Any Vanagon Owners About?

[TheJackRabbit]

AN '85 Vanagon 1.9 liter bus (not Westy) has come into my life. This is my first VW bus and I love this thing. That little Waterboxer engine is suprisingly game. Some of my neighbors motorcycles have more siplacement than this bus. The turning radius is mind blowing- U-turns on roads I had to circle the block in my FJ 60. Put a set of Ice bar chains on the rear wheels and this thing plunges through snow like nothing I have seen on wheels.

Now that I have offered all praise to VW for building this thing, I have a couple of questions.

1. How the heck does one keep the side door from freezing shut? I cannot get this door open until sunlight and heater warmth have taken effect. I greased the slide last fal with Bosch grease. Should I have used some sort of silicon?

2, This engine could sure use a block heater. None of the on-line vendors seem to have one. Right now I have an electric hot plate under the crank case all night and that works (Vanagon on the Grill) but is a little clumsy.

3. What kind of mileage fo you get in yours?

4. Why are so many owners in a hurry to convert to Subaru boxer engines or Diesel power?

[cruiser88]

Originally Posted by TheJackRabbit

AN '85 Vanagon 1.9 liter bus (not Westy) has come into my life. This is my first VW bus and I love this thing. That little Waterboxer engine is suprisingly game. Some of my neighbors motorcycles have more siplacement than this bus. The turning radius is mind blowing- U-turns on roads I had to circle the block in my FJ 60. Put a set of Ice bar chains on the rear wheels and this thing plunges through snow like nothing I have seen on wheels.

Now that I have offered all praise to VW for building this thing, I have a couple of questions.

1. How the heck does one keep the side door from freezing shut? I cannot get this door open until sunlight and heater warmth have taken effect. I greased the slide last fal with Bosch grease. Should I have used some sort of silicon?

2, This engine could sure use a block heater. None of the on-line vendors seem to have one. Right now I have an electric hot plate under the crank case all night and that works (Vanagon on the Grill) but is a little clumsy.

3. What kind of mileage fo you get in yours?

4. Why are so many owners in a hurry to convert to Subaru boxer engines or Diesel power?

I could never get my door from freezing shut

Have you tried JC Whitney they used to sell all kinds of VW stuff?

Mine had over 200 k when i sold it.......word of the wise be easy on that reverse gear.

I want another sooooooon so easy on gas and handy

[WristPin]

1: WD40 or napa silglide. use one or the ohther and apply to rubber seal

2: jegs.com?

3: get about 25 in my 61 bus. dont own a van. only if it was syncro (4x4)

4: subaru more modern?

[frostback]

I've got a 1989 VW Tristar Syncro and I love it! The "wasser leaker" is not long for this world and will likely be replaced with a 2.5l Subaru stove in the near future. I also want to fit some lift springs and OME shock absorbers. Mine even has a rear difflock!

You do have to love them to own one as they are quirky.

Derek

[Martin White]

Not to dis your vanagon but on the West coast, I have not seen one running in years. Many years. I did know some people who had a few years ago and they quickly got frustrated with the near endless problems and sold them. Again, I mean no disprespect and perhaps you have a good one, but in general, they had an awful lot of problems.

[mtnmort]

I have a vanagon that I bought for my wife. She likes to car camp and sleep while I drive the long hours to our destination. I have had the vehicle for over two years and up until last month the only thing that stopped working on it is the starter. this past month the cooling system went on the fritz. new thermostat, and some new hoses from the vw dealer, not cheap, and it is running like a champ.

I generally get between 20 and 22 mpg on road trips and 17 to 19 in town depending on driving.

It is the perfect road trip vehicle for me, wife and two big dogs. My wife will never let me sell the thing, and she wants me to import a turbo diesel and 5 speed for it when this engine goes. it is running strong at 210000.

[MiniPigg]

Cool... another vdub person. I have owned several TypeII's. Newst was an 1971 Doublecab Truck, then an 1968 Singlecab Truck. Then an 1963 Doublecab Truck. Then an 1967 Deluxe Bus. Then an 1968 Westy. 1956 23window Deluxe Samba.
Sure all are older then yours but they share a common bond other then being VW's. The power sucks.

Now that I have offered all praise to VW for building this thing, I have a couple of questions.

1. I couldnt tell you on this one. All my doors opened out.

2, This engine could sure use a block heater. None of the on-line vendors seem to have one. Right now I have an electric hot plate under the crank case all night and that works (Vanagon on the Grill) but is a little clumsy.

You could also get a dip stick heater and ask about an inline water heater to the radiator.

3. What kind of mileage fo you get in yours?

Not sure what to say on this one being mine were different.

4. Why are so many owners in a hurry to convert to Subaru boxer engines or Diesel power?[/quote]

Ok... the Subaru conversions started with the Aircooled engines. Before all the fun add ons for power the aircooled engine had a 100hp mile marker. Meaning that it was hard to get to a reliable 100hp. The older subaru engines are also air cooled and have more power. Get into water cooled soobies and your getting way past what a stock bus puts out. My fav soobie engine is the H6 EG33 3300CC watercooled engine that came in the SVX. It is a very reliable engine and they also use them in airplanes. They can be reliably built for aircraft using a dual turbo setup. The stock power is 230hp and 228ftlbs.

Diesel is a different story and the reasons people convert to diesel is also not the same as converting to a more powerful gas engine. People that convert to diesel either have a Vanagon that was diesel from the factory and they want something more modern with more power and more reliable. Or they are a gasser that wants a deisel for better fuel economy. Which is actually the reason why the person with the diesel Vanagon bought theirs.
I have heard of people getting into the 40+ mpg with an updated diesel Van. Even with a Syncro or a Westy Syncro. If I were to go this route I would use one of two engines. The first ofourse is my fav VW diesel and thats the TDI engine. You can get a decent used 1.9TDI for 1K-1.5K with the computer. That engine is rated at 90hp and 155ftlbs. With an Authority Chip, upgraded injector nozzles, and injectors you looking good at 130hp and 200+ftlbs with the same reliability and fuel ecnomy.
Or you can get a 1.9na and run that stock or convert it over to a turbo diesel using the parts from a VW 1.6TD. No computer with a mechanical injection pump. Still good power and fuel economy.

[splitbuseric]

VW's are my passion before cruisers, although they are almost equal these days..

We have a 91 Westy, a 55 Westy, a 53 Oval bug, and 3 cruisers.... I have had VWs or every configuration about 24 in total... I am 29years old.. Since the kids in the last few years the car swapping has slowed down... I always liked the westfalia campers.. versatile economical and easy to fix at the side of the road.. Amazing what they can go through offroad too..

I had an '89 Syncro a couple of years ago... wish I had never sold it now... Had front and rear diff locks a 2" lift and BFG AT's..... and so much room...

And you can't beat a diesel jetta for MPG.....

[MiniPigg]

Originally Posted by splitbuseric

VW's are my passion before cruisers, although they are almost equal these days..

We have a 91 Westy, a 55 Westy, a 53 Oval bug, and 3 cruisers.... I have had VWs or every configuration about 24 in total... I am 29years old.. Since the kids in the last few years the car swapping has slowed down... I always liked the westfalia campers.. versatile economical and easy to fix at the side of the road.. Amazing what they can go through offroad too..

I had an '89 Syncro a couple of years ago... wish I had never sold it now... Had front and rear diff locks a 2" lift and BFG AT's..... and so much room...

And you can't beat a diesel jetta for MPG.....

Ahh another addict... I have owned tons of Vdubs... the ones listed above are just a few of the TypeII's we have owned and driven. I have owned a number of cruisers as well.... the addiction is about even.

I would like to get a Doormobile someday.

We had a 2002 Jetta GLS TDI as well. 40+mpg in city and 55+mpg on highway with a best highway of 64mpg.

[thelongerroad]

Just bought our first westy. couldn't be more exited about it. its a '78 air cooled 1.6 litre.
And speaking of no.4 o your list and we are gung ho to switch it over to diesel. but I know almost nothing about the switch.
If anyone can help that would be awesome:

1. what diesel engines would be compatable?

2. would I need to change trannies? it seems the current 4 speed wouldn't do well with the lower rpms of a diesel motor,

thanks