thinking of buying a Westy

For the past 3 or 4 months I've been looking for a Westy. I have been focusing on the 1986 to 1991 model years (improved water cooled model), but recently I came across a very nice 1978 air cooled Westy. I'm tempted to go look at it, but I'm not sure if I'll like owning an air cooled model.
Are there any past/present Westy owners on this forum who can give me some advice? Should I stick with looking for a 86-91 water cooled model? I've driven a 1991, which I liked a lot. Unfortunately, around here 86-91 Westies are going for premium prices.
Thanks
Ron

If you can find one with a bad engine, Ron it's pretty straight forward to stick a Soob into it.

Ron the Westi expert is Anthony Gelloto
He is available at RPM Auto Parts in NJ
(973) 448-9440

I'm a dope -- WTF is a Westy? Not a cute little white dog, I'm guessing . . .

VW Westfailia van.

Thanks Kelly. I'm also a dope...uh...don't tell anyone. I like those dogs though.

I really think that you'll love the '78. Modern enough to make you happy, but still with the vintage Bay Window look.

Take a careful look at the front brakes, the master cylinder and especially the booster. They're costly to replace. If the fuel injection is intact and functioning well, GREAT. If it has a dual or single carb conversion, offer the seller $1,500 less than he's asking, he KNOWS that the engine doesn't won't run right. Sell the carbs and use the coin to swap out the engine or buy the stock injection for it from a restorer. Never ever believe anyone who says that the carbs are dialed in and the engine runs great. The bus engine has different internals than the 914 version, it just won't work with carbs.

I worked at a VW bus specialty shop for a lot of years and got to know the Type II inside and out. Well maintained, they're absolute gems that last forever, let them go just a bit and it takes more time and money to repair than than their currently worth. Like most antiques I suppose.

Good like with you search and purchase, they are just a wonderful and unique vehicle ! ! ! You'll LOVE it ! ! ! ! !


Luck,

TC

"Good like with you search and purchase, they are just a wonderful and unique vehicle ! ! ! You'll LOVE it ! ! ! ! !"


Or . . . as we say when the universal translator is actually working:

Good luck with your search and purchase, they're just wonderful and unique vehicles ! ! ! You'll LOVE it ! ! ! !

Yup, that's TC.

Off on the other side of the Galaxy, again....

Yo Ron, I'm a Westy (1973) owner have been for 15 fun filled years.

depending on what you use it for ? everyday use water cooled for sure,

I use mine on weekends to go for 1-2 day camp or surf, never in a hurry

just happy to get there and back :)

I like the Vintage look, plus they are going up in value, parts

are easy to find and i can do most of the work.

Check www.thesamba for some deals?

Happy Thanksgiving to you and the rest of the SOC !!!

Cabanaboy

No Westy, but I've got a '64 panel. Pretty cool.

A nice use for the later models....http://www.smallcar.com/index.php

Even offering 4x4.

The watercooled VW busses/campers have a bad reputation for engine issues, deservedly. That makes them relatively low priced. Get one you like and convert it to Subaru power.

Me having 230k all over the country, or continent in fact in a '61 Westy camper this Suby power modern idea is tempting. If I still wandered like I did I'd likely already have one.

Thanks for the replies, guys.

Ron, I owned a 91 Automatic Westy for ten years. Absolutely loved it, except for the lack of acceleration. At 3600 pounds, it's no wonder! It is a great vehicle, except it is slow. Handling is ok, not great, brakes and ride are fine. Utility is high, as is fun. Great heat(two cores, front and rear), great AC. Mine even had cruise control, set at 72 and leave it there, no faster though! Drove mine to Georgia, Vermont, Lake Placid, all over. Never left me on the side of the road, put 70 or 80K on her.

At one point, I was going to Subaru it and tow my Spyder but I changed my mind. There can be rust issues and certainly motor issues. If you get one that's running well, buy it. If the motor craps out, put in a Subaru, it will be cheaper and more reliable, get better power and mileage than the OE motor.

Stay away from the inline 4 conversions, they vibrate!

Put in a set of Bilstein shocks, and change out the 14" wheels for some nice aluminum 16". MAJOR handling improvement! You can get shortened springs too, but I have no personal experience.

Absolute best combo would be the EJ33, a 3.3L flat six from the early 90s SVX model. 230 hp factory! Yes, it fits!

Sold mine on ebay(great deal for me!), I stopped camping.

ooooo..........Subaruuuuuu !!!!

Power !

Good heater !

Air Conditioning !!

Passing that person that used to flip me off on a uphill !!!

Lot's of good responses, I'll try and add a little info. I have owned 7 VW vans. I have driven them and camped in them all over the USA and Mexico. Here is my experience with them. If you want to do more than occasional weekend trips I would get a 1986 or newer Vanagon. The handling, power steering, quiet operation, and interior size make the Vanagon one of the best traveling/camping vehicles ever. They are well made and easy to work on. The engines have a few minor and one MAJOR problem. The heads tend to corrode where they meet the cylinders because different metals cause electrolysis. Typically a Vanagon will go through a set of heads about every 70,000-100,000 miles. The rest of the engine is usually good for 150,000-200,000 miles. The 2.1 Liter engines are smooth, get 17-19 MPG, and have plenty of power if you are not impatient on hills. I have had manual and auto trans vans. I actually prefer the automatics. They will cruise at 70 MPH all day long and the ride is smooth and quiet. Don't buy one with rust, period. The Subaru swap is done frequently, and makes a great vehicle into an awesome one. A 2.5 liter Subaru will get 20MPG, haul ass, and last a long time. It is expensive to have a Suby swap done professionally,, but if you are handy and do your own VW work you could do it yourself. There is a ton of Vanagon engine lore on the net at TheSamba and a Yahoo Group devoted to Suby swaps. The other big question is how much camping and what kind do you really do. A Westfalia Vanagon is still an expensive proposition if it is in good condition. But a 1990-1991 Vanagon Carat can be found in excellent condition for $4,000.00 or $1,500 if it needs an engine rebuild. These do not have the raised roof, but have a great fold out bed, full curtains, and a florescent light like the Camper does. This is my current van and we camp in it almost as well as the Westfalias we had in the past. Then there is the Westfalia Weekender that has the Pop Top but no kitchen!! My favorite, and what I will get if I ever get another. The kitchen/refridge are really kind of in the way and useless. A nice Weekender is the best IMHO. Then finally if you just want a cool van and want to camp close to home and drive it short distances a Baywindow is OK. But they are slow, no power steering, ride kinda rough and are not as comfortable as a Vanagon. So there you have it! Happy Camping!

Dang Turkey! I fell asleep before I could get thru all that.

~WB

Lots of good information here. I never even thought of the weekender model.
We're not sure how much camping we will do. We'll probably start out doing day and weekend trips.

I have a 1971 Westy,and it is the most simple/cheapest to own one,it has the upright motor,and I am building a 2110 for it,and it should make the equivalent hp of a 2.0l type 4 motor,at a much cheaper price.
The early Bays are definitely not freeway haulers though,right lane all the way!

Hey Ron,

You might want to check this one out : http://www.autokennel.com/AutoKennel/old_current_tenants/Entries/2011/11/29_1985_Volkswagen_Vanagon_Westfalia_Fresh_Go_Westy_Engine.html

You may ask Desi to look it in person as he seems to know about Westy

Bought one!
1986 Westy, with 90,000 miles, original paint.

Cool van, man!

wow - that is a mint ride!

let me know if you plan on renting it out. I'll be first in line. :)

That thing's got more room inside than my F250 with a cap!

It's in great shape, too! Great find, Ron!

Nice find! Awesome fun vehicle to drive!

Wow, great find. It is worth paying a little more for one in that shape. We got a travel trailer two years and and have had so much fun camping in it.

Nice find! She looks very clean and those larger diameter wheels should make her ride like a dream! Get some GoWesty rubber mats for it so that your carpet keeps looking so fine. Do yourself a favor if you do not know when the coolant was changed and if the correct type was used change it now. The engine in those things is very long lived except one item. The heads have electrolytic corrosion problems. Using the correct coolant,after flushing out the system with distilled water will make the heads/gaskets last a lot longer. Happy Trails!

Wish I still had my '62 small window Westy that I had pepped up a bit with a '64 Corvair engine. That's my daughter wandering around at Cape Hatteras.

Will, all of the fluids have been changed in the last couple of years. Just to be on the safe side, I plan on changing the coolant this summer. I think I know why Westy owners go a long time between coolant changes-it's quite a job! Having said that, I'm not put off by the task. Heck, I installed a custom cooling system in my V8 Miata. It can't be harder than that!

I took this pic of Wil with his GINORMOUS surfboard and Westy at the beach...



...and this one of Desi's wife and their Westy at the VW Classic in SoCal..

Geez Will, I think your Westy could ride that surfboard.

ya - you could surf a wave in texas with that thing