Should I buy this bus?

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- Cory Davis
  
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posted
16 years ago

Mon, Jul 16, 2007 8:53 PM

So, I found a bus that I really love. Let me know what you think about it, any positives or negatives that there might be that I would'nt know about. Also, does anyone have a ballpark on what the repairs mentioned below would cost?

Here is the description:

1971 VW Camper

Includes all camper accessories such as pop-top, upper cot (sleeps one), front seat cot, ice box, sink, fold-out rear seat bed (sleeps two), closet, curtains, mosquito screens, rain cover, etc. =B7 Engine re-built in 2000 and has about 40,000 miles. Runs great. =B7 New tires =B7 Rare gas heater mounted in engine compartment =B7 AM/FM Tape Deck =B7 Upholstery in excellent condition, minimal rust.

Overall the bus runs great and can be driven away on a road trip now. Inspection revealed it does need attention with the following repairs in the future: front right brake caliper is dragging, rear shocks need replacement, CV joints are cracking, and the front and rear bearings need replacing.

Here are some links to images:

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I am going to check it out tonight. Any replies about any advice would be awesome!

Thanks!

-Cory

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- Speedy Jim
  
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posted
16 years ago

Mon, Jul 16, 2007 9:14 PM

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Appears nice.

Here is what I would do on brakes:

New/rebuilt calipers. Maybe rotors. Front wheel bearings if needed.

New brake shoes and wheel cylinders in rear.

*ALL* new brake hoses, frt and rear.

New brake fluid and maybe Master Cylinder.

--------------- If the CV's are still serviceable, just the rubber boots can be replaced and the joints lubed.

Do the shocks while everything is apart.

It is very rare for the rear wheel bearings to go bad. OTOH, with the brakes apart and CV's off, there is no better time...

Plan on a Grand or so to have all this work done by a shop.

----------------

More Buses have been lost to fuel-related fires than (almost) anything else.

All the fuel components are 35 years old.

Read the "Moonbeam" story carefully; it is typical of what happens.

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Speedy Jim

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- Cory Davis
  
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posted
16 years ago

Mon, Jul 16, 2007 9:26 PM

Thanks for the advice. Just read about the fire problems. Sounds a little scary but, also pretty fixable. I'll have to look into it.

Thanks again.

-Cory

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- BobHoover
  
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posted
16 years ago

Tue, Jul 17, 2007 2:19 AM

I would. But then, I'm sorta silly that way :-)

-Bob Hoover

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- A Veteran
  
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posted
16 years ago

Tue, Jul 17, 2007 12:19 PM

We just love the '71's. We have two . But the dual port heads do tend to crack. Beefier heads are available. And of course rust is the enemy. They say "Rust Never Sleeps" Good luck! and argue the price, Always.