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Topic: VW Westfalia – Refurbish Recommends?

After several years of not owning a VW Camper, my family and I have
bus amnesia bad.

We miss the life-style and want to take road trips again. However, we
want to refurbish the next one correctly. What year Westfalia would
the readers of this forum get, what kind and size engine would you
put in, and any other mandatory refurbishing would you would you do
provide optimal utility and reliability?

We liked our '88 Westfalia because of its clearance, storage,
passenger visibility from the back seat, and how the pop-top's
mattress was easily out of the way. However, we never used the
refrigerator except to store trail and climbing books.

This will be our third used one (1st was a ‘72 bought in ’84 until
its engine completely blew in ’90 in an exceptionally deserted
section of Arizona, and the 2nd was a 1988 bought in 1994 and sold
in 1998 after a lot of repairs which we suspect the odometer was
improperly adjusted by the previous seller). So we are not strangers
to the unfortunate side of owning used VW Campers.

Thanks

Jeff in Seattle Washington

P.S. If you have recommendations on a good VW Westfalia mechanic or
refurbish-er in the Pacific NW (preferably Seattle, or Oregon, or
British Colombia), we would appreciate it.

2 Reply by Guest

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  • Guest

Re: VW Westfalia – Refurbish Recommends?

Each model camper has it's own character and advantages. My favorite
for camping and mountain driving is the 2.1L Vanagon (86-91). They
have the best combination of camping utility, interior space,
driving ease, comfort, etc. The 2.1L and Digifant injection do have
a "character" to them, and many folk have a string of trouble; but
if you are careful who touches them and get them right they can be
reliable. I've put about a half-million miles on a couple of them.
Now we have a 97 EV Winne conversion, and it has its good points too.
It's certainly a good highway cruiser, more comfortable for two
people (our kids are gone), still camps nicely, and is more
reliable. However, a bit ungainly with the stretched wheelbase, and
no windows on the left side in back. Back seats are not as
comfortable.
The late 70s Westy is really neat, fun in the mountains - but a
tighter fit for 4 and noisier. I used to borrow my uncle's in
Montana and loved them, but with two kids and travel gear it was
tight. Here in Texas the lack of AC is an issue, but where you
live...
It really comes down to what you like. For reliability, if you worry
about the wasserboxer in the Vanagon, there is the tiico conversion
that fits in a "Golf" style inline 4, with 115 hp, etc. I put one in
our 91 van last year, and it has potential. A bit buzzy, with higher
vibration than a flat 4. Reliability isn't certain, as the vibration
has cracked the exhaust - and I hear others have the same problem.
But it puts in a solid engine and more modern injection system
(Motronic) with plug-in diagnostic readouts.
If you go with a waterboxer Vanagon, I'd recommend a rebuild from Bob
Donalds at Boston Engine. He's on the wrong coast, but the best on
these engines.