Source
r/Westfalia•
zeeaou

Can I learn to fix this?

Question

Hello new friends!

I’m considering getting (what seems to be) a reasonably well restored 1974 bay window Westfalia, the engine has been rebuilt. I do have a mechanic, but not endless money. Ideally I’d love to learn to do some things myself, and maybe have some clue when I inevitably break down on the side of the road. Is that still going to happen all the time with a rebuilt engine?

Thank you for any guidance that you can provide me. It’s a dream bus 🧡

Update: thank you all for your kind words, and warnings. I think we’re going to do it, we see her and hopefully bring her home on Sunday!

Posted Oct 18, 2022, 1:24 AM UTC · edited

519
Jeheh•

“How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot”

I am a retired mechanic and had my share of VWs years ago. My wife and I took a 72 Westy 15,000 miles around the country one summer while I looked for a new job and a place to relocate to. I had rebuilt the engine prior to our departure ( with the help of the book). Along the way I had to fix a wheel bearing in a parking lot, rebuild the fuel pump in the middle of the desert and replace the rear main seal in the parking lot of a Motel 6 in Denver.

Our Westy had a storage space under a jump seat behind the driver and I had a toolbox with an assortment of tools, 2 jack stands, a small hydraulic Jack, a bag of rags and my trusty copy of this book.

Long after i sold all our air cooled VWs and I no longer needed the book, I still have a copy sorry on my shelf in my office it’s still fun to read and look at the pictures and an awesome reminder of all our adventures.

The best $25 you will ever spend.

10
MC_B_Lovin•

Exactly what I’d have posted. And one other thing I would add… try to find actual catalogs from: Wolfsburg West, West Coast Metric, maybe research others you can buy off eBay. They don’t print catalogs anymore. But honestly, having the books in your garage will help you find VW part numbers.

4
zeeaouOP•

Thank you

2
zeeaouOP•

Thank you

2
zeeaouOP•

Ordered my copy tonight!

2
theycallmeshowtime•

If you are willing to learn and enamored with them, I would go for it. I learned a lot and got much more comfortable over the years. It will have issues but make you smile in between the break downs.

2
zeeaouOP•

Thank you, it really would be a dream come true and I like to learn.

1
zeeaouOP•

To add, I currently own a smart car which is not without it’s own challenges. It’s mechanically sound but maintenance is costly and mechanics are difficult to find. I love the little guy though.

1
mr_electric_wizard•

Old VW’s are going to break down. I’ve had buses from all eras and they’ve all needed work to keep running. I do gotta say though, that my split window bus is the easiest thing in the world to fix. So when it does bread down, I can usually get it going again quickly without too much fuss. Bay windows are a little more challenging because of the fuel injection but still not all that bad. It all just depends on how well the previous owner maintained it. I say, go for it! They’re a blast!

3
zeeaouOP•

Thank you for your insights!

1
LevelIndependent9461•

They will constantly break down..parts are poorly designed and of poor quality..there are parts you need to carry with you at all times..I would recommend making a realistic list of the cost to own a 74.then make sure you really wanna go there..you need to be a mechanic or have mechanical skills to own one..if not it's really hard to find competent people to work on them..most mechanics refuse to work on them cuz there work won't be warratied..say for instance you adjust the valves wich needs to be done every oil change..some times they go out of adjustment in-between oil changes.no body running a business wants the hassle of these things..I have 2 and they require alot of effort and laughter to love them.

1
LevelIndependent9461•

Making it there is actually a thing with them.

1
zeeaouOP•

Thank you for your insights.

What do you mean a realistic list of the cost to only 74? So far I’m looking at the cost of the vehicle, the cost to insure, I have a place to keep it, I’m going to call my mechanic today (he’s an old foreign car car guy) — what am I missing?

1
LevelIndependent9461•

Parts and there availability affordability. Parts for routine maintenance..the fact that you want to consult a mechanic is a kinda red flag..if you have to pay someone for the mechanic part it's gonna be unaffordable.for example I purchased a early 1971 model. Because it has disk breaks and still has the old style upright engine wich I know how to work on.i could never afford shop rate on a bus engine.they require constant tinkering..Parts even for that 71 can be hard to find..some parts in aftermarket state are horrible quality and old stock must be found each year has its things..research first..74 is not a super desirable year if your gonna put money in it make sure it's worth it.im not saying don't do it I'm just saying it's a consideration..they are at the top of ther price market right now wich is good and bad for a collector..their better off converted to electric in my opinion the powerplant is it's weakness.

1
rickbehning•

You are missing about $5k in upcoming repairs.

1
ProfessionalLab9068•

I disagree that parts are poorly designed, original German manufacturing was of top quality and the steel and other metals in em was bomb. The replacement parts being manufactured these days can be of poor quality. I went through 4 reman’d AFM’s before I found an original one that worked flawlessly.

1
LevelIndependent9461•

I respect your opinion we just disagree is all..good luck.

1
ProfessionalLab9068•

I had a ‘74 tintop in the early 90s, took it all over Idaho logging roads in the backcountry. These days, parts are definitely getting increasingly rare and their antique value only increasing, so you’ll be paying a good chunk of cost just for the rarity value. The older mechanics with the experience working on these highly persnickety air-cooled vehicles are retiring in droves lately. (Dudes in their late ‘60s) That said, there is a cult-like following worldwide so success really depends what your resources are, what skill level your friends have, where you are located, and where you plan to travel with it. Plan to dump at least double the money you purchase it for into restoration costs to get it road worthy. You’ll want to replace all fuel lines & restore the tank, clean all the electrical grounds & replace fragile wiring, and critical for safety you should upgrade to disc brakes so you can stop as fast as modern traffic. Upgrade headlights too, which means new wiring harnesses. There is a popular cartoon we refer to of a Westfalia holding a gun saying “give me all your money”…and indeed the addiction is real, almost as expensive as a coke habit. Guaranteed you can plan on needing to budget much more than you think you will to keep it on the road. Then there’s the rust…not a lot of mechanics know about yearly tasks like wax in the trailing arms. Go on Bus Depot, Van Cafe, C1P1, JBugs, etc websites to see how expensive parts are, go on the Samba group to read about the struggles to track down rare parts like working transmissions. (can be $5K to rebuild) Enter into your Westy odyssey with your eyes wide open & very full bank account and you’ll have the time of your life, nothing beats these vehicles in form and function, that’s why they’re so coveted. The Swiss Army Knife of vehicles. Enjoy the ride!

1
Volks21•

To add to the Muir book, Bentley or Haynes repair guides

1