Recent "purhase"

ExoduS 18.11

Hello all, recently my grandmother gave me her old vw bus, 1969 i thiiiiink but not too sure, shes looking for all the original tax books etc so ill know for sure then. But anyways, i want to go about restoring it, but i dont know any specialists who would be able to get me started or at least tell me if its salvagable. Ive seen ones in much worse condition being restored, but this will definately need a full respray etc. but that can be done last. What i want to do is either restore its original engine , or else put a new one in. I've heard stories of old porshe engines being perfect for them? I have some visions for it, but i plan to work summer etc and start saving now and maybe attack it in the summer. I am 18 and currently driving a 00 merc a-class and am definately interested in cars as is my father. but we lack the tools, and storage for a bus and space to work on it. This has been kept in a somewhat rainproof shed for 30+ years. But wasnt abandoned because it stopped working, it was only abandoned because a bigger can was needed around the shop etc for deliveries. i believe it was replaced by a mercedes van, if they were even around back then? Anyways any feedback would be greatly appreciated, its a little stunner in my opinion and has been in the family along time. So would love to get it back right.

peasant

Well ...congratulations ...seems to be in very good nick,

With its high up indicators, you're looking at a T2b ...1972 - 1979

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Type_2

walter sobchak

Peasant's right, it's post 72, unless the front panel's been replaced at some point.
It looks great - you should have no worries getting it back on the road.
There are several very reputable restorers around.
Check out type2ireland.org and you'll find them e.g Krazykombis (Kildare), Ireland Aircooled Centre (Armagh) etc.

Spit62500

Registration number is Dublin late 1981, early 1982. Was it imported?

Edit: a neighbour of mine had a Type 3 reg XZI which would have been 1980 I think so a later model with an earlier reg...

ExoduS 18.11

Wow thats good news. Can the number plate be kept as it is? or will it have to be changed. I know this might be a very unpredictable question but, if the engine was bust, how much would i be looking at for a new one? We also have another problem, the van itself is still in a shed in galway, how would i go about bringing her home?

SligoBrewer

ExoduS 18.11 wrote:

Wow thats good news. Can the number plate be kept as it is? or will it have to be changed. I know this might be a very unpredictable question but, if the engine was bust, how much would i be looking at for a new one? We also have another problem, the van itself is still in a shed in galway, how would i go about bringing her home?

trailer, bit of pushing to get it up onto it?

S.I.R

ExoduS 18.11 wrote: »

Wow thats good news. Can the number plate be kept as it is? or will it have to be changed. I know this might be a very unpredictable question but, if the engine was bust, how much would i be looking at for a new one? We also have another problem, the van itself is still in a shed in galway, how would i go about bringing her home?

swap it out for a re-con beetle engine.... but as usual , if you need an original engine , good few places in england who do it which makes it even more expensive to restore :mad:

as for bringing it home , go with a friend & a trailor and collect it...

SligoBrewer

Best of luck anyways.

When it's finished it'll be worth it. What a present from your gran!:)

ExoduS 18.11

S.I.R wrote: »

swap it out for a re-con beetle engine.... but as usual , if you need an original engine , good few places in england who do it which makes it even more expensive to restore :mad:

as for bringing it home , go with a friend & a trailor and collect it...

Basically i want a new engine, if needed, so it will become a reliable little vehicle. I do alot of festivals etc so would be handy for that. hopefully that will be the most expensive but i hear paint jobs on these bad boys are pretty expensive. altho i reckon the crap paint job gives it character ha

S.I.R

imo hand paint it or ill do a graffitti style peice of work if you like ?? ( the only art i can do besides photoshop )
because full re-sprays are expencive and take more time then a normal car , hence the overly expensive costs :mad:

if you hand paint it ( Hippie Style ! ) It looks better then them freshed painted , never driven, disgraces to there heritage's that everyone collects.

also , vw engines are very simple and should be easly maintained by you.... the only Real expense with these van's is rust. Also the small body decals are hard to get a hold of and can be rather expensive aswell but it should be a work of joy , not the bank managers car....

ExoduS 18.11

Im into graffiti myself but i had an idea of sky blue in my head to paint it. Also maybe putting row of seats and windows in the back? Goin to contact Krazykombis tomorrow about it. try get a rough estimate on it. Also i was talking to my mother and she reckons it could have been imported from the north?

Spit62500

ExoduS 18.11 wrote: »

Wow thats good news. Can the number plate be kept as it is? or will it have to be changed. I know this might be a very unpredictable question but, if the engine was bust, how much would i be looking at for a new one? We also have another problem, the van itself is still in a shed in galway, how would i go about bringing her home?

Its an Irish reg so no problem to keep. There are people who'll transport it for you - the only one that I know is John Flynn Transport in Carlow - he's known here for bringing cars back from the UK but I think that he can organise transport within Ireland - he can certainly suggest someone if he can't.

Phone number is: 087 2990141

The engines are very hardy. Try getting it running first and worry about it if it won't go. I've seen ones from the '50s start easily after a long time in storage. As another poster says there are lots of suppliers in the UK who can supply parts and advise on tuning options. Remember that gearbox will need upgrading if you do much with the engine.

mikehn

Hi
Best of luck with the project.
I wouldnt mind taking on something like that but the wife would flip.
ive had a few transporter conversions over the years and just loved drining them.
If I was in your position I would start looking at the specialised vw breaker sites in the Uk/North, you can also buy flat pack furniture for a camper conversion but personally i would see if I could source a crashed camper. Check damaged repairables in Auto trader.
Best of luck

ExoduS 18.11

Thanks for that, should come in handy! Yes its a 4 speed ive been told so a new gearbox will be in order. Thats good news about the plates, pretty cool one in my opinion.

PaulK_CCI

Viewing from the pics I'd say the car is reasonably good salvageable nick. Tailgate seems to have been replaced at some stage, which means it has seen a bit worse for wear, but overall I guess it shouldn't take huge amount of bodywork to get it back in shape:
You'd be surprised about that engine, get someone who knows what he's doing in to check the engine out before you do anything, see if the crank turns (hand turn!!!), and if so, drain the old oil, put new in, change filters, change plugs, put a battery on and you could be in for a surprise.... Note, you will most likely have to change new rocker cover gaskets, new exhaust, heat exchangers, etc. etc... but it might turn out cheaper than getting a replacement engine... you could always do that at a later stage if it turns out the engine is knackered after all...
No need to change gearbox at all, the good ole four speed is rock solid and even if you stick in a bigger engine, the gearbox will be fine. It's only if you start talking Porsche engines, then yes, a 915 box would be better, but you'll need deep pockets for a solid 912 or 911 engine and gearbox!!! AND make no mistake, you can't just slot in a bigger engine without changing the entire braking system and suspension setup!!! Not much point in going faster, if you''re not able to stop faster too!!! So, I would go dreaming too much about Porsche engines, and concentrate on possibly getting the original engine back in running order again...

Dustpuppy

You can bring the car to my place. I do full restorings of classic cars and i am spezialized in Volkswagen. Just send me a PM and i will see, what we can do.

junkyard

Would you not restore it yourself? They're a piece of cake to work on and you can still buy most parts new if you need anything.

peasant

I would strongly advise not to go overboard on the "modernisation" of this vehicle.
These yokes are appreciating in value and due to almost all of them having been "campered", an original panel van in good condition is now fast becoming a rarity.

Stop the deterioration, get the mechanics working and make any changes easily reversible back to original and you should recoup any money you may have to invest in this yoke a few years down the line.

kikel

Cool, another panel van. I've got work done on mine by Dave of Ireland Aircooled Center in Armagh and John of Krazy Kombis in Kilkenny. Both highly recommended.

Daxklynsmith

Exodus, I would strongly urge you not to upgrade the engine /gearbox.I used a type2b a(Bus version rather than camper/Transporter) and toured most of South Africa and Mozambique surfspots in the 1970's.
It was one of the most comfortable touring vehicles I've ever owned and believe me you dont want to be going faster than 70mph, if it's Porsche speed and handling you want, buy a porsche.
If you want something reliable and fun, stick with the 1600L engine and four speed gearbox, mine gave me 10k/litre at 100/k/h hour after hour, went places I'm scared to take a 4x4 now.

superboy

All i can say is WOW!! Fair play to you! A great project. Yes you can get absolutely anything for aircooled VWs. If I were you, i'd keep it as a van, because vans are actually rarer than campers and buses now. And its an original Irish-registered one! but Best of Luck with it anyway!!!

ExoduS 18.11

Would you not restore it yourself? They're a piece of cake to work on and you can still buy most parts new if you need anything

I would definately do most of the work myself as i plan to turn it into a sort of hobby. But i might get in touch with John of KK as its closer to home than armagh. If i could just get it driving, i can then worry about the finishing off of it. I want it to be a comfortable vehicle to drive, how are they for mpg? good bad or ok?

You can bring the car to my place. I do full restorings of classic cars and i am spezialized in Volkswagen. Just send me a PM and i will see, what we can do.

Do you work for a restoration company? I'm going to try get it done around the summer, as im still in college exams etc will all be over. So then i can concentrate fully on the van. Thanks for all the feedback, any more suggestions completely welcomed. Im still not sure what i want to be doing with it. I.e restoration or modernisation

ExoduS 18.11

kikel wrote: »

Cool, another panel van. I've got work done on mine by Dave of Ireland Aircooled Center in Armagh and John of Krazy Kombis in Kilkenny. Both highly recommended.

Any pictures of a before and after, how much did it cost you ? I'm trying to get a ball park figure with money so i can predict when i will have it got together

Dustpuppy

I have my own garage in Blackwater/ Co. Wexford, where i do nothing else, then restoring classic cars and motorcycles.

kikel

ExoduS 18.11 wrote: »

Any pictures of a before and after, how much did it cost you ? I'm trying to get a ball park figure with money so i can predict when i will have it got together

Only pictures of before because i haven't restored it yet. Maybe next year. Fingers crossed.

AS regard MPG they are terrible, couldn't put an exact figure on it. It's better to measure these things by the smile it puts on you face.

Here is an picture from before i bought it.

ExoduS 18.11

kikel wrote: »

Only pictures of before because i haven't restored it yet. Maybe next year. Fingers crossed.

AS regard MPG they are terrible, couldn't put an exact figure on it. It's better to measure these things by the smile it puts on you face.

Here is an picture from before i bought it.

Wow, thats a beaut of a van. How much did this van cost if you dont mind me asking. I wouldnt change too much on it as it is ? i like the roof rack too. If i could get mine in that nick i'd be very happy although mine has alot of spot rust on it.

kikel

ExoduS 18.11 wrote: »

Wow, thats a beaut of a van. How much did this van cost if you dont mind me asking. I wouldnt change too much on it as it is ? i like the roof rack too. If i could get mine in that nick i'd be very happy although mine has alot of spot rust on it.

Ha ha, it's amazing the way pictures lie. Mine has loads of rust too.

ExoduS 18.11

Have you renovated any part of it yet?

DarenO

... OZO was registered between August and September 1981

Regards
Darren

ExoduS 18.11

Thanks a million ! Mine has alot of rust on the outside, (as you can see) how do i stop this from getting worse? or how do i cover it?

Coxy_VW

I think you'll have to get a trailer as John Flynn can collect it only if it's running.....I may be wrong.
If you hire a recovery company they are very expensive per mile.

walter sobchak

Exodus - please don't hack windows into it as part of your 'modernisation' ...
If you want a window bus, sell it and buy one - I for one would gladly take it off your hands
As Peasant said earlier, panel vans are rare because of people hacking windows into them, and the job isn't right anyway - they don't look right with a home-brew conversion
IMO panel vans are cool as ...
You can still bung a camper interior in the back
Rant over:cool:

cazzy

Thats cool. Saw a 1961 Morris Miner on the road tonight - it was cool.
Keep the number plates - does it have the red back plates ? The authentic ones - try and keep them. Its cooler.

ExoduS 18.11

walter sobchak wrote: »

Exodus - please don't hack windows into it as part of your 'modernisation' ...
If you want a window bus, sell it and buy one - I for one would gladly take it off your hands
As Peasant said earlier, panel vans are rare because of people hacking windows into them, and the job isn't right anyway - they don't look right with a home-brew conversion
IMO panel vans are cool as ...
You can still bung a camper interior in the back
Rant over:cool:

Was merely throwing options out there as to what i can do. But yes i am keeping it as it is, a panel van. Not completely decided on what to do with the back yet.