Hello.  I am a new volkswagen owner of a 1972 Bus.  I bought this Bus in December 2011.  It is a work in progress.  However, this is my first time owning a Volkswagen and Im having some problems trying to figure out the dynamics and exactly how stuff works and if I infact have the right parts.  I live in Southwest Virginia, about 65 miles from the Tennessee State line.  I was wondering if any of you know of somebody close to me that would be willing to sit down with me some where and discuss some of the dynamics of the Bus or be willing to look at my Bus and tell me if I am in over my head or stuff that is "do-able" and stuff that isnt. 

I would greatly appreciate any and all help or advice you could give me. Thanks!

Ok, you lost me on the Type IV engine.  What kind of history does these motors have and why wont people touch them with a 10 ft. pole?

Type 4 (a.k.a. "pancake") engines have a nearly bullet proof bottom end as compaired to a Type 1 (a.k.a "upright" or "Beetle") style engine.  The valve seats were always their weak point.  From what I've always heard, the earlier type 4 engines (1972 was the first year) had less of an issue with the valve seats.  A BIG advantage of the type 4 is they don't rely on a belt for cooling.  The fan is directly attached to the crankshaft . . . so if the engine is running, the fan is turning.  On a type 1, if you break the generator belt and keep driving, it'll overheat and melt down in real short order.

Some people swear by Type 4s.  Some people swear at them.  It's getting hard to find a good mechanic that will work on air-cooled eingines.  Amoung them, like Nick was saying, it's hard to find one that will work on a type 4.  Don't let that scare you though . . . they really are tough engines.  Just more expensive to fix when something breaks.