need mechanic (and more) for 77 campmobile

freeride1090 · « **on:** January 17, 2008, 10:53:36 PM »

i bought a '77 bus for my wife :lol: for xmas. I got it from a vw mechanic in cleveland, TN. So he kinda gave me a heads up on what I was gonna need. I had planned on takin her up to import autos in cleveland, but now i dont think its a good idea to drive her that far without addressing the issues shes having. (i say she b/c my daughter has named her "kansas") She got the type II engine with duel carb set up and hydrolic lifters(?). So here goes ... to the best of my knowledge...

Mechanical
1) low compression in #1 and #2 (around 80) 3 and 4 were holdn 100 easy. I am hoping this is just rings..but have a feelin its gonna be a little more involved.
2) 2 oil leaks just under front area of engine . I was told this is from 1 or 2 bad seals....

Cosmetic (no rush for these need her runnin smooth 1st but I would like to locate these asap)
1) Glass- need new windshield
2) driver side door (or good restore)
3) Seats - really need to find 3 person back bench seat (I will happily trade the existing 2 person seat, ice box, and storage bin if that helps any1 out)
4) retractable seat belts x4

I am mainly concern with the mechanical issues as of right now but am always looking to address the cosmetics too. If anyone can help or if ya know anyone please let me know. I'ld like to try and keep her local if possible (no interstate for right now) and I live in red bank if that helps. thanks for you time.

Smelly_Cat · « **Reply #1 on:** January 22, 2008, 07:00:06 AM »

Sounds like a fun project, I'm making a drip pan for my bug to catch the oil drips so i can put it back in. That will solve the oil drip problem. Other folks here have better advice so I'll keep my mechanical thoughts to myself.... for a while.
Alvin in Dalton has a bunch of buses and stuff, It seems like every thing is 25 bucks, bumper 25 , seatbelts 25, axle 25 bucks. His pricing model is pretty easy to remember. I'll get you his number if you like . SC

freeride1090 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 22, 2008, 08:20:49 AM »

A number would be great. Definatly could use the seatbelts and any seats. Thanks for the reply! Still looking for someone to help me out with the low compression to get her back on the road. Thanks again, Nick

certdubtech · « **Reply #3 on:** January 23, 2008, 04:04:54 PM »

I'm out right now on any repair of type 4 engines. Just finished two and they nearly killed me.

As stated, I'm outside only at the moment, and rolling around in gravel makes me grumpy.

One tip: spray oil into the cyl. and try the compression test again. if the reading goes up, that's usually leaning toward rings. The last set I did made me hate these engines more than I did before.
And that's saying something.
David and I take turns telling stories about why we hate them.
They're great....right up until the point when they break.

freeride1090 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 23, 2008, 06:04:54 PM »

Thanks for the tip. Any advice on getn to the rings..... Can I replace them w/o droppn the engine, or is it easier to just drop the thing and make any necissary adjustments/repairs all at the same time. Thanks Again!

certdubtech · « **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2008, 08:48:37 PM »

You can replace the rings on a type 4 engine with the engine still installed. I just finished one a few weeks ago. However, If you are going to replace the pistons as well, for whatever reason, then you're gonna have to pull the engine b/c there's not enough room to get something in there to drive out the pison pins. You basically have to loosen the fan shroud and start removing everything (sheet metal, distributor, heads, cylinders, carb/intake set up, etc.) that's in the way. the left side is a particular joy with the oil cooler and bracket. some of the screws on the forward/bulkhead sheet metal are a real pain, but that engine is a bigger pain to take in and out. It's not as easy to balance on a jack as the upright (beetle) style engines. If you do want to get into it and have any more questions, I'll offer whatever advice I can. Good luck with it.

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #6 on:** January 24, 2008, 08:46:27 AM »

Like Rick said, you can replace the rings without pulling the engine ,but if you have had no experence working on these engines you best yank the beast out. There is a lot of "tin" you have to bend, pry, tweak that is hard to put back on correctly if you can at all. Either way its not pleasent
and more than likely there is more to it than just rings. This is not your Daddy's Bug engine with the ease of maint. much less the outrageous cost of parts but there is a lot of folks out there that love them to death.

Russ · « **Reply #7 on:** January 24, 2008, 10:26:01 AM »

I'll touch on retractable belts since I'm looking for some for my camper too.

A lot of people like the retractable belts from GoWesty but they are pricey at $140 each. They're an easy bolt on though. In addition they also have rear seat belts that are not retractable, and I don't know that you could install retractable belts back there without a lot of modifications.

Don't be tempted to just pull some retractables out of a junk yard. Seat belts are designed to be used once and if the car was in a wreck the webbing has been stretched and the belts likely won't work again. I would only buy new belts, since they're such an important safety feature.

certdubtech · « **Reply #8 on:** January 24, 2008, 02:28:29 PM »

Not to mention that the webbing deteriorates when it gets wet and as it ages...what Russ said, new only to stay safe.

Smelly_Cat · « **Reply #9 on:** January 24, 2008, 06:19:37 PM »

Sooooooooooooooo old belts are crap, huh? I guess i don't need to use my seat belt since it is weathered and nasty? . ...and did I mention "retractable". I figure the belts are OVER engineered so a little age just makes them more comfortable. I distaste the roughness of new seat belts.
I figure it might slow me down a little before it breaks and i go thru the wind shield. Give me a break. Smelly "Earnhardt" Cat

Anthony · « **Reply #10 on:** January 25, 2008, 11:17:13 AM »

Don't let these guys scare you. The type IV engine in your bus is what VW wanted put there to handle the extra weight of the T-2 bus. It has excellent torque numbers and is as reliable as any type I engine when treated with the same respect. They're just different, not harder, just different. Give me the larger oil cooler of the type IV any day over trying to slip the fan shroud over a type I cooler without ripping the foam seal off or misalinging the shroud on the cylinder tins...good, got that finally...Arggh!-left the generator strap off-gotta take the whole gersthupid thing off... can I bend the strap around the generator?...broke! :-x
That being said-pull the engine. If you mean the leaks are in front of the engine as in front=front of the bus, you'll want to pull it. At any rate you'll find things easier to get to and learn a lot in the process, and to know the type IV is to love the type IV.

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #11 on:** January 26, 2008, 12:25:10 PM »

Anthony, What in the world were you working on that you had so much trouble with the fan shoud? You broke a Gen strap ? You have to be talking about your Inj. Mex.beetle.

You forgot to mention the 2 1/2 times the price of parts for Type-4 engines over Type-1.
I have never talked to a factory trained VW Tech that had anything good to say about a Type-4 engine. It was a good idea that went terribly wrong. I should have bought stock in Rolaids because not only did we have to deal with the vans, we had the 411's and 412"s to drive us crazy.They where so good that VW only imported them for 2 years. Southland VW had about a 12 brand new zero miles '74 412s that they couldn't give away. They junked them in 1978 after their paint fell off after sitting outside all that time. Southland couldn't even sell them at used car autions do to the cars reputation of engine failures,tranny failure, and fire.
Now ask me why I don't like them :lol: :lol:

freeride1090 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 26, 2008, 01:26:55 PM »

What exactly is the difference between type II and type 4? I couldve sworn this one was a type II.... But ive been wrong before. After that last comment I think Ill retro fit her to run off of rabid squirrels and caffine. just cost me a couple of cages, coffee grounds, and nuts. No fire, low maint, and itll run off nuts.

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2008, 12:29:36 AM »

A Type -2 is van , bus, kombi, pick up. A Type-4 (411, 412) was a car that VW imported into the U.S. in late '72 I think and dropped after '74. They came as 2 door, 4door, Square back w/automatic tranny. The '74 came with side by side duel head lights. Pretty rare to even see one these days. Ck Samba or e-bay. Some will be on there.
These critters used the same "pancake engine" thats in your van. They sort of picked up the title as Type-4 engines for some reason.
The Porche 914 used a similar engine with a few changes but its all VW.
You need to have your engine checked out properly to see what it would take to put it in top shape. Do not patch this engine. What about the VW mech you bought it from ? Can he help you out ? They can be expensive to fix.

Zen · « **Reply #14 on:** January 27, 2008, 08:34:47 AM »

Quote from: "Ret.Bugtech"

Anthony, What in the world were you working on that you had so much trouble with the fan shoud? You broke a Gen strap ? You have to be talking about your Inj. Mex.beetle.

Sounds like he was helping me! Been there, done that. :lol: :lol:

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Topic: need mechanic (and more) for 77 campmobile (Read 4023 times)

freeride1090

need mechanic (and more) for 77 campmobile

Smelly_Cat

need mechanic (and more) for 77 campmobile

freeride1090

need mechanic (and more) for 77 campmobile

certdubtech

need mechanic (and more) for 77 campmobile

freeride1090

need mechanic (and more) for 77 campmobile

certdubtech

need mechanic (and more) for 77 campmobile

Ret.Bugtech

need mechanic (and more) for 77 campmobile

Russ

need mechanic (and more) for 77 campmobile

certdubtech

need mechanic (and more) for 77 campmobile

Smelly_Cat

Old Belts Rock!

Anthony

need mechanic (and more) for 77 campmobile

Ret.Bugtech

need mechanic (and more) for 77 campmobile

freeride1090

need mechanic (and more) for 77 campmobile

Ret.Bugtech

need mechanic (and more) for 77 campmobile

Zen

need mechanic (and more) for 77 campmobile

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