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Wed Sep 07, 2016 5:04 pm

Are all type 2 Vanagons and there various off models parts interchangeable. I have a 86 Vanagon GL. I am new to anything VW so any basic beginners tips would be such a help. I am picking up my van this weekend. I paid 600 for a 86 Vanagon GL that has had the head gasket replaced in 07 and various other minor repairs since. All the paperwork shows in depth. The previous owner says she thinks it over heated an they had it towed home and let it sit for a few months. The battery was dead when I looked at it. What did I get myself into? Any ideas of things to check first or common problems to address. Thanks in advanced.

Wed Sep 07, 2016 5:18 pm

Rmpoetzl wrote:
What did I get myself into?

A Lot.

You will need to be organized and methodical.

OTOH, you are only out of pocket for 600 (is that $ ??) so far, unless you had to pay towing bills and storage, etc.

Post some pics for more ....

you'll need to try and charge up the battery or recycle it and buy another to see if it will start

But 1st, pull the plugs out and squirt some kroil or PB Blaster in each hole, then try to manually turn the engine over.

If it moves, great, we will go on to compression 7 leak down tests.

Wed Sep 07, 2016 5:19 pm

Nothing in a Type 2 , & an 86 Vanagon are compatible, interchange.

Maybe they both have 4 tires , headlamps,tail lamps a licence plate light, & a battery .

Moderator Edit: the above statement is absolutely wrong! ^^^^ the early Vanagons shared many parts with late Bays, among them the engine.
***************************

I think you should float over to the vehicle want ads here and do some sniffing around.

Hold onto your hat.
You'll find out pretty quick what you just did to yourself.

Wed Sep 07, 2016 8:16 pm

Terry Kay wrote: Nothing in a Type 2 , & an 86 Vanagon are compatible, interchange.

Maybe they both have 4 tires , headlamps,tail lamps a licence plate light, & a battery .

What?! My Vanagon isn't a Type 2? When did that change, I don't recall getting the memo... :D

Wed Sep 07, 2016 8:31 pm

All VW vans are kinda-sorta Type 2s, but technically each model series has its own T classification; T1 (Split), T2 (Bay), T3 (Vanagon), T4 (Eurovan), T5, T6.

Most Vanagons here in North America from '86 to '91 share a majority of their parts, although Syncros, campers and Carats all have some specific variations on the theme.

Wed Sep 07, 2016 9:27 pm

Lots of parts interchange; easiest swaps for your van are those from 1986 onward. If in doubt about a specific component swapping over, simply ask. :wink:

Terry Kay wrote: Nothing in a Type 2 & an 86 Vanagon are compatible, interchange.

You may want to notify Volkswagen of their 37-year error as they've been referring to the third generation as a Type 2 ever since it debuted, and that includes the model listing in their parts catalog. :roll:

"Werkscode: Typ 2 Transporter 3
Die 1979 vorgestellte Modellgeneration T3 des Transporters Typ 2 stellt eine Abkehr von der käferbasierten Konstruktion der beiden Vorgängermodelle dar."
http://www.volkswagen-classic.de/en/modelle/t3-bulli

Translation:
Factory code: Type 2 Transporter 3
The 1979 model, the Type 2 Transporter T3 generation, represents a departure from the Beetle-based structure of the two previous models.

Wed Sep 07, 2016 9:39 pm

Rmpoetzl wrote: Are all type 2 Vanagons and there various off models parts interchangeable.
No. Some parts are used in other models but even in the vanagon line there are early models, later models, aircooled, watercooled and diesel variations that have parts that don't interchange.

Get to know
http://www.van-cafe.com
http://www.gowesty.com
http://www.vanagain.com
http://t3technique.com
http://www.airheadparts.com/about-airhead-parts
Etc.

Wed Sep 07, 2016 10:17 pm

Nothing interchanges? I guess I've just been imagining that the wheels on my buddy's '77 Type 2 came from an '87 that was being upgraded to CLK's...

Wed Sep 07, 2016 10:18 pm

It is correct to say the vanagon is also a type 2.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Type_2

Wed Sep 07, 2016 10:39 pm

There were five basic Type 2 (T3) Vanagons sold in the US.

* 80-83 2.0L aircooled
* 83 1/2-85 1.9L WBXer
* 86-91 2.1L WBXer
* 2.1L WBXer Syncro 4wd
* 1.6L NA Diesel

They all have a lot of interchangeable parts, plus a pile that are not interchangeable.

Wed Sep 07, 2016 11:10 pm

Terry Kay wrote: Nothing in a Type 2 , & an 86 Vanagon are compatible, interchange.

Maybe they both have 4 tires , headlamps,tail lamps a licence plate light, & a battery.

Apart from the tires and battery, the other things that terry lists are not interchangeable but there is other stuff that is - eg rear brake cylinders.

Wed Sep 07, 2016 11:55 pm

The ETKA and former the ETOS (VW's part recognising and ordering software) lists our cars (the third generation of VW vans, also referred as T3 here) as typ2 on the European market, but as Vanagon on the US market.

The fourth generation (T4) is listed as Transporter (Eu) / Eurovan (US).

Here we had a lot of problems finding parts, as former all the part catalogues and service software referred the T3 as typ2, but in he mechanics head it was the T2 baywindow.

If you search trough the part nrs, there are a lot of parts that were used first in late bays, and there are a lot of parts that used on the early T4s, so even you may find bay parts in an eurovan :) but ususally these are trims or small rubber parts. And of course there are the standardized parts like bolts, clips, connectors, etc.
Like the rear brake cylinder is used from '68 to '92, or the front grab handle which is used from '80 to '04

the offline version of ETKA is more accurate (you can find illegal copies on torrent sites, or you can buy from VW), but here you can play on the online version:
http://etka.cc/

Thu Sep 08, 2016 6:00 am

One driver will fit into many different Vanagons.

Thu Sep 08, 2016 6:03 am

Not to mention the Jetta's and Passat's of the same time period using the same electrical connectors and sensors.
Or pretty much any Bosch vehicle in the junk yards for relays and other electrical bits of opportunity.

Thu Sep 08, 2016 6:15 am

You guys are nuts---

Your parting fine hair's & whiskers here.

As a general rule of thumb--other than the suitcase engine's which is used in the earlier Vanagon, nothing is intended to be swappable other than the Taiwan radio somebody might have stuck in the Type 2 Bus--some of the tail light bulbs--the air in the tires for sure.

Nothing suspension, body sheet metal, interior parts, Nothing is shared between A T 2 Bus & Any Vanagon, other than some parts off of the air cooled suitcase engine.

Thu Sep 08, 2016 7:17 am

Oh, no. Not one of those Type 2 discussions again...

All third generation VW Vans, be it a Transporter, Caravelle, Multivan, Vanagon, Microbus, Westfalia, syncro or whatever it is called in your part of the world, are VW Type 2's. (not to be confused with a T2 where the T stands for Transporter, not Type)

Type 1 is the Beetle, Käfer, Karmann Ghia, 1200, 1303 or whatever they are also called.

Type 3 is the 1500, 1600 fastback, notchback or squareback

Type 4 is the 411 and 412

So the Vanagon is a third generation Transporter, or Type 2, T3

Type 2 T1 is the split window buses

Type 2 T2 is the Baywindow

And although not everyone agree it is common to call even the fourth generation Transporters (like the Eurovan) Type 2 T4

So to answer the OP's question: Many parts throughout the Type 2 T3 range (1980 - 1992) are interchangeable, but there are some generations changes, like for example the early vs late sliding door, early vs later fuel tank, early vs later electrical system, and so on.

And many Type 2 T2 parts also fits the early Type 2 T3.

There are also many parts on the Vanagon found on other VW's of the same generation.

Thu Sep 08, 2016 7:25 am

Very negative... Why? I'm not just talking about engine parts I mean anything I.e. seats , door panels, and just miscellaneous. I am very good with cars I have a lot of experience with domestics. But this is my first time putting my hands on a VW. Just wanted to know some basics

Thu Sep 08, 2016 7:36 am

Terry Kay wrote:
Nothing suspension, body sheet metal, interior parts, Nothing is shared between A T 2 Bus & Any Vanagon, other than some parts off of the air cooled suitcase engine.

Yes you are right terry, there is very little in common between a Type 2 bus and a Type 2 Vanagon, but that was never the question.

Vanagons were also known in some markets as T2.5's.

Thu Sep 08, 2016 7:45 am

There are hundreds of parts in Vanagons that came from earlier buses. The sliding door alone has more than a dozen. The front and rear wheel bearings, rear hubs, various pieces of the brakes, many transmission parts, CV joints, on and on.

Mark

Terry Kay wrote: ........ Nothing is shared between A T 2 Bus & Any Vanagon, other than some parts off of the air cooled suitcase engine.

Thu Sep 08, 2016 7:53 am

Rmpoetzl wrote: Very negative... Why?

It is not you, it is them. Some folks have axes to grind......