Date:         Fri, 15 Oct 2021 14:43:28 -0700
Reply-To:     Jim Arnott <jrasite@EONI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Arnott <jrasite@EONI.COM>
Subject:      Re: 82 air cooled automatic vanagon
Comments: To: dan h <dubblodan@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <1AE0E01A-4EAC-433A-A733-0B8837E585FB@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

The booster is forward of the instrument cluster (Bentley 47.10)  not in the engine compartment.

Blown power brake booster and master cylinder..  The white smoke was the brake fluid being drawn into the intake system and burning. No start may be a combination of vacuum leak (to the brake booster) and/or fouled plugs from the brake fluid.  First step, replace the master cylinder & brake booster. I believe that one from bmw 1984-1991 models 318i, 325e, and 325i provides an increased boost. (more brake with less pedal pressure) and fits with little to no modifications.

I’m sure others will chime in, but that’s what I’d be looking at.

Jim

> On Oct 15, 2021, at 1:02 PM, dan h <dubblodan@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> I’ve never used this forum before but I’m at wits end. Even after 6 years and a rebuilt engine it doesn’t run. My 82 air cooled 2.0 vanagon cranked and ran well getting home from the tech session last week. At the session Tom checked compression, plugs, changed a gasket on a valve cover, jury rigged a missing bolt on my left carb and a bunch of other stuff. I stopped on the way home and he still ran fine. When I got home he was running a little choppy but I noticed I didn’t have any brakes. The pedal went all the way to the floor and he would turn over strong but barely started and when ut did it was extremely Smokey. Eventually he smoke went away. from then in he won’t start. Like there was no spark even though The battery was on a trickle charger. I took off my instrument panel and all my brake fluid was gone. I haven’t bled the brakes yet because it won’t start anyway. I just put new soak plug cables and ngk spark plugs in. Turns over strong but won’t fire up. I can smell gas so I think my fuel pimp and filter are ok. Could the issue with my brake reservoir be the issue? Do I need brake pressure to be able to crank? I didn’t see any external leaks from the brake reservoir (looked under dash column and ran a clean cloth all around the reservoir. I’m at wits end and will miss the show again this year. The brake booster seems to be connected tightly in the engine compartment.  
> 
> From Dan Hoffman