Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2011 22:28:51 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Buying a Van
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Hi Dan ..
all sounds good.
on the 82 Diesel ...Westy I assume..
the inline four gas engines are usually a 1.8 ..
or sometimes a 2.0 with a 1.8 head on it.
there are two kinds of fuel injection it could have ..one is CIS easily
identified by numerous braided fuel lines running 'everywhere' almost
....bit of a messy tangled engine compartment..
and that fuel injection is regarded as problematic.
the 'good kind' of EFI is electronically controlled ...identified by having
just wires to a fuel rail..
and no braided fuel lines running around. That's the much better set up.
the trans on the 82 diesel, if it's a gas engine and it 'goes well' like 65
easily ...75 etc it most likely has already had a DK 4 speed from an
air-cooled vanagon put in it.
that is the standard trans upgrade for 82 diesel vanagons.
in 83, in waterboxers they went to a whole other style of shift linkage
and somewhat different trans ..in diesels it's the rare 5 speed that year.,
also with the improved shift linkage.
if it's screamin' its guts out at 60 to 65 ...it's likely the stock 82 DV
'DZ' code trans ..
if it'll do 65 to 70, even 75 without extreme strain, it's likely been
swapped to the proper DK trans from an air--cooled vanagon.
I have heard of random spot checks in Ca to make sure a vehicle is still
really a diesel.
Don't know first hand of a case..
but I have read that before.
on the 85 ..
Weekenders are in many ways the best body configuration . ( well, not
counting Adventurewagons )
they have the most interior volume of any factory vanagon ..
the head room is nice.. a skylight or bronze-gold plexiglass plain solid
skylight is really nice to have in them.
85's usually have a skylight in the poptop. 82's never do that I've seen.
the full rear bench seat with big trunk under it in the Weekdender....., all
nice.
I've had two 85 poptop vans...the first one a Wolfsburg Weekender..
very desireable body configuration oin a vanagon I say. Both vans will hold
value nicely if they're decent and taken care of.
as for he spare used 1.9 wbx ....good to have one ..
but unless it's medium fresh ..they usually really need head gaskets and I
like to have a regular valve job done on the heads at then too.
sounds like fun.
re
"$5k is my top dollar or i would go for an > '86-91 model."
usually $ 5K will not get an 86 to 91 Westy unless it needs a LOT.
those can be up to twenty grand even sometimes.
7 passenger no problem ......( $ 5K still on the low side ) but 86 to 91
Westy's if at all good are most often much more than $5K ...especially on
the west coast.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
southern oregon ..
long time califiornian.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Daniel Rotblatt" <d.rotblatt@VERIZON.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 8:55 PM
Subject: Buying a Van
> Hi all. I'm new here, just now shopping for a vanagon westfalia. I
> was wondering if I could get some input on some vans available in the
> area that I'm interested in. I'll be looking at them this coming week
> and wanted to get some input as to what to look for. I'll modify any
> info I get with the condition of the car as i see it - especially
> rust (which I know is a real issue). I've done a lot of reading and
> I am mechanically inclined - I've just finished rebuilding a 1966
> triumph spitfire, and I had a '67 split window van (with the mini-pop
> top) back in the day. $5k is my top dollar or i would go for an
> '86-91 model.
>
> The first van is a 1982 diesel with a gas jetta engine from the
> nineties (1.8 or 1.9 liter I believe). I know to look to see if the
> transaxle (or is it a transmission in these?) is from a later model
> cause the diesel ones are geared differently and the 1980-83
> transaxle aren't very good. Second I will check the compression on
> the engine and look at the plugs to see how worn it is. The
> advantage of this van is that the engine is more powerful and there
> is no smog check (I'm in california - smog checks are a b**ch). They
> want $5k.
>
> The second is a '85, some body dents in front and a few dings, 1.9
> water cooled engine. Also $5K. It's a westy top and weekender
> inside, which I like (wider bed, dont need the stove - I set up a
> table with a stove when I camp - fridge might be nice). Advantage to
> this one is that he has a second 1.9 engine which he says is in
> running shape. Also, his other car broke down the other day and he's
> using it as a daily driver - which I think indicates some level of
> reliability.
>
> Anything else specific to look for when I look at them?
>
> Thanks all, I appreciate any input. I'm leaning towards the '82 - I
> like the idea of no smog.
>
> Dan
> Los Angeles, CA
