Date: Tue, 16 May 95 9:38:36 PDT
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Dave Kautz <dkautz@hpsidms1.sid.hp.com>
Subject: '72 and later 1600cc buses
Morris wrote:
Thanks for the comments. I guess my intent is to put together the best
bus for Mexico/Central America travel:
I took my '76 Camper down there several years ago and I would of really
been deep in caca if I had needed any engine parts.
However, parts for 1600cc powered buses can be found worldwide....
Of course, a '71 Bus would be a mechanic's dream, but, alas, I've been
spoiled by the royal comforts of my '77 camper... What to do ???
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This has to be possible since VW sold them that way in Europe and the UK. I
have the Haynes manual for '68-*'79* 1600 cc buses but, unforrtuneatly most
of the photos are of an early bus. Parts that would be required are engine
mounts and rear hanger, the sheet metal to go between the 1600 engine and
the late style engine bay and apron. The bell housing is different, but may
not matter <the type IV has bosses for the mounting bracket which isn't used
in the 1600 scheme>and the final drive in the gearbox is different for the
1600 <5.38 vs. 4.57>. There may be more required, but this was all I could
account for comparing the manuals.
I would think that there are copious quantities of the required parts sitting
in junkyards all over Europe and the UK. Some advertisers in VW T&A and the
like appear to import used stuff from abroad, perhaps contacting one of them
would provide some insight.
I raised a similar question recently, though not in context of "south of the
border travel" and the list consensus was "Why?". Can anyone on the list
comment as to getting stuck in Mexico for lack of Type IV parts? Are there
situations that a call to GEX won't solve <they even have a Mexican phone #>?
New Mexican buses have water cooled engines, new Mexican bugs have fuel
injection and catalytic converters. Most of the parts I get for my type IV
come from Brazil - Is there really a problem travelling down there and
getting necessary repairs with a later bus or Vanagon?
Dave