I'm the proud owner of 2 not so new VW Camper Vans. Now what?

the transmissions in them are worth more than what you paid for the buses to the dune buggy guys. considerably more.

72 was a transition year, and unless it has a 2.0 liter in it, most of the rest of the parts are not gonna help you a whole lot.

any motor swap you do will cost more than it is worth.

and all of them are rusty in the same spots. it's what they do...

here is an interesting vw swap site you will need before you are done.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/

(yours are type 2)

Thanks Rocky.
I just joined that site, but like I said. It's a little overwhelming.
I will dive in, head first once they are here. Until then, I'm not really sure what I'm up against.

there is a book you should get and read in the mean time.

a very thorough introduction and a fun read.

Didn't take it up a lot of hills - didn't have it too long. Bought a brand new lemon chevy van (it was the catalytic converter, oh, never mind) instead. That was when I was working full time as a lab tech and having an art gallery with theater group as sublet with us, so I mostly stayed in town, using the vans to haul paintings and tools (now I'm remembering, that was when I was fixing up my mother's house too.) Topanga Canyon boulevard has some level changes, but not big galumphing steep grades; that was where I was aware of a sense of peril on curves. But, the later editions may be way more stable, or perhaps it was just my sense of the van at the time.

On vw's - I once got a ticket on the 405 freeway for going 68 miles an hour, 65 being the speed limit. The officer told me these cars shouldn't go so fast. That was my first car, a new vw convertible, a '67.

Cool. Thank-you.

any time.

if you have more questions, catch my attention.

volks is a big part of what I do...

The T2a was built until December 1971.
In 1972, at first the model T2a/b was built, from September onwards the T2b (until 1979).

Parts for the T2b are still available, while it's not so easy to get some for the T2a and especially the T2a/b.

Please tell me they are on blocks in your front yard...

I think you are right. A new camper will be cheaper.

I had a 67 camper and an 84 water boxer that I used as a family van for years. Loved them both. The 67 wouldn't get out of it's own way. Very slow. Not designed for freeways. The 84 was fine but was different than what you have. They will be way more expensive to fix than what they are worth. Especially if you have to pay someone else to do it. Sounds like Rockhead knows.

I don't know the prices in Canada, but the 68 would sell here for some thousands of Euros, the younger for a bit less ... as they are. (Restored 20.000€ and more)

Could be. I've been wrong before. I'm just thinking about the cost to restore. How well does that heater work in Canada?

Walter.. that is very interesting. I've always wanted to camp across Europe. If I fixed them up and shipped them over.... hmmmmm ideas.
Or, I've had an idea of breaking them apart. Art, bars, tv stands. Options..
Regardless. When I get them here, I'll post them in all their glory.
But I do appreciate the heads up Frank.

It just came to mind Ceili, you should go over those two vans from top to bottom to make sure there are no Australians or Kiwis still in there...
serious, H/H would back me up on that.
In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a VW van that hadn't got an Australian or two in it.

Good luck again, Flower Blossom.

Funny. Ironically, many of my rellies from over the pond have toured, or attempted to tour Canada in them. Attempted... cause they all had a tendency to break down across this vast landscape.

The VW's are used to tottering around Europe, must be a shock to the system when they hit Canada.

It's wings you need in Canada not wheels.

Canucks don't measure distances so much as time. I've driven across this country - ok, most of it.. k, a straight line on Highway one, a few times. Very long drives they were, 3 days to get from here to Ontario alone. There are a ton of VWs over here, buses and bugs, and while they SUCK in the Rockies, they do ok on the flat bits - if they stay in the slow lanes!!
I agree though, wings are faster. It takes 3 1/2 hours to fly to T.O.

The last camping van I've driven, was 1980 model, Diesel, 51kw/70PS. Not bad at all in hilly regions and on the autobahn.

dunno if you are monitoring this anymore, but...

I just bid a 71 westphalia to fix the rust and paint at least the top half. (we are still deciding if the bottom stays as is or not) and got the job.

gonna be doing some parts research, and will have some photos available if you wanna talk about yours.

this one is a lifelong California bus, and not verra rusty as these things go.

still needs major windshield frame base surgery. very custom welding...

You're not going to be able to deal with two of them.... I'd sell the 72 an try to rebuild the 78. The 78 for sure is going to have a type 4 motor which eliminaed all the head de-torqing problems the older VWs used to have and, last I saw it wasn't that expensive to build engines for them and the rest of a VW is fairly simple compared to modern cars. Also if the mobros or assholas ever do get around to blowing off an emp weapon over the US, old VWs will still run the next day.

Best place to look for ads for parts and pieces is going to be this:

http://www.hotvws.com/vw-articles.php?CatID=2