'79 Bay Project

[DannyK]

She RUNS !!! Not very well yet, but she RUNS ! This bus has been sitting for almost ten years so I went slow before even trying to start it. I drained and flushed the gas tank, replaced the fuel lines and filter, changed the oil and filter, removed the plugs and squirt some engine oil into each cylinder and then turned it over by hand with a wrench on the alternator pulley. I was pleased the the motor's NOT frozen, is smooth turning and has no unexpected noises. I cleaned and gapped the plugs and cleaned the points and rotor/cap contacts ( my tune-up parts have not arrived yet). I added fresh gas, injector cleaner and Stabil (as she'll be sitting while I work on the body). I then installed the new battery and new ground cable ( with quick dis connect). I turned her over with the starter a few times and got nothing. After checking electrical connections and replacing a few vacuum lines , I tried again. She caught, coughed, sputtered and died. She then restarted and ran a bit before dying. It was getting late and my neighbors aren't too thrilled with all my car projects anyway, so I called it a night. Tomorrow, I'll try to get her smothed out. In the mean time, I technically met my goal of starting the motor by the end of the week. The head/marker/tail/brake/dome lights, wipers, cig lighter etc all work too. P.S. I hope my Bentley Manual gets her soon, that'll explain a couple lines that go nowhere .

[DannyK]

I've got spark and compression. Fuel to the pump,but not out. I used a test light and didn't get any power at the pump. Tomorrow I'll re-check the under dash wiring butchered by the PO. Any other ideas on what to check ? The good news is that my Bentley Manual just arrived. (only $35, new, from Amazon).

[Sneaks]

I've got spark and compression. Fuel to the pump,but not out. I used a test light and didn't get any power at the pump. Tomorrow I'll re-check the under dash wiring butchered by the PO. Any other ideas on what to check ? The good news is that my Bentley Manual just arrived. (only $35, new, from Amazon).

Many, many ideas. Double-relay, the AFM, etc. There's a Bosch guide up on the interweb in multiple places that walks you through trouble-shooting the L-jet, I think David58 posted it some place but a quick Google should get it for you.

First thing I'd check it the ground for the pump, it is also the ground for the double-relay which is mounted on the firewall to the upper left of the motor. The ground is the brown wires that attaches to the screw that holds the relay on. Clean it up good and check it. I ended up replacing my ground lead completely because it had a break in it some place. Do a continuity check on the power lead as well. In a nutshell, the 'go' signal for the fuel pump comes from two places, first off the starter when cranking, then it comes from the AFM once running. Soooo, if you are sitting there with the key on and not running, the pump isn't going to get any juice. pop the cover off the AFM and clean up the contacts in there. With the key on, turn the bellcrank to open up the flapper and it should trigger the pump.

Of course, you could do what I did and say screw it and run the hot lead off the coil and be done with it.

[DannyK]

Thanks Sneak, good info and ideas. I was using a testlight with the key on and expected to find juice. Today, I found the wires to the voltage regulator are fried. I'll replace them first. If that doesn't do it, I'm gonna test the fuel pump with your direct fuel pump wire from the coil.

[fusername]

no juice to the FI pump with key on. juice only when:

key in crank position
OR
flap in the AFM is deflected. you cna do this by pulling the air filter off and sticking a long pen/pencil into the intake hole

i think the key needs to be on as well.

[DannyK]

Thanks Sneaks and Fuser. I have to order a new alternator and voltage regulator (both are fried along with the wires). Who do you recommend for Bay Bus parts ? (I like Chirco for Bug and Thing stuff, but they don't have much for busses) I may run off-road lights, stereo, extra camper stuff and maybe a second battery someday, so I'm thinking 70amp alternator upgrade is a good idea anyway. I'm also about to order new sheet-metal parts like rocker, slider, rear corner and wheel well panels. Wolfsberg West seems to have quality stuff. Sound good ?

[fusername]

thesamba has a huge list of threads where if you dig through you cna find which panels fit best. wolfsburg is a bit more expensive but i hear their body panels fit best aside from the funky green ones, which if avail always fit perfect. gerson i think is the dude who makes those.

anywyas i order a lot of parts through bus depot, they have a really easy site to navigate, good sales staff, and since they are east coast stuff gets to me in 2-3 days without paying extra for fast shipping. Prices are good too. If you need used parts AJdanette, a member here, has a stash of bay parts he is selling, and vdubtech may be a jerk online but he is a stand up dude and always parting out a bay or three, you can msg him on TOS.
70 amp aint needed, but if you can get a good deal why not? I got lucky and upgraded by accident, so now i can run all those super cool off road lights (or just recharge my battery when i leave the fridge on by accident again)

what happened to the alt reg wires? I have a bunch of alts, no idea if they are good or not but I'll give yo ua good price, harness included.

[DannyK]

Thanks Fuser. The PO's kid had tried to put in a stereo and messed up the wiring. I noticed smoke from the alternator and found bad alt bearings, broken mount and fried wires to the voltage regulator. I've since removed the PO's add-ons. I just now ordered a rebuilt Bosch 55amp for $83, volt reg etc. I also ordered a BUNCH of sheetmetal from Wolfsburg West. I saw the Wolfsburg stuff Doc's been using and his panels were high quality, heavy gauge and well fitting. It wasn't cheap, I just spent more on parts and sheet metal than I paid for the bus, but that's okay. I expected it and wanted to rescue this bus. Some Thing parts arrived today (70amp alternator,etc) so I can work on that in the mean time. Next week, I hope to go to Way-out Salvage, a VW only salvage yard here in the Ozarks with acres of air-cooled VWs. I'm looking for a sliding door, decklid and rear bumper. Maybe a Z bed too. P.S. This morning, at your suggestion, I checked out the BusDepot. I orded a couple panels from them that Wolfsburg didn't have. Man, I'm gonna be brushin' up on my welding skills !

[DannyK]

I've been getting to know the Fed-ex and UPS guys lately. They keep dropping off boxes of stuff with Wolfsbug West, Bus Depot and other names stamped on them. Like I had room in my garage for all these parts ! The original idea when I saw this bus on Craigslist was to use it as a storage shed for other project's parts so I had room to work, but that plan is out the window ! lol ! I'm gonna make one cool canoeing/camping rig here; I even bought a new canoe so the colors would match !

[DannyK]

Here's the new Wolfsburg West panels for the right side. I got a new rear valence,L/R corner and left wheel flare too, among other parts. (Oh no, there's an Orange Campmobile nearby for sale........I'm tying to be good ! )

[Sneaks]

Nice! You're so doomed, you know that right? I've been a VW guy for a while but these bus thingies are addictive. I think it is the versatility of them that intrigues me.
How do you like the panels? I have to get those brackets out to you this week, huh? SHould be able to do that Tuesday.

[DannyK]

The Wolfsburg panels are thick gauge and high quality. They line up well, but can't be sure of fit 'till I use them. One reason to not add more vehicles was that I didn't want to piss off my next door neighbor with project cars lined up between our houses. Yesterday he and his son were at the fence, admiring them, sharing VW memories and asking questions (positive ones) ! Oh,Oh! I am thinking of selling the 2 Bugs to make room for the Orange Campmobile and I'm hesitant to reveal another I have a lead on (Hint: "little windows in the roof") Shush !

[DannyK]

I just bought the orange '73 tin-top Campmobile. It has all the major parts needed for the white one, but it's too nice to use as a parts bus. It came with a "motor in a box" or several boxes. 2 liter Case,crank,new in plastic- pistons and cylinders, new heads, new cam,new lifters, new in box- Weber 2 barrel w/ new intake, gasket sets etc. It has all the camper stuff intact, but the upolstery is shot, no biggie. I now have to decide which bus to focus on building !

[Sneaks]

You know that is almost the twin to Jake

[fusername]

don;'t be rediculous, they are on completly different levels, that thing is a shoddy joke, look at the upside down spare tire carrier, and everyone knows plastic really restricts the flow thru the heads. c'mon sneaks, lets not drag lexis new car thru the mud associating it with this heap

jealous of all you bastards w/ new bays...