84 VW Vanagon Westy Restoration Update After a Year of Work - Kayak Hipster

[@pyronitro]

Great Job!

[@nemolepopo154]

I know what kind of job it is 👍👍👍🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@robertkerner4833]

You now have a brand new old van!

[@willemmaas9813]

The next best thing than regular services is preventative maintenance.

[@lesliecloughley7058]

I have spent lots on my westy And love it it’s only money

[@StevenLawrence-r7o]

Great video very helpful as my Mrs and I are doing a engine swap ourselves this weekend 👍

[@myjhong91]

Your story, my story. Same same. Ha ha!

[@patrickvanhoesen9425]

Dang, I wish I was your neighbor! Lol. I've been a bay window guy for 25 years, just got my first vanagon. 85 Westy. I havnt dug into it yet other than a heavy cleaning session but I assume I'm going to encounter issues that need addressed. I've already noticed the long rubber water hoses that run to the front of the bus are pretty soft. They both need replaced. Hopefully the long metal hoses are good. It's also only running a catalytic converter with nor muffler, just straight piped. It sat for at least 10 years. I put a battery in it and cranked for 30 seconds and it fired. Couple rounds of that and it just started idling. I'm kinda blown away. I didnt let it run long. Moved it forward and backwards and shut her down. Has 120k miles. No paperwork. Its filthy. Has a little kiss kiss on the drivers side rear corner someone roughly pounded out and did a poor job doing the bondo. Other than that its clean, no rust anywhere. Still 100% stock. Might have to pick your brain in the future!

[@davidpicot5457]

Incredible work mate.

[@KayakHipster]

Thanks and cheers!

[@ILLWESTY309]

Yeah big quality issue with the replacement parts in the US. OG parts were much better quality. I did the same thing you did… went through everything and replaced or updated systems. I ending putting a TDI engine in mine. Total game changer for reliability.

[@slimpickins3425]

Glad your video popped up on my radar! No it wasnt to long, your a great speaker and move it along so well! I have had my Westie for 41 years, driving her off the showroom floor! I drive her almost daily here on Long Island, and admire your drive and passion for keeping your Westie going! Thanks for a great Video!!

[@Alva.T3]

Where about on the island ? I’ll keep an eye out on the road !!

[@pelado1981]

Amazing work! this is the way to rebuild cars, checking every system and everything that look "not so well" needs to be changed. Good work!

[@danjamesking]

We just bought an 88 that we’re exporting to the USA from Europe. I can’t wait to do all the work you’ve done. If you have any links to useful sites that would be helpful as we have some good sites in the UK but it’ll cost a lot to ship from there. Cheers. Daniel ☺️

[@chihz]

Thanks man… this was great! I’m slowly restoring my ‘87 Westy.

[@rhythmsofnaturewellness]

Great a video and you are a natural educator. I just bought a 1987 Westy a couple of weeks ago and can see myself going down the restoration rabbit hole!!!

[@adventurehypelife3819]

Thanks for the video! Keep them coming!

[@rogervansimpsen1657]

Very usable information, you can do a lot DIY you only need the courage to begin and do it step by step like you did...have lot's of fun and safe miles with the westy...🌞👍🏻.

[@Camp_Runamuck]

I didn’t care spending money on my Westy when you look at new class B’s at $150,000 . I pretty much done mine the exact same way . Make it as new as you can to begin with then you know when everything was replaced so now you know when to maintain stuff

[@Javier-bt5vk]

A video on how to wire the fan with a toggle switch will be nice.😅😁

[@KayakHipster]

Great idea!

[@oldgadfly8398]

You must be or had been an auto mechanic by profession? Impressive... nice work. I do a few things myself but because of my schedule I cannot do them all. Thanks for sharing. P.S. I appreciate how you go above and beyond in cleaning up the old engine.

[@KayakHipster]

Thanks 👍 No, but always liked working on things with engines. Mostly old motorcycles. I had an old little civic that I used to work on as well, but never this extensive. It's been great working on this VW

[@oldgadfly8398]

@@KayakHipster Nice! Thanks for the video!

[@dantepastro8465]

This video has been so enjoyable. Please, don't change your style of communicating. I'm 73 and have been thinking to do what you're doing for a long time. Can you tell me how much you've spent so far? Very roughly. Thank you for the video.

[@hunterluxton5976]

Great effort, you have kept to your goals and kept your focus. These buses are expensive to update, but they are a labour of love and well worth it. 👏 I have a 71 bay, spent a lot over the past 10 years, but I always get people interested in the build and approaching us to reminisce.

[@hastingshastings72]

2 years later I’m finding you. Thanks for posting! How’s the van running today? Is there an update video?

[@gottasplit5707]

Awesome work man! The hardest part of any job on these old vans is figuring out when to stop digging into the problem areas and when to start building back up. "Mind as well" is a quickly snowballing effect haha. You've definitely made your van way more reliable and safe!

[@KayakHipster]

Thanks man! Your vids were such a great help as well. Cv’s, solar, rust repairs, all super helpful. And you’re right, it’s tough to turn away from something that could be fixed or changed if you’re “already there”… so much fun though.

[@ianham]

Thanks so much for the rundown. I’m considering jumping in. It’s nice to see what it’s really about.

[@andysmith5791]

Brilliant story telling and absolutely sums up the experience that I am going through with my Reimo T3 van. Mine is quite like yours, looks good on the surface but as soon as I start looking closer at things like brakes, it just goes on and on. :-)

[@KeldarPolonius]

Awesome video and great work! I'm really starting to tackle much more of the systems that need attention on my van and great to see others who have done the same. Cheers

[@dunneryak]

awesome video, great skills to do all that!!

[@KayakHipster]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@garyp.7501]

Nice job! I put a new T3 anti-sway bar and new HD links and it makes a world of difference in cornering. If/when you start camping you will always be looking for more space, you may want to add the GoWesty under the front tray. Useful for things that you don't need often but want to have with you. Pretty easy to remove if you need access to those systems that are up front. The VanLife center console is also well worth it. Gives you interior locking storage and get the additions for 4 cup holders you won't regret the cost.

[@garyp.7501]

Oh yeah, I added the lift struts for the upper tent and those help a lot with putting the top up.

[@kimhorton6109]

Who sells this console please? I’m not familiar with any venture names VanLife

[@stigohara4961]

Very cool video! Keeping my Vanagon running is an ongoing journey. I have a turbocharged Diesel over here in Germany.... but somehow the same story. 👍🍻

[@vSeikoz]

Thanks for the video, appreciate the thorough explanations :) The only tip i have is something i heard from my mechanic here in Berlin: according to him, The spare wheel in the front of the van was also designed to be placed there as it also works as an extra add of protection in cases of frontal collision. Not sure if it's true or not, but i just thought i'd share it. Therefore, my friends with 16" wheels have an old 14" wheel in the front as spare, and their other spares on a swingaway. All the best

[@robertdimanno7518]

Great video! Where did you source the fuel lines and clamps?

[@ericscarborough5861]

Great video! I have an 84 also. Can you provide any more info on the radiator fan switch (like the schematic you used?) I have the exact same problem - thanks!

[@pharutshaanyanonda9530]

You make your car feel very safe to travel with it . Awesome , I have 1 question. Where can I order a spare tire holder on the back of the car? I live in Thailand 🇹🇭 🙏. Thank you very much 😄

[@papercraneblog]

I had same prob with brakes and gas line!

[@Vangriff]

Great video, could you say where you bought the gas tank and exhaust parts, thanks

[@jaykipps8648]

Nice work. Thanks for sharing. Just went thru the same thing with my Canadian 82 diesel. Can I ask what bumper you are running on the front?

[@KayakHipster]

Thanks! At the moment I don’t have a bumper on the front, I took off the metal cover and attached the bull bar directly to it. I might add a bumper later on to finish it out.

[@pfdavidz]

Nice job man! Ready to tour? Solid rebuild!!!

[@mikebeal1022]

What do you suggest painting the plastic grill and exterior parts with? I’m thinking flat black?

[@HairBeard]

Very nice :) Would be still interesting, how much did you spent on the restauration ;)

[@KayakHipster]

I don't have a full amount since it's been such a long process, many parts I had bought years ago with the plan to someday install them. But one thing to note - because of the pandemic our family shrank our car budget from 2 daily drivers to one, and during lockdowns our little honda fit barely moved, so I was also allocating some of the budget I'd use for my daily driver to the restoration. In normal times this restoration budget probably would have had to extend for way longer.

[@funkolog]

spare wheel in front has a purpose. it saves live in case of crash.

[@kimhorton6109]

I’m too old and tool challenged to do this work and no one in Tennessee or Arkansas that I could find would touch my Westy. I knew from Bay windows that these engines need way too much gas and care. I have an outfit in Colorado Springs putting a Subaru. The Boston-based Bostig makes a kit for a four cylinder Ford engine that’s wort a look. Both will get better mileage and not need the attention these underpowered VW engines need.

[@vwforever4131]

VERY VERY impressed with what you have done to your Westy. We have a 90 Westy and I've done little things here and there, eg. replace the fuel lines, but nothing like you have done- not even close. A couple of questions for you: Did you feel any difference when you put the weight of the spare tire (plus the spare tire holder) in the rear when in came to the overall steering/handling? and how hard was it to remove the cabinets? We still have the sink, fridge (orig), water tank, and all that stuff, but I need to take care of some rust issues on the floor.

[@garyp.7501]

I also moved my spare tire to the rear and the thing I notice the most is that I don't use the rear hatch as much because it's one more thing. The weight isn't noticeable at all. if you have a larger set of wheels the 15 or 16's if you want a full size spare you have to move it, and the easiest place is in back. If you use the cage to mount it underneath you lose some clearance. I hit the end of my driveway so it didn't work for me. Now that I have lifted springs it probably would work, but I like having the GoWest tray up under there for more storage when I am camping.

[@oldgadfly8398]

May I ask: did you fabricate a new wall insert behind the water cabinet and stove? (the large one that is originally cardboard)

[@KayakHipster]

Not yet, I re-used the one I had after cleaning and spray painting it. I will be covering the holes inside the cabinets eventually with something else.

[@oldgadfly8398]

@@KayakHipster Ah. Thanks. There is something to be said about keeping the old parts where possible - like you said in the video. Maybe keeping that is the best idea...after painting it...

[@matsles6935]

👍🏼🥇

[@jmoya1987]

How much this cost ???

[@charlesmaroon8819]

Another Virgo. We think alike.

[@philippeichinger3246]

i dont understand why they are said to be unreliable in the US theyre really reliable here, nothing breaks on them

[@kimhorton6109]

The versions shipped to USA in 82-85 were severely underpowered. Hiways here run at 70 up to 85 mph. The suspension travel on the Westys is long and doesn’t lend itself to keeping an alignment without care. The older vans have fuses that are bare aluminum so they blow at the slightest puff. A lot of people stuff in high powered stereos putting a strain on the generator/alternator. A lot come with air conditioning that is weak at best for such a large space.

[@lukegriffiths5428]

Pleasantly obsessive