The Common Volkswagen Kombi – Does It Still Make A Useful Each day Driver?

The air-cooled Volkswagen Kombi is a motoring icon. It’s a typical van that is chock full of character, and a lot of younger men (and girls) even now aspire to very own a person as their day by day driver. But are they getting a bit extended in the tooth now to make a practical motor vehicle for every day use?

I push my 1976 2 liter bay window every single working day, and my expertise provides a fantastic indication of what you may perhaps have to do to make your unrestored Kombi safe and sound and comfortable to travel as your principal motor vehicle.

Volkswagen Kombis are properly around 30 yrs old now and it reveals. I have expended a ton of time and cash around the final handful of many years acquiring mine back again to a acceptable condition, and if you purchase a inexpensive Kombi you have to be organized to do the similar. Even a extra costly Kombi will most most likely want some repairs and TLC.

The 1800cc and 2 liter designs are the most realistic since they have much more get up and go than the products with scaled-down engines, although it does price much more to rebuild the engines.

1st the upside.

Kombis are awesome, they are iconic, they have character and they are definitely not boring.

They are enjoyable to drive and when they are in very good nick they are cozy and cope with very well with good steering. The later design bay home windows retain up with the targeted visitors fantastic and can cruise on 60 mph all working day, although they do sluggish down on even larger hills.

And they are simple. There’s loads of area in a Kombi. Probably it’s not as very good as a present day van simply because of the hump for the rear engine, but they still make a good camper or an 8 seater van with area for baggage or groceries. Ground clearance is very good and the motor above the rear wheels provides very good traction for a two wheel generate if you want to get off the overwhelmed monitor a bit.

Now, this is what to be informed of if you prepare on owning a person of these as your everyday driver.

Rust of course is the most important killer of Kombis or any previous motor vehicle. You might be a lot superior off paying out a bit extra dollars and receiving a reasonably rust free of charge Kombi. Presented that you do come across a rust no cost Kombi however, there are however a ton of factors to try to eat up your cash ahead of it is even realistic to use your van on a day-to-day basis.

The engine may possibly be worn out. I rebuilt mine a few of years back with new barrels and pistons, all new bearings, reground crankshaft and camshaft, and rebuilt heads. The heads ended up transformed for use with unleaded petrol at the very same time. This all expenses revenue.

The steering and suspension are safety connected and have to be ideal.

On the suspension I’ve replaced the 4 most important ball joints and the shockies. With the steering I’ve replaced all the tierrod finishes and the principal heart pin. The steering damper is up coming on the substitute checklist, and that must see the steering suitable for my Kombi. It is constantly doable that yours may want a new steering box as effectively.

Your Kombi’s brakes also will need to be appropriate. Brake linings are a thing that do will need frequent replacing, but I have also changed the rear brake drums because they have been worn past boundaries, and the entrance discs will need to have changing up coming time the front brake pads are accomplished.

I’ve changed all the versatile brake hoses because they are effectively more than thirty several years outdated now and they do get brittle and I have replaced some of the steel brake strains simply because they ended up corroded. The rear brake cylinders were being changed a number of years ago and the front brake calipers were rebuilt with new seals.

On the rear drive train there are four cv joints, and the ones on my bay window have been really unfortunate. They had been replaced together with the rear wheel bearings.

1 extremely vital space to search at is the fuel lines for the motor. Kombis do burn, and it is caused by petrol spraying all more than the engine. Check the gas lines meticulously and if they look aged and cracked switch them with excellent gasoline line. Make absolutely sure that they are not rubbing on the tinware and that the pipes heading into the carby and gasoline pump are not loose. This is vital!

As perfectly as things that you know could will need fixing, there is usually the unanticipated. A spray nozzle arrived unfastened from the carby in my bay window and went through the motor. It is only a little slim brass tube but it sounded as while there have been marbles rattling around in the engine. Luckily for us there was no problems, but it did signify pulling out the motor and having off the cylinder heads to check every thing and to clear away the continues to be of the spray nozzle. And just this week I have experienced to exchange the alternator.

As effectively as mechanical have on and tear there are the cosmetics to consider about. Your affordable Kombi may need to have a paint career, new carpets, new upholstery, and even the front seats could need to have focus.

On the comfort and ease facet new door seals and window seals may be required to end rattles and drafts. The heater may perhaps need to have some awareness. On my Kombi the heater cables experienced seized. That didn’t worry me right up until I moved from a incredibly hot portion of the state to a significantly colder region wherever temperatures get beneath freezing in the winter season.

On the additionally aspect pieces are conveniently available. For my Kombi, a 1976 2 liter product, I have been in a position to obtain each individual part I have needed apart from the carby spray nozzles, and even then I was ready to get by with components of a different model VW.

My view is that despite all the repairs and restoration, Volkswagen Kombis can however be a simple day-to-day driver. You do will need to accept the fact that your purchase value is only element of the tale, and that you will have to invest time and money bringing your vintage Kombi back again to a secure and at ease affliction.