Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 20:45:41 PST
Reply-To: Malcolm Stebbins <mstebbins@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Malcolm Stebbins <mstebbins@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Carbs on my '91 Westie Syncro---"The Story"
Content-Type: text/plain
I have been asked by several people for more info on my Canadian '91
Syncro Westie that is running a 4 barrel Weber Carb. So I will post
this to the list-serve in case others might be interested. It's a bit
of a story:
Background: After meticulously maintaining the van, at about 170,000 km
(105,000 ish mi.) the heads started to leak and the first owner talked
VW into putting in a NEW factory engine (plus clutch and clutch plate.
I have the paperwork to back all this up). The VW dealer mis-wired the
alternator (so I have been told) and upon taking it out for a test drive
(2 km down the road) the wires stared to fry and an engine box fire
broke out. Burned the wires, tubes, the fiber carbon engine cover,
burned the rear cabinets, filled the whole van with thick ugly black
rubber, plastic smoke. The insurance co. paid off the owner and JUNKED
the van (those are my tears on your screen?).
Transition: A "shade tree" ('salt-of-the-earth' rural Nova Scotia
honest) mechanic picked up the van from the junk yard for parts. His
wife said "No, fix it up and we'll camp in it". He did, they did. She
cleaned the inside while he did the retro-fit (I don't know which was
the 'dirtier' job). It was re-painted, with new curtains and canvas.
Carburetors: He didn't want to spend the CDN $ 4,800 for ALL of the
parts for a NEW fuel injection system (the computer burned, everything
burned) so he put on the carb. He told me that he had to cut down the
intake manifold a bit so that the carb and air cleaner would fit under
the lid. The injectors are still there, just plugging holes (as are all
the sensors). He said that he has used the van as an everyday vehicle
for about one year, including several trips. He has driven the van for
about 40,000 km (25,000 mi.) this way.
My experience: The van is in really in good physical shape. The
interior needs some! work, but the important parts (power train, body,
seats, fridge stove, sink etc.) are fine. I have only driven it for
about 300 km but it runs fine. My only 'bad' experience is that in
below freezing weather it stalls at idle - I will have to figure out a
way to get warm air to the carbs. Also at 110 kph (65 ish mph) there is
a small vibration (like tires slightly out of balance, or a bit of a
washboard road) but the vibration disappears if I back off the throttle
a hair, or accelerate enough to kick in the other 2 barrels (maybe an
intake manifold designed for carbs would help).
I cannot provide more details than this right now (I bought the van last
February, on a trip back to Halifax, (as I write this I am teaching in
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Vietnam), but if anyone is interested, let me
< mstebbins@hotmail.com > know what details you want and when I return
to Halifax in April -I will get the details for you.
Oh Yes; I bought the van for CDN $ 10,000 or about US $ 7,000 ish. I'm
ecstatic!!!!!! The price was within my budget and the restoration will
be a great project (I read ALL the 'wallpapering' posts). This is my
third Westie; #1) was a US '81, #2 was a French '85 syncro diesel.
Thanks for listening. Malcolm Stebbins
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