Rocky Mountain Westy – Learn what to look for when buying a Vanagon or Westfalia camper
Hello all you Volkswagen Vanagon and Westfalia fans. We here at Rocky Mountain Westy have decided to start publishing articles that help answer questions we get from clients all the time. Common questions about what to look for when your in the market to purchase a Volkswagen Vanagon and Westfalia. Let’s start there and we’ll write more articles for all of you as we can.
As most of you know Volkswagen Vanagons have been manufacturered from 1980 through 1991. Different versions in the United States included the passenger style van, the Weekender camper, the Westfalia camper and Wolfsburg & Carat Editions. We’ll break these models down further as we go on.
The models from 1980 to mid 1983 were air cooled versions of the T3 van. They lacked the lower grill that allows air to the radiator of the late 1983 thru 1991 US models. This is an easy way to know if the vanagon you’re standing in front of is an air cooled model or not. The early models through 1985 also had round headlights. That’s a dead give away if nobody has changed them. Many people will purchase a grill and headlamp system from a 1986 or newer vehicle to give their older Vanagon the appearance of being much newer. The square headlamp are brighter too.
Air cooled models of the Vanagon and Westfalia didn’t produce very good heat for the interior of the van since there isn’t any liquid cooling system to run coolant through a heater core like the newer versions. If you like a really warm heater, you may not want to buy one that is pre 1984.
The water cooled models or “Wasserboxer” arrived on the US market in late 1983 and sported a 1.9 liter engine with a Digijet or Digital Jet-Tronic fuel management system. This model also included some options including a nicer interior, tachometer, and better transmission. On the exterior the headlamps were now rectangular, plastic bumpers and alloy wheels were also options. The 1986 Vanagon also included a better optional air conditioning system that had an airliner style duct system running the length of the vehicle’s ceiling, on the passenger models.
An automatic transmission was available in vanagon models from 1980 thru 1991. Some say the automatic transmission was tougher than the manual transmission because up until the 1990 model year, the 3/4 gear synchro slider hub was of a flawed design. This sometimes caused the manual tranmissions to get stuck in 3rd or 4th gear. We think that for pure longevity, the manual transmission is still a better choice.
The Syncro model four wheel drive van was available from 1985 through 1992. These models are highly sout after and can be exremely expensive to purchase now. The camper versions of the Syncro in very Good Condition can bring over $100,000 US. Many people are now buying passenger style Syncros, and paying to have the top cut off and changed to a pop top camper roof. This is an expensive customization coming in at about $7000 by the time it’s all done. Remember, this doesn’t include and of the camper cabinets, beds, sink, stove or fridge. You have to find a donor Westy for that. Still, some people have to have a 4 wheel drive vanagon camper for their outdoor adventures. Truthfully we find that a slightly lifted two wheel drive camper will go about 90% of the places you would ever go. It also saves you tens of thousands of dollars for groceries and gas on your camping trips. Don’t get me wrong, a Syncro camper is a very cool and valuable vehicle. It’s just out of most peoples price range for a 20 year old van.
Syncros should be supplied with front and rear diff locks as the differential housing isn’t that strong, and are subject to failure if loads are carried. The diff locks help prevent wheel slippage in off road conditions and help overcome the limited axle articulation. Make sure any syncro you purchase has protective skid plate for the driveline and transmission. If not, install them as soon as possible before any serious offroad adventure.
In the grand scheme of things, the Vanagons are still a good value if you find a nice one and keep it maintained. They have their problems and design flaws that are constantly being looked at and addressed by Rocky Mountain Westy. We want to keep these vehicles on the road for a long time to come. Let’s look at some common things that need to me inspected when you’re shopping for a Vanagon or Westfalia.
- Do you want an air cooled model or water cooled model? (better heat in the water cooled model among a lot of other improvements)
- Head gaskets leaking on the 1.9 and the 2.1 liter Wasserboxers. (have a technicain familier with the Vanagon check the head gaskets for seepage. This can easily be a $1200 repair after you purchase the van. They all do it.)
- Cooling system leaks and cracks in the coolant towers or water distribution flanges. (the factory coolant tower that distribute coolant to numerous hoses get brittle and crack. This will cause an overheating condition damaging the engine. We make Stainless Steel replacements that will never fail.)
- Coolant pipes leaking or cracked? (there is a set of coolant pipes that run from the engine up to the front of the vehicle to carry coolant to and from the radiator. These will crack and leak also. Replace them with a stainless lifetime set from us.)
- Check for major oil leaks on the engine (vanagons leak, but make sure it’s not dumping puddles of oil on the ground in a short time. Valve cover gaskets are easy to replace. Crankshaft seals, rear main seals and oil pumps leak commonly)
- Check axle boots for cuts or tears. (dirt in the CV joints of the axles will destroy them and they will need to be replaced)
- Camper buyers check the appliances. (make sure the stove, sink and fridge are all in good working order.)
- Check the canvas and upper bunk in the campers. (open the top, it only takes a few seconds and you can check the condition of the upper bunk and tent canvas. The canvas isn’t super expensive to replace, but it’s exremely time consuming to replace it correctly.)
- Brake master cylinder leaks.(the master cylinder is located in back of the instrument cluster. A lot of people that own a T3 never even knew that. They tend to leak from the master cylinder or reservior. Check both areas.)
- If you find a Vanagon or camper with factory A/C, make sure it is working properly. If you really need it to work in this vehicle, it can be very expensive to repair, especially in a camper as some of the lines run through the cabinets,etc)
- Upper ball joints (most T3s need upper ball joints replaced after about 150K miles. Not a big deal, but add it to your expense list while negotiating a price for the vehicle.
- Camper interiors. (check to make sure all the curtains and tie backs are in place. All the cushions are there. The rear seat and upper bunk fold properly. Also check the swivel seats for operation. Most campers have them)
We think this will give you a pretty good idea what to look for when buying a T3 van or camper. Remember, it’s very important to do a very detailed inspection and test drive of the vehicle before you commit to purchasing it. If you are not familier with Vanagons, take it to a shop that works on them all the time for an inspection. Bring this list if you want. We hope this helps you in your search for the perfect T3. Make sure to come see us online at RockyMountainWesty. We’ll help you keep that Vanagon in tip top shape.
About the Author
Rocky Mountain Westy Inc. is your Volkswagen Vanagon expert parts, accessory and service company. We will continue to bring important Vanagon and Westfalia information to the people who love them. Stay tuned for more great information. For more information about Volkswagen Vanagons and Westfalia campers, check out http://www.rockymountainwesty.com
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