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Ed Ernst Samba Member
Joined: November 08, 2013 Posts: 2 Location: Northern ca.
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Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2016 11:57 pm Post subject: Splitty or bay bus for road trip |
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My name is Ed and I'm 68 years old. I'm going to buy a bus in the near future to take a road trip I've dreamed about for years. I really want a splitty but I'm starting to think an early bay might be better for comfort driving and reliability. VW changed the suspension on the bus in 1968 and everything I've read says it it's a better ride and handles better than the splitty. I also know suspensions can be updated on split window buses but at considerable expense. I would like to keep my budget at about $20 thousand. I love the classic look of the splitty but a 68 to 71 with wood interiors are pretty cool too. Any opinions advise, or comments will be greatly appreciated. |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12861 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 4:14 am Post subject: Re: Splitty or bay bus for road trip |
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The way that prices are going these days, the $20k might keep you in a bay bus anyway. If you find a road worthy splitty for less than that, you might want to pick it up. Have you thought about doing your road trip in something newer? Old VWs weren't made for modern highway speeds & epic road trips are a lot more fun when you aren't constantly fixing or nursing the vehicle along. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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skills@eurocarsplus Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007 Posts: 16886 Location: sticksville, ct.
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 5:34 am Post subject: Re: Splitty or bay bus for road trip |
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never thought I would say this...
I am an early bay guy. I just love them. started out with a split years and years ago and honestly I would never go back.
even in an early bay, I am good for about 2-3 hours before I need to get out and move around. these days if I drive a split it's about 20 minutes until I want to run it into a tree.
I would suggest a late bay. they have "real" seats that are pretty comfy, have more room and adjustability. even proper early bay seats are questionable at best in terms of comfort. if I were to do a split, I would (gasp) cut the bulkhead and put in better seats. something about being folded up like a jack knife just doesn't appeal to me.
late bay campers "got it right" in terms of interior layout (in my opinion) and a well sorted one is a pretty nice driver _________________
gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
Jake Raby wrote: |
Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
Brian wrote: |
Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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vwinnovator Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2005 Posts: 1555 Location: Still doing it in the back of your VW
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 5:53 am Post subject: Re: Splitty or bay bus for road trip |
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$20K is a decent budget to work with for a reliable bay.
Plan it out and you should be able to buy a decent body, have a fresh engine built, rebuilt trans, go through all the brakes, and sort out any electrical.
Paint will be another story though-buses have a lot of surface area and can easily eat up 10-15K on paint.
You mention you like the wood interiors of them??
are you implying that your looking for or planning to buy a camper version-a weekender or pop-up?
those will get a bit more expensive for one with a decent interior..
Depending on whether you want to focus on reliability for long travels vs. "aesthetically pleasing" can be a big determination in meeting your budget. |
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OB Bus Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2003 Posts: 2541 Location: Ocean Beach in Beautiful BLUE California
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 8:59 am Post subject: Re: Splitty or bay bus for road trip |
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Yes you can do it. $20K is plenty of budget to get a really good early Bay bus. Do you have an air cooled VW background? If not find someone who does who can help you out. Read Muir's "Idiot" book if you have not done so before.
Go. I'm 63 and still driving buses. _________________ Larry in OB
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
69 Westfalia and 2002 Eurovan Camper. |
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Ed Ernst Samba Member
Joined: November 08, 2013 Posts: 2 Location: Northern ca.
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 1:01 pm Post subject: Re: Splitty or bay bus for road trip |
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Hey guys thanks a ton for your input. Sounds like maybe my old bones bad back and shoulders will be happier in an early bay. Also I know 20k may not buy a splitty sound enough for traveling around in the boonies in the western states. Saw Jake Rabeys name in the input. Does Jake build engines for early bays or just pancake engines? A newer bay would make more sense but they don't appeal to my vanity I guess. Yes I want a camper. The birch wood interiors in my opinion are really little traveling pieces of art. I know enough to fix most simple stuff on a VW air cooled. And I'm one of those old guys that doesn't have a fit when something breaks. Hell in this new world with cell phones you can almost always get towed. The ride is a very important part of my plan. A new motor home is not even close to what I have in mind. I have owned several beetles in my life and the air cooled feel and sound is what I want. Never had a chance to experience the Hippy lifestyle for even a day when I was young. Still alive. |
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hitest Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2008 Posts: 10296 Location: Prime Meridian, ID
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 1:19 pm Post subject: Re: Splitty or bay bus for road trip |
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I looked for this advice and hadn't seen it yet. Anywhere, you will find someone who can help you with a late model upright engine if you have trouble. There are fewer mechanics along your way who will confidently get into the pancake type 4 engines.
I fully agree with 20k being a great budget for an early bay. _________________
EverettB wrote: |
I wonder what the nut looks like.
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'62 L390 151, '62 L469 117, '63 L380 113, '64 L87 311, '65 L512 265, '65 L31 SO-42, '66 L360 251, '68 L30k 141, '71 L12 113, '74 ORG 181
FU#5 |
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williamM Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2008 Posts: 4333 Location: southwest Arizona
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 2:34 pm Post subject: Re: Splitty or bay bus for road trip |
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I feel your pain- after all the stuff the DR's do to keep you going- I settled for an 78 Riviera. That 2.0 FI engine is the best they ever made--- unless you over heat it---- and the FI is a dream- . just spin the key and it's going. The extra safety front end and seatbelts.
HOWEVER---- right out of the box you will find stuff that makes you wonder if anybody knows what they are doing.--
SO- hold back a bunch of money and go for it. There are many traveling and stationary mechanic on this web site. Plan your first tour round their locations.
Hoping to have mine out the door by July 4th and touring in the direction of Colin. stu,ham,and other points of interest for a nearly 30 year old bus- _________________ some days I get up and just sit and think. Some days I just sit.
opinion untempered by fact is ignorance.
Don't step in any! |
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wcfvw69 Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004 Posts: 13389 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 2:45 pm Post subject: Re: Splitty or bay bus for road trip |
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I own a 70' bus that's now been completely gone through mechanically. I think it rides plenty comfortable. The only issue w/it is it can (like a VW bug) get blown around a bit at freeway speeds, but not too bad. It is a square box going down the road.
My only issue with the bus as far as ride and comfort go are the original, rebuilt seats. I'm 6' 4" and after a couple of hours, my butt tires of that seat. I have to get out and stretch. The seats are much more comfortable in the later bays and Vanagons. If I wasn't such a purist, I'd change them.
As everyone is saying, you've got a really good budget for an early bay. The less rust it has, the better. The more bone stock it is, the better. I'd certainly invest in a pre-purchase inspection before closing the deal as well. _________________ Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15144 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 10:59 am Post subject: Re: Splitty or bay bus for road trip |
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Link
_________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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enjoyther1de Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2010 Posts: 1279 Location: chino,ca
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 3:56 pm Post subject: Re: Splitty or bay bus for road trip |
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^^^ Can't decide if I need more drugs, or less... Either way I want a bus. _________________ HBB took me to BBV. |
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Manfred58sc Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2009 Posts: 3382
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 6:21 pm Post subject: Re: Splitty or bay bus for road trip |
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Skills hit the issue right on the money. I had to ditch the bay seats (I drive a 69) for adjustable Mitsubishi Bucket seats... and I only get 2-3 hrs before a 20 minute break is mandatory. For 20K I would go later Bay with vanagon seats and a properly built T-4 with FI. And enjoy every mile to the fullest! _________________ Fat chick owner/operator |
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