Buying advise please help

[wilkie]

Hi I'm new to the forum and am in the process of buying my first bay. I have seen one which I like but have a couple of concerns, first its a 72 and I'm unsure if this will cause me problems or unnecessary expense when it comes to parts, and secondly it has a belly pan fitted. I like to see what I'm buying and I can't with the pan fitted. Do you have any views on belly pans being a good thing or bad?

All advise and views gratefully accepted.

Thanks
Eden

 

[uber cool]

The fact it is a 72 should cause no problems. Is it the crossover model ie low front indicators or the late 72 high indicators, anyway all part easily accessible.

Belly pans - :roll: Jury out on this one, do they protect or hide, hard to say. Give them a good thump with your hand, if you can hear broken biscuits rattling around, then its probably rotten.

 

[Benyon]

Welcome to the world of Earlybay!!

I also have a 1972, which I believe was the year of greatest production, certainly for early bays. My van was my firt camper and I went straight in at the deep end without much knowledge or preperation, but hopefully it seems so far as tho I have gotten away with it (famous last words??).

There is a section on here with a buyers guide: http://forum.earlybay.com/viewforum.php?f=21" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; its well worth having a read through, there are also several guys on here who would happily source/sell you a van.

Belly pans obviously offer protection to the underside of the van from the wet, but as you have pointed out can hide whats underneath - you should certainly check if the pans are intact or have rust holes, evidence of removal/refitting?

Parts are generally freely available although most years have different parts for different components, tho I believe the '68 is the most difficult to source.

Anyway, take your time with a purchase and make sure you read up plenty before parting with your hard earned! This site is a great place to start, especially the for sale section!!

 

[uber cool]

just thought a 72 should also offer disc brakes.

mines 72 crossover with belly pans never had any problems getting parts

 

[strongy]

imho i think belly pans trap moisture.

its a can of worms, as far as are there good or not!!

likehe^said give em a good bang,usually if its rotten underneath there will be patches round the edges of the pans

 

[wilkie]

Thanks for the fast response. Are belly pans bolted on or welded?

 

[steve92]

welded unfortunately good luck with your search matey.take your time and get gend up before you buy. i would consider an import from a dry climate. they tend to have less rust issues.

 

[Clem]

Arent wheel arches and brakes one year only on 72's?
Get a US one and it'll have a powerful 1700 engine which is a bonus in useability.
Belly pans? Depends on the history of a van, most dry climate Westys have belly pans and are fine, but a UK based van will be a different story,but I think thats the same whether they are fitted or not!

 

[Araon]

you shouldnt have too many issues with a 72, re the belly pans as said give it a thump, another option the seller may allow you to starret a hole in each pan to have a look usually more preparred to allow this if your carrying blind grommets to reseal afterwards....

personally I hate them the outer ones are deffinately welded the inners are on occassions bolted in place.

Good hunting fella and welcome

 

[RICH-I-AM]

My UK (74) Bus had belly pans. When i bashed em with my hand there was a lot of noise of the flakey metal variety
I cut the pans of and found that both my inner sills had desintegtated(spelling?).
Just got myself a US Early Bay also with belly pans but no noise when i bash em.
Il be cutting them off soon to see what lies behind.
Expect the worst,Hope for the best :mrgreen:

 

[Cali_bay]

Get a US one and it'll have a powerful 1700 engine which is a bonus in useability.

The Type 4 (1700+) engines are however more expensive to repair or replace if things go wrong. I'm just hoping mine keeps going for a while.

 

[strongy]

this was a 99% welded van when i got it :shock: :roll: ,

it was patches over patches and most of it was like this once the pans were of.
yes that is the main chassis leg on the first pic :shock:

anything can be sorted but i wouldent get anouther uk bus

like everyone else has said look ,look and look again

 

[chippi]

bellypans rot chassis rails where the pans meet and in most cases you wont see it. It wont fail an mot as long as the pan has no holes, buy it anyway and sought it when time allows. Just prepare for lots of rust when you do

 

[Guest]

go for a 71, disc brakes up front and small rear lights with halfmoon vents. the looks and the running gear :wink: with no fiddly year only parts to buy.

i have belly pans on mine and have been holding off removing them i'm sure there will be some rot but its probably saved alot more rot to the floor which is harder to fix than rails. Devon added them for strength anyway, so the rot will get fixed and they will go back on.

 

[Araon]

go for a 71, disc brakes up front and small rear lights with halfmoon vents. the looks and the running gear with no fiddly year only parts to buy.

Apart from brakes which are a real arse to get but then a little mod and you can run lates....

Devon added them for strength anyway, so the rot will get fixed and they will go back on.

At least you can seal and protect the inner section propperly, I'd still leave a few access holes that you can get a waxoil nozze through then cap em...

 

[halfpint_fighter]

Where abouts are you and the van? You might be able to get someone to come and have a look at the van with you.

 

[scott wilson]

got a nice 72 deluxe rhd import going cheep cheep and also a 70 microbus that needs work to bring up to scratch but again cheep and not a rotten pear..both busses a good solid base.One in the uk the other still in sa or i can source one to your specs, or even prepare a bus to uk mot, rego and historic tax.I also have a 70 deluxe that`s not been advertised yet that is very nice in new paint new rubbers and has been running and driving up until i bought it and started a resto.I can only be contacted on [email protected] for the next six weeks.Prices from £2k-20k

 

[wilkie]

Thanks to all who have responded with advice, really impressed with peoples willingness to help. I have spoken to geldolf from the forum who is selling his 69 SA RHD delux bay. Looks like a nice van but quite a distance to travel. Not sure if this is good etiquette but, anybody got any veiws on it?


Thanks
Eden

 

[scott wilson]

eden,
right where do i start...firstly that there bus is one that i brought in..totally rust free but it was wan%ker£d mechanically. I sold it on to cover my costs as is to sir bob. Now sir bob just happens to be a hard working professional aircooled vw mechanic and has replaced everything on that bus...and i do mean everything. If you were to take it to his place of work then it would have cost £7500 just to mechanically recondition...add onto that the fact that he repainted the bottom half due to the sa sun and lowered and fitted alloys, redid the interior..well in my opinion the bus is a steal at that price and you`d be mad not to buy it if that`s what floats your boat.
I do have before pics to prove the rust free condition and it ain`t that far to get down here. Get on a plane train or automobile and take a look. I know that if you crawl under this bus and that`s your budget then you`ll buy it on the spot..RHD rust free and mechanically new..sorted