
that is getting a mechanical freshening up along with a new aftermarket A/C
system. The van was one the customer bought from Texas and it is in great
shape for a van of it's age. Very little rust and we have already dealt
with most of it. Got the rebuilt engine from Boston Bob and it runs great.
Installed a pointless ignition system (Fireball by Crane Cams) and the new
engine is a 1600cc instead of the stock 1500. New S&S exhaust system. Did
away with the heater boxes because the Bus is going to live in the Bahamas
once it is done. The customer has a vacation home there on an island where
the largest engine you can have in a vehicle is a 2000cc air cooled. It is
a small place and most folks scoot around on Golf Carts.
Anyway, the A/C system is pretty neat. I got it from www.aircooled.net and
it isn't fully installed yet so I can give you a report on how good it
works. The evaporator mounts to the bottom of the parcel tray in the front
and the condensor mounts in the center underneath. The compressor is a tiny
one that mounts to the engine with some pretty creative mounts. It is only
supposed to take a little over 1 hp to run it. The system uses R134a.
It has been an interesting project and I have enjoyed doing it. Almost all
the fun of restoring an old bus but with someone else footing the bill. The
interior was already restored by the PO, as well as the outside. The
original engine only has 85k miles on it and ran great, but the customer
wanted to be sure of no problems so he opted for a rebuild. If anyone wants
a good running 1500cc engine let me know.
It is a totally different and cool experience driving a bus vs. driving a
Vanagon. I am not trading in my Vanagons any time soon let me tell you that
up front. But driving that bus, everyone you pass it looking at you and
smiling when they see it. It could be addicting to drive something with
that much cool factor (just to town once and a while).
I guess that is my ramblings for the day. I hope you folks have a great
weekend.
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
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