| Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi | |
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stan
Cabin : Club Location : North Manchester Posts : 58 Join date : 2010-12-20
| Subject: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:05 am | |
| Hi everyone I've already got a '73 Bay Devon Camper but recently been thinking about a new one also (well newer than 1973!) Just thought I would pop on here and find out as much as I can? I know my aircooled vehicles well, had Beeltes and vans since '86, but is the newer aircooled engine any better than the old one? I guess its got fuel injection and modern stuff like that? Does it have a Cat? What is the fancy water cooled Polo engine like? Any better than the aircooled? Have there been any reliability / build quality issues that are quite common? Has anyone imported their own from Brazil? I would prefer to get just a Kombi and do my own conversion - tempted by the water cooled for winter driving altough using mine at the moment - its the only thing that will get me through the snow! Here is mine - only had this one since April but have covered over 6000 trouble free miles , sold the original interior and making my own slowly - damn Devon roof leaks once in a while but getting there 1 rivet at a time! Anyway off to plunder the archives Thanks Stan | |
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TimV Admin
Cabin : Flight 001 Location : Brighton, East Sussex U.K. Posts : 14334 Join date : 2009-09-27
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:01 pm | |
| Hey Stan - you're very welcome! Your Classic Bay looks sharp (kiteman on here will particularly love the colour!) Where did you get it? I'll kick the replies off - in answer to your query about the aircooled engine - yes it's effectively the same dual port unit of old but with super reliable fuel injection, electronic ignition, a cat (you can mix this with dogs in your BraziBay,) a modern coil pack, a lambda sensor and ..... an ecu to plug in for diagnostics! A lot of the ignition parts come from the Mk3 1.8 Golf GTi engine. This all makes for an engine that runs with vigor and idles smoothly. There is a much larger air filter and housing (it's common to both aircooled and watercooled engines) which tends to make the engine run hotter than Classic Bays because of the change in airflow in the engine compartment, but it's used successfully and laboriously in Brazil where the ambient temperatures are way higher than we generally get. I'll let one of the AquaBay team take over now to sing the merits of their motor. Enjoy your time on the site. ________________________________________________________________________________ Max SportsKombi - The Bay Racer @brazilianvwbay | |
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stan
Cabin : Club Location : North Manchester Posts : 58 Join date : 2010-12-20
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Mon Dec 20, 2010 5:25 pm | |
| Thanks for the welcome and the info. Mk3 Golf bit eh? So should be cheap enough to source and hopefully any normal garage should be able to service those weird funny bits like ECu's and sensors? What are they I just listen to my engine and it tells me what i wants. Hehe.
Got mine from a chap in Scotland it was already welded and sprayed not the best job ever but it's solid and leaves me time to enjoy it while I make the interior and fix the roof etc. 18 owners since 1973 and going strong!!
I am very tempted by a new one where I can seal and protect it from day 1 against our weather. Not read all your posts yet but a little concerned about lack of firewall and heaters not that good in the water-cooled version? I do 700 miles a week commute to work so a little disappointed about poor heating ?
Can I ask some more daft questions? The radiator grill on the front is it removable? I mean does I house the radiator in front of the front panel or does the front panel have a cut out also with holes etc? Just wondering if the front panel is well like mine ? ( my front wheel is a real one) ________________________________________________________________________________ Regards
Stan
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dazdub
Cabin : Exec 012 Location : wales Posts : 3114 Join date : 2009-10-16
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Mon Dec 20, 2010 5:56 pm | |
| Hi the rust probs are more due to paint and primer and seam sealing and under sealing not panel thicknes or panel fitment wich or ok the front axel is king pin same as splity gear box is not bus but more like 1302 and 1303 I to have had lot of air cooled vdubs splity lots of bays 1600 and 2000 a few wedges and lots of bugs and my Brazilian bay is a lot less work hope this helps | |
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TimV Admin
Cabin : Flight 001 Location : Brighton, East Sussex U.K. Posts : 14334 Join date : 2009-09-27
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Mon Dec 20, 2010 6:21 pm | |
| We were hoping for an explanation from VW do Brasil re the lack of firewall but that so far has not been forthcoming. However my personal take on it is that the standard of the modern electrical components, wiring, etc in the engine bay being vastly improved over a Classic plus the need for more airflow due to the larger air filter have dictated that VW are happy not to install a firewall.
There's been a manufacturing fault on the exhaust system of '08-'09 models cited recently and subject to a recall - no such recall seems to have been put in place for a lack of firewall. ________________________________________________________________________________ Max SportsKombi - The Bay Racer @brazilianvwbay | |
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stan
Cabin : Club Location : North Manchester Posts : 58 Join date : 2010-12-20
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Mon Dec 20, 2010 7:33 pm | |
| Thanks guys. I suppose if anyone is worried you could just buy a firewall over here and fit yourself. Surprised these engines run hotter maybe a couple of radiator cooling fans in the engine bay might be the answer? Also surprised about king pins and link pins and a 1302 gearbox? Where do you get spares for those ? 1302/1303's are like hens teeth anyway. So basically the trick is to get them seam sealed properly, etch primed and decent paint on it soon as it arrives? Still not putting me off but obviously have to factor in cost and time. Does anyone know about my radiator question please?
________________________________________________________________________________ Regards
Stan
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pipestrangler
Cabin : Club Location : North Lincs Posts : 36 Join date : 2009-12-29
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Mon Dec 20, 2010 7:51 pm | |
| Hi Stan Liking your van lots it looks real good. My experience with VW campers was nil when I got mine. But I can recomend VW Downunder as they know there stuff for sure. Paul is not your usual salesman he jusy knows all about VW's new & old. He will be able to tell you all about the VW type you require with no obligation. I recon he could answer any question you may have. Regards Nick | |
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irishman
Cabin : Exec 003 Location : Hove, East Sussex Posts : 1089 Join date : 2010-04-11
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Mon Dec 20, 2010 7:58 pm | |
| Hi Stan, no mechanical genius me, but the watercooled is a lovely drive, I use mine everyday, it's our only vehicle. The webasto heater as fitted by Danbury works ok, it just isn't very directional, hence why a lot of us are trying to make it so!
Never had the rad cover off, but you can easily get at the mount screws. The radiator is directly behind the cover, not sure wether or not they have just cut into the original front panel to mount that.
Irishman | |
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kiteman
Cabin : Exec 002 Location : Hampshire Posts : 2896 Join date : 2010-03-19
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Mon Dec 20, 2010 8:20 pm | |
| Hi Stan, As Tim said Top colour For the radiator, if you remove the grill the front end is the same just with a big hole in the middle. The only bits that sit proud of the front end are the four tabs that the grill bolts to, the radiator is still slightly recessed. The inside bulk head is different though, needs the extra room for the radiator and fan etc. As for heating, there are loads of aftermarket heaters you can get, the only problem is there's no ducting for the airvents. A few people have started putting their own systems in to get the side windows cleared. heqated front screen solves the problem of that fogging up. The engine itself runs lovelly, a lot quieter and smoother, 85 bhp, about 30 mpg and has no problems getting up hills ________________________________________________________________________________ Ginger man without a ginger van | |
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stan
Cabin : Club Location : North Manchester Posts : 58 Join date : 2010-12-20
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:58 pm | |
| Thanks again for the information appreciate it. Just wondering if they have a mount for a 1.4 polo engine surely you can maybe fit a later 5 speed box ? Might not be up to the job of pulling the van's weight though? What is the van like on motorways? Stil have the cross wind and juggernaut suicidal tendencies!! Wandering steering? Brakes any better mine are power assist I expect yours are?
I would lean upwards the watercooled version I think but surely could cobble a heater matrix unit out of something modern that can be plumbed in? I guess you have 2 massive water pipes under the floor pan? Hey you could buy one of those underfloor heating systems from b&q!haha
One other thing when I have checked Vw do brazil's website and did a price conversion it looks about £18k for the Kombi version? Yikes that's a lot of cash plus shipping and tax surely they are cheaper than that to buy?
________________________________________________________________________________ Regards
Stan
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kiteman
Cabin : Exec 002 Location : Hampshire Posts : 2896 Join date : 2010-03-19
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Tue Dec 21, 2010 11:00 am | |
| No Issues with the brakes, Discs on the front as well. Steering is still the same though, does like to be in any lane apart from the one you want to be in. ________________________________________________________________________________ Ginger man without a ginger van | |
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irishman
Cabin : Exec 003 Location : Hove, East Sussex Posts : 1089 Join date : 2010-04-11
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Tue Dec 21, 2010 1:13 pm | |
| My brother seems to think the heater matrix system off an old type mini would fit, he's an engineer aqnd has restored a few austin healey's so he may well be right. He's going to look into it for me over the next few months.....
As kiteman says, brakes are good, does still wander abit on motorways, mine is lowered, I'm told this helps....
As for gearboxes, Ian at VwKampers has mentioned that he can do an uprated gearbox?
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stan
Cabin : Club Location : North Manchester Posts : 58 Join date : 2010-12-20
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Tue Dec 21, 2010 1:27 pm | |
| Cool thanks - you get used to the steering adds to the fun of a trip(thats what I keep telling myself anyway!) Pretty sure a Mini unit would fit or something a bit more reliable such as a Micra or MX5 grid - they are all compact units - cant be too difficult - its just plumbing really.
I notice you have flat fronted headlamps are these sealed beam , Xenon or just whatever VW are producing at that time? Bright lights or candle power like mine?
________________________________________________________________________________ Regards
Stan
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max
Cabin : Economy Location : London Posts : 231 Join date : 2010-10-29
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Tue Dec 21, 2010 1:57 pm | |
| Hi Stan, I've also got a watercooled bus – very nice to drive. I got mine with nothing inside, as I wanted to do my own interior: https://brazilianvwbay.forumotion.com/t585-kombi-says-helloThe headlights are nice and bright, I think Tim put in some Xenon bulbs to laser through even the thickest of winter fog. I'll soon install a Eberspacher heater with its own Diesel tank. Nice because you can use this even when stationary and we all know it's not always warm and sunny around here
Last edited by max on Tue Dec 21, 2010 2:25 pm; edited 1 time in total | |
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TimV Admin
Cabin : Flight 001 Location : Brighton, East Sussex U.K. Posts : 14334 Join date : 2009-09-27
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stan
Cabin : Club Location : North Manchester Posts : 58 Join date : 2010-12-20
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Tue Dec 21, 2010 2:54 pm | |
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max
Cabin : Economy Location : London Posts : 231 Join date : 2010-10-29
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:37 pm | |
| Looking good, Stan! Yes, that's the same bed, only mine is full width. I had to go for the white with the baby blue to match the colour of the van What are you going to put next to the 3/4 bed? Storage? | |
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stan
Cabin : Club Location : North Manchester Posts : 58 Join date : 2010-12-20
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:43 pm | |
| Thanks - as you stated in your thread - that bed is great and very well made but the instructions are pathetic - took me 2 evenings to suss it properly!
I have made up the cushions with cream centres and a light flute just need to finished the rear cushion - no time with a 11 month old baby!
When your van is orange its difficult to choose matching colours the original colour cards were Tan although nice a bit dull and dark! So Baby blue it was.
I decided on the 3/4 bed to include some decent storage and keep it looking semi original , cooker and sink to follow soon on the side with full length cuboards, one at the back and also a new overhead locker to be made form ply and covered in real oak veneer once finished, idea is to keep the weight down a lof of the modern conversions use chipboard or MDF which all adds up - I only have 50 horses to play with!
Will update with progress and dig out a few pics when I get some time - in the meantime I am surfing around the posts . (Well I am actually working too - cough cough ahem!)
________________________________________________________________________________ Regards
Stan
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max
Cabin : Economy Location : London Posts : 231 Join date : 2010-10-29
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:14 pm | |
| Great, thanks for the info! Sounds exciting...
Totally agree about keeping the weight down. As I use my bus as a 'normal' car, too, I only want to lug around the camping gear when I need it! | |
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stan
Cabin : Club Location : North Manchester Posts : 58 Join date : 2010-12-20
| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi Wed Dec 22, 2010 9:31 am | |
| - max wrote:
- Great, thanks for the info! Sounds exciting...
Totally agree about keeping the weight down. As I use my bus as a 'normal' car, too, I only want to lug around the camping gear when I need it! Same here use mine for my weekly 700 mile commute - costs a fortune in petrol probably get 22-28mpg roughly but thats not the issue its the small tank!! | |
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| Subject: Re: Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi | |
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| Just popped over from the Late Bay to say hi | |
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