Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 16:53:51 -0400
Reply-To: greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Subject: Re: Vanagon
In-Reply-To: <001301c9b493$b53cc260$6401a8c0@PROSPERITY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; DelSp="Yes"; format="flowed"
Hi Scott,
Once you know what you're doing a baywindow bus is not hard to work
on. I can have the 1972-79 engine on the ground in about 65 minutes.
Engine removal is even quicker on a pre-72. Working hunched over on a
vanagon engine I get a crick in my back after 20 minutes.
Remember, the 73-79 buses also had a hatch above the engine. Not quite
as big as the vanagon hatch but it's definitely useful.
OTOH, dropping a vanagon engine is a huge PITA with all the coolant
pipes. I was also surprised at how little clearance there is at the
side of the engine when it comes time to do a valve adjustment.
And as for heat: an eberspacher BN-4 or BA-6 gas furnace makes heat a
LOT quicker than any vanagon engine can, even one with a block heater.
And it can be run without the engine idling.
FI was introduced in the bay in 1975 for North America; and in 1974
for California automatics. I retrofitted the system into my own bus
about 5 years ago and it works great.
Another thing to remember is that the baywindow bus also outperforms
the vanagon in cargo capacity by about 500 lbs.
Happy Trails,
Greg Potts
197x baywindow westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
1987 Wolfsburg Weekender 7-passenger hardtop.
www.pottsfamily.ca
www.busesofthecorn.com
Quoting Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>:
>
> MUCH, MUCH easier to work on in every area - just look at the sweet engine
> access compared to any old Bus.
> Real heater/s ..........genuine coolant heated heater cores with a boost
> van. No oil smell or chance of exhaust in the heated cockpit air.
> Quieter
> more power and performance.
> WAY evolved suspension ...........
> Vanagons have , coil springs all around, rack and pinion steering, front
> anti-sway bar,. rear trailing arms ..........decently advanced suspension
> for the era, very much so. In that department, Buses are antiques. Ever
> have to get the Swing Link Bushings replaced and reamed on an old Bus ? Does
> ANYONE even do that anymore ? Does anyone even know what that means ? A
> totally ancient steering system. Pathetic even, compared to what the
> vanagon has there........
> a very sweet rack and pinion steering rack, and a small 'V' steering box
> that you'd never even know is there.
>
> I'd say the prime weakest area in any water-cooled vanagon is the cooling
> system of course, miles of pipes, dozens of pieces and connections, and very
> joke silly 'head gaskets' Big points off there for sure.
>
> in additon, vanagons have more modern things like power steering, Air
> conditioning as factory installed, not just some add-on. Some later ones
> have central locking, cruise control ......in Europe, even ABS brakes on the
> latest models. Never mind Syncro AWD !
> and hey........electronic fuel injection is MILES ahead of carburetors, Not
> even comparable, and not that hard to deal with once familiar with the
> system.
>
> I could mention 20 or 30 other ways vanagons are vastly superior to any old
> Bus, 79 or earlier.
> The first 3 years of gasoline vangon use the Type IV air-cooled VW engine
> ........
> those have their own set of problems. Not a good think in my opinion, not
> that I think very much of the waterboxer engine.
> Or the plastic cooling system parts that just crumble, crack, or melt in
> later vanagons.
> But overall........a vanagon is an infinitely more refined and comfortable,
> and modern-ish vehicle compared to any Old Bus.
>
> Sorta like not comparable even. And I have owned a dozen old Buses, and
> worked on countless ones. I don't touch them anymore though. Burnt out of
> air-cooled.
> VW's I could say. Been there, done that. But vanagons .........they are
> STILL on the rising part of the curve of usefulness, an appropiate degree of
> electronic-ness ( i.e. not TOO modern-crazy with computers and so complex
> you can't deal with it even, and vanagon parts prices are very reasonable
> mostly too ) .......
> and overall extreme utility and flexibility. One of the top vehciles ever
> made for a broud range of usefullness, and VW is stupid not to have a modern
> version. .....or I should say, a modern version in our market.
>
> Scott
> www.turbovans.com
>
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