69 Westy Rusty Patina

[dansam]

4 bad fuel pumps? Unlikely. Is the pump shaft matched up right??? I know you probably checked it but I cant help bringing it up.

Dan

[ghiastein]

Sorry for not explaining the condition of my fuel pumps. Every fuel pump that I own was pulled from a non running engine. My fuel pumps all have dried out old gas in them from 10+ years ago. They just need rebuilt. I too am surprised that I could not find a good one but I do have some of the old fuel pump internals soaking in some cleaner. I guess I just need to purchase a new pump or a rebuild kit.

[dansam]

AH

[Ruffuss]

AJ or just drive to Mattawan, Later Kenn

[ghiastein]

Kenn I may have to take you up on that but today is a no VW day for me I drove my Chevy to work today. Sometimes I just need a break.

[ghiastein]

Ok I have not posted my latest on the Bus because of stupidness from over excitability that came over me on Tuesday.

Ok thank to Kenn for a fuel pump I was able to fire up the Bus and drive it. Good news

The stupid moment came when it did run. I got excited and backed out of the garage then crunch as I smashed the pop top on the garage door. After removing the Bus from the garage I managed to maneuver it to a parking spot. Where I attempted to fix the top by gaining access through the sliding door. When opening the sliding door it flew off the hinges and in to my hands. Then taking 30 minutes to reattach the door.

Sliding door is reattached and pop top is attached. I attempt to make my victory lap around the apartment complex. I fire up the Bus back out of the parking spot shift into first gear and go.

After moving I then attempt to shift in to 2nd. Nope cant find 2nd so I will just cruise around in first no big deal. I come to an intersection slow down push in the clutch and the Bus dies. I attempt to refire the Bus and nothing just nothing no clicky just dead. Here I am sitting in a dead Bus a block away from my garage with my glory fading rapidly away.

After running around the Bus I wiggle the wire on the starter. Back in the Bus I attempt to start it again. It came to life but will not idle. At this moment I have lost my happy place and just want the Bus safe in the garage. Off I go in first gear back to the garage.

At the garage I depress the clutch and guess what the Bus dies again. Once again it will not idle. Heres the kicker my garage is up a slight hill 90 degrees from the driveway.

I had to keep my left foot on the brake to keep the Bus from rolling backward. My right foot was on the gas to keep it running and the shifter was in neutral. Left foot went from the brake to the clutch. The bus rolled backward. Right foot left the gas and onto the brake. The Bus dies.

After several attempts this is where my frustration level flew out of control. I was so pissed I had to invent my own cuss words because no common cuss words were able to explain my level of frustration.

At this time the Bus is at a 45 degree angle from the garage with the nose in. I get the idea of smashing the gas pedal with my right hand. With my left hand on the steering wheel, right hand on the gas, left foot on the clutch, and right foot on the brake. I some how manage to wiggle the Bus in the garage. I even added some extra character to the Bus as I scrape the side on my table in the corner but I don't care my failure is over and the Bus is home.

Moral of the story always check timing and the carb before attempting to go on your victory lap.

[dansam]

AAAAAAaaaaaaaaaack!!!!!!!

Been there done that (crappy first drives) Once had a bus shifter come out in my hand 5 miles from home.....ooops!

Dan

[Ruffuss]

Sorry AJ I know what a pain in the assbutt a misbehaving SOB VW can be. Like Dan said been there done (Dunn) that. Better luck next time. Later Kenn

[bren]

Wow AJ. Sounds like a good day to take the ghia out and remember not all VW's are a pain.

[steve71westy]

Come and see me at the MVVC you can take my bus for a drive if you need to get spirits/motivation back up
Steve G

[ghiastein]

Yea it was a ruff day. I have found that just walking away from the problem gives me a chance to chill and relax. Yea like Bren said next to the Bus I have a perfectly running Ghia. steve71westy I don't really like driving other peoples pride and joy for fear of scratching or denting something but what I do enjoy is just siting in the drivers seat.

[VDub63 ( Steven )]

May 14, 2009 21:19:09 GMT -5 ghiastein said:

steve71westy I don't really like driving other peoples pride and joy for fear of scratching or denting something but what I do enjoy is just siting in the drivers seat.

And making Varoom, varoom, oomba, oomba noises ;D

[ghiastein]

The Bus and I have settled out differences and decided to play nice.

Well during my dreadful test drive I did notice that the brakes did work and I had a firm pedal. So today I wanted to see how good so I did a full brake inspection. I looked things over and pulled all the drums off.

What I found was that all of my brake shoes were about 1/2 left. All of my wheel cylinders seems to work all 6 of them. The brake lines seem rusty and I don't like the brake hoses. The drums them selfs are rusty on the outside but clean on the inside. My e-brake cables are rusted shut.

Because I am cheep this is what I am going to do. First I will replace all of the brake hoses and I will not be gentile with the lines. If they brake they will be fixed. I will also clean my adjusters and adjust the brakes. Since I have a solid brake pedal and everything works I will just bleed and go. But I will be careful with the brakes and check them regularly for the first few 1000 miles.

This weekend I plan on tinkering with the engine to make it run better and then tackle the rat nests of wires that is called my electrical system. The only thing that did work was the engine starting system and the head lights. I have my work cut out for myself.

[ghiastein]

Spent more quality time with the Bus today. I fixed my shifter now I have all 4 forward and reverse but stuff seams worn out because I don't have to push down for reverse.

I installed one of the fancy new to me Porsche seats. The passenger one will be installed when some of the rust is repaired.

I spent the remainder of the day sorting out my electrical issues. First thing was to remove all of the previous owner red neck engineered wiring hack job. After things were back the way they should be I replaced my burnt fuse block with an original one. Then replaced tons of more chard electrical wires. I am guessing an electrical fire started in the engine bay and when wires shorted out a fire started under the dash. The funny thing is that none of the fuses popped. Unless the were replaced after the electrical fire.

Now I have working headlight and high beams, wipers, passenger front running light, driver rear running light, 4 way flashers but only with the working running lights. Still no turn signals, brake lights, back up lights, or any dash lights. Thats tomorrows project.

[jmallen05]

Could the shifting problem be the shift plate? Mine went bad and it wouldn't stay in reverse, it would just keep popping out.


jerry