Neep help identifying my first Bus!!!

[donallanwalker]

Hey guys, need some help identifying my bus!! Im brand new to the scene, been dreaming of owning one for years and a few weeks ago i finally bought what I think is a T2 westfalia. I know its a bit naive to jump straight in and buy something without doing the research but i fell in love with the van as soon as I saw her. The problem is my chassis number is not coming up on any of the sites? I know its a 1969 (registered in 1970) 2.0ltr, and it has all the westfalia stamps on it, but I have absolutely no information on it on the v5 logbook as it was imported from California. The chassis number is 2302231462 but it seems to be unknown, i know its the correct one from all the mot certs, service books and its also stamped on the van. All the log book says is that its a 2.0 vw, historic vehicle, cream colour. I would love to know exactly what it is I own, also to help me buy parts and replace a panel. Any help would be awesome!!! I wanted to upload some pice to help but it won't let me !?!? Thanks

 

[vwed]

Hi welcome!
I'm a bit puzzled by your comment that the chassis number is "unknown".
2302 231462 = a 1970 model year camper. In other words built between August 1st 1969 and the end of July 1970. This computes with what you already know. The second digit 3 refers to the model - a camper, if it was a 1 it would refer to a panel van, a 2 would refer to a kombi, a 6 to a pick up,. a 7 to an ambulance etc. The third digit 0 refers to the model year - 1970. If it was a 1 it would = 1971, 2 = 1972 and so on. 231462 refers to your bus being the 231,462nd off the production line. This would have been fairly late in the model year run, so I would guestimate that yours was built circa June/July 1970.
What is unusual is that it has a 2 litre engine, as a pre August '70 Bus would have been originally equipped with the 1600 engine.
If your engine looks like this it is a 1600:

If it looks more like this, then it's a 2 litre:

 

[aspro]

Welcome to the club and congrats on the purchase. The easiset way to get plenty of info on your bus is by using the m plate. It's a small metal tage located on the bulkhead behind the drivers seat. Info here. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/id.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Once you have identified the correct plate, not to be confused with the chassis id plate, you can put the numbers into this decoder. http://www.vw-mplate.com/mcode.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

According to the chassis number you have provided your bus is a 1970 model.

That should answer a lot of your questions. As for it being a 2L I doubt it if it is really a 70. 2L motors weren't used till 74. It should be a stock 1600 from factory unless it has been changed.

 

[aspro]

Beat me to it vwed. :lol:

 

[donallanwalker]

Wow guys this is really helpful. I can safely say from the photos that its definitely a 1600!!! The guy told me it was a 2.o, and thats what was confusing me, as they came out later!! What a daffy I am!! I must have been looking in the wrong places when trying to identify my chassis number! When I get home i will get all the Mplate details and see what that tells me, and i'll let you guys know exactly what comes up.

Would love to post ya's some pics but it says the boards quota has been reached?? but i see you managed to post some?

Thanks guys, thats really helpful, and a worry off my mind Now I can get some parts for her and get her ready to tour the country

 

[rallye dale]

http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=57341" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[donallanwalker]

Any ideas why my V5 doc would state that its a 2.0??? From the pics below it clearly looks like a 1600 (its def not the 2.0 pic) and on all the service books it says 2.0ltr. I know I have the right van for the docs as it had the same chassis number and the number plates were all checked before i bought it, and everything matched up?? Confused why it would say 2.0ltr? you can check the van out on the ebay post here because I can't upload photos

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1970-VW-CAMPER-VAN-EARLY-WESTFALIA-T2-BAY-WINDOW-2-0L-ROOF-RACKS-/111456864828?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=M6zEBPASOE0%252Fx1euRHwmg%252BANvug%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks guys

 

[rlepecha]

Given the ad, I believe its had an engine rebuild with bigger barrels and possibly a longer stroke crank.
That or it was a new engine from scratch.

Looks to be running twin Kadron carbs so It could well be closer to 2.0lt than 1.6... Although not easy to tell without measuring the barrels.

Looks like a decent bus by the way, hope you have fun with it..

To post photos you need to upload them to Photobucket or similar and then use the

 

[donallanwalker]

Thanks mate, thats really helpful, was a little worried about confusing information but I was sure the bus was total genuine, the people i got it off were really nice and all the codes matched up to the docs. I got it for 12.5k in the end because the tailgate needed replaced and there was a couple of rust bubbles that were not mentioned in the ad, but apart from that it's mint. Im really happy with it! it was my dream for a long time to own one. Was pretty confusing because it looks like a 1600, but its really fast, i was sitting pretty at 80mph on the way home, reckon it would do 90 flat out. Maybe i'll take it to a VW speacialis when i get home and get it checked out, see exactly what it is, for ordering parts ext.

Thanks again

 

[Tofufi]

Have you got twin carburettors? A link to the advert selling it?

It could still be a type 1 engine (like the 1600 shown above) but with larger barrels and pistons etc to take it to approx 2l.

Go careful sitting at 80mph... if it's got a standard gearbox and standard wheels/tyres, that's pretty much the max-rpm red-line

 

[donallanwalker]

Thanks mate, yeh i'll slow it down a bit then Yeh think it could be the 1600, it looks identical to the one above. Yeh there is pics of it on that link above from where i bought it.

 

[Tofufi]

Sorry, missed the link when I saw this before

Looks a lovely solid bus - congrats

Engine looks like a 1600 (type 1 engine), but it isn't standard - it has aftermarket twin Kadron carburettors (which will improve performance) and some shiny dress-up parts (which won't). As said above, it's possible that it's been rebuilt with larger barrels and pistons giving close to 2l, but without taking it apart there's no way to be sure

 

[70-CA-Panel]

Hello Dan,
Nice bus you got there!
When ordering parts for your bus from websites where you need to enter the engine size you should still put I'm 1.6.
If you put in 2l the parts shown might be for a later bus as a 2l is standard for some later models.
When ordering parts have a look at VW specialists such as VW Heritage, Custom & Commercial, Machine7, Alan Schofields and so on.
Good luck and welcome!

 

[donallanwalker]

Thanks guys, you are all very helpful Just ordered the service manual, can't wait to get home and get stuck in to it

 

[Alex VW Heritage]

First Welcome :mrgreen:

I would second the thoughts that at 80MPH you will be pushing things at higher revs than is comfortable. But you may have a longer ratio'd gearbox though?

How many ribs does the gearbox have?

3 or 5/6?

OR

The chrome tinware will be retaining heat too which will hinder you.

I would consider fitting an oil Temp gauge as this is a great indiacator of what speed the van is happy to sit at. You'll find it changes massively dependant on the weather condition

Get yourself along to brighton breeze on saturday if you can and chat to other EB forum members as they will be a great help.

I run a Early Bay with a 2276cc engine so over 2L so know the benifits and pitfalls very well, do feel free to ask questions and learn from my mistakes rather than make your own

If I can help at all do feel free to contact me:

[email protected]

01273 444 000

Hope that helps

Cheers

Alex