WWCKD?

Bus, Microbus, Transporter, Station Wagon, Vanagon, Camper, Pick-Up.

Moderators: Sluggo, Amskeptic

Post Reply
User avatar
whc03grady
IAC Addict!
Location: Livingston Montana
Contact:
Status: Offline

WWCKD?

Post by whc03grady » Wed Jun 25, 2014 5:40 pm

We saw one other Bay Window bus in Yellowstone this last weekend, and it's been eating at me ever since.

Of course I went over to talk to the guy. He had his wife and a kid or two in this '77 hightop (conversion unknown; I'd never seen one like it) with F.I. I asked him how it's going. "Well," he said, "not so good."

He'd just bought the bus and this was its maiden voyage. He said that coming over "the" pass it started chugging, "like the clutch was slipping". Hmmm. I asked if I could look at the engine. Okay, there's no engine seal whatsoever and the rest is f.i.l.t.h.y. I asked him to start it. At idle, it is chugging like crazy, not firing on all four it seemed to me. That's not a slipping clutch, I'm thinking.

Nothing smelled or felt particularly hot, to my amazement. I asked him if he's adjusted the valves yet. Nope. I asked him if he's pressing the accelerator when he starts it. Yes. (I told him not to do that anymore.) I asked him if he has the Idiot Book. Yep. I asked him where he's headed. Over the Beartooth Highway to Billings (that road climbs up to just short of 12,000 feet). I could barely suppress my "yikes" in front of him; my eyes reflexively got wide, and I'm pretty sure he noticed.

Having a family of my own who had to be back home sometime that night (and it was raining besides), I told him to take it easy and let it cool down as often as he could. I gave him the IAC address and told him to look for "amskeptic". Hell, what else can you do for a guy?

No, really, what else could I have done?
Ludwig--1974 Westfalia, 2.0L (GD035193), Solex 34PDSIT-2/3 carburetors.
Gertie--1971 Squareback, 1600cc with Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection from a '72 (E brain).
Read about their adventures:
http://www.ludwigandgertie.blogspot.com

User avatar
Xelmon
Sedna of VW lovers
Location: LA or Portland, OR
Status: Offline

Re: WWCKD?

Post by Xelmon » Wed Jun 25, 2014 6:38 pm

Realistically? Go to the closest pressure washer and blast everything off... Sadly there really isn't one in Yellowstone.

Otherwise, pray?

Jivermo
IAC Addict!
Status: Offline

Re: WWCKD?

Post by Jivermo » Thu Jun 26, 2014 4:21 am

What a bummer this is! With what you are telling us, it's certain that he did not change the rubber gas lines. If you got his email address, you ought to advise him of the importance of doing that post haste. Won't help to adjust the valves in a burned up bus.

User avatar
Amskeptic
IAC "Help Desk"
IAC "Help Desk"
Status: Offline

Re: WWCKD?

Post by Amskeptic » Sat Jun 28, 2014 9:20 am

Jivermo wrote:What a bummer this is! With what you are telling us, it's certain that he did not change the rubber gas lines. If you got his email address, you ought to advise him of the importance of doing that post haste. Won't help to adjust the valves in a burned up bus.
I hope he gets in touch with us. I hate to see these cars get wounded unnecessarily.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

MonoCone
Getting Hooked!
Location: OB California
Status: Offline

Re: WWCKD?

Post by MonoCone » Sat Jun 28, 2014 7:23 pm

The voice of the Pilgrim that just bought a bus and heads out for a multi-thousand mile trip: "My pappy/uncle/neighbor told me these here old Vee Dubs just ran and ran and ran. Never had to do a thing to them."
That is how we end up with more dead buses and horribly frustrated owners.
To Really Live You Must Go Back to the Mountains.
The Mountains are Where I Am and What I Am.
69 Westfalia 1600 DP; 2002 Eurovan Camper
When you elect a clown, expect a circus.

Formerly posted as OB Bus on this forum - many years ago....

User avatar
BellePlaine
IAC Addict!
Location: Minnesota
Status: Offline

Re: WWCKD?

Post by BellePlaine » Sun Jun 29, 2014 6:39 am

whc03grady wrote:No, really, what else could I have done?
I wonder if the high altitude has made the air/fuel mixture overly rich? Perhaps the gas is old or the gas tank was rusty and now has clogged the fuel filter. Hell, the air filter could be clogged with a mouse nest!

Hopefully this guy finds the IAC and is willing to learn about his new car with the realization he is going to have to get involved in the health and maintenance of it.

Seriously, I would guess that this bus should be able to make it up the Beartooth Highway, but only if the vehicle is well tuned, lubricated, and had a few short trips under its belt.
1975 Riviera we call "Spider-Man"

Jivermo
IAC Addict!
Status: Offline

Re: WWCKD?

Post by Jivermo » Sun Jun 29, 2014 10:24 am

Say, whc03grady, did you get this guys contact info? It's worth the effort to get in touch with him, and offer some guidance as well as clue him in to this site.

User avatar
whc03grady
IAC Addict!
Location: Livingston Montana
Contact:
Status: Offline

Re: WWCKD?

Post by whc03grady » Mon Jun 30, 2014 1:43 pm

My family was recovering from a 6 year-old's very recent meltdown, so I was kind of twitterpated. So no, I didn't get his contact info nor did I give him mine, I just gave him this site's address and the cryptic advice to "find amskeptic". I f*ked up in that regard for sure.
Ludwig--1974 Westfalia, 2.0L (GD035193), Solex 34PDSIT-2/3 carburetors.
Gertie--1971 Squareback, 1600cc with Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection from a '72 (E brain).
Read about their adventures:
http://www.ludwigandgertie.blogspot.com

User avatar
Amskeptic
IAC "Help Desk"
IAC "Help Desk"
Status: Offline

Re: WWCKD?

Post by Amskeptic » Wed Jul 02, 2014 10:59 am

whc03grady wrote:My family was recovering from a 6 year-old's very recent meltdown, so I was kind of twitterpated. So no, I didn't get his contact info nor did I give him mine, I just gave him this site's address and the cryptic advice to "find amskeptic". I f*ked up in that regard for sure.
If this six year-old is the six year-old I am thinking of, a meltdown of said six year-old would have to be a higher priority than getting contact info. No f-up, just triage.
Colinwhat'sitlikegettingtwitterpated?
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

Jivermo
IAC Addict!
Status: Offline

Re: WWCKD?

Post by Jivermo » Fri Jun 03, 2016 5:14 am

Did anyone ever hear from this intrepid soul?

User avatar
Amskeptic
IAC "Help Desk"
IAC "Help Desk"
Status: Offline

Re: WWCKD?

Post by Amskeptic » Fri Jun 03, 2016 5:50 am

Jivermo wrote:Did anyone ever hear from this intrepid soul?
Wheyelp . . . bin sed that on dark nights yew cud heyear a howl comin' down from that pass, sumthin' like "I shudda listind."

I, of course, have never slept since.
Colin :blackeye:
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

User avatar
wcfvw69
Old School!
Status: Offline

Re: WWCKD?

Post by wcfvw69 » Sat Jun 04, 2016 7:29 am

It's kind of sad, actually. It's these "new" VW owners who are not familiar with 40+ year old buses (or mechanics) that then break down on their maiden voyage. They are the folks that fuel and feed the myth that these old VW's are horrifically "unreliable".. How many VW's have burned to the ground over someone not being familiar with these cars or doing any preventative maintenance or invest in getting their new acquisition inspected, serviced or repaired by someone familiar with them.

There's a current thread on TS about VW bugs reliability. The owner was too scared to drive it more than 5 miles from his house. Gee, I wonder if said owner has heard all about how "unreliable" these old VW's are from new owners like the one mentioned in this thread?

I know I'm not the most adventurous person nor am I a rocket scientist. However, I wouldn't even consider driving a brand new to me 40+ year old bus that I know nothing about that far w/out having a qualified mechanic (since this owner clearly is not a mechanic) giving it a thumbs up first.

Sorry if I'm being cranky.. lol
1970 Westfalia bus. Stock 1776 dual port type 1 engine. Restored German Solex 34-3. Restored 205Q distributor, restored to factory appearance engine.

Post Reply