1972 VW Bus Deluxe 9 Passenger - Projekt Uber Geizig
Moderators: Mikewire, Rennwagen1
- bigmontana
- Euro Addict!!!
- Posts: 1874
- Joined: Mar Sun 19, 2006 11:32 pm
- Vehicles: 1963 Beetle 2000 Mercedes E320 Wagon
- Location: Billings
Re: Projekt Uber Geizig 1972 VW Bus Deluxe 9 Passenger
It makes the best truck.
Sent from my MB865 using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my MB865 using Tapatalk 2
1963 Beetle
2001 Passat 4moWagon (Sold)
2000 Mercedes E320 Wagon
2001 Passat 4moWagon (Sold)
2000 Mercedes E320 Wagon
- sneakyboy1
- Euro Addict!!!
- Posts: 2344
- Joined: Jan Wed 09, 2008 1:30 am
- Vehicles: 03 B6 A4 3.0 6MT
63 VW Bug
83 GTI
83 CJ7 - Location: Missoula, MT
- Contact:
Re: Projekt Uber Geizig 1972 VW Bus Deluxe 9 Passenger
Awesome Mike! 8-)
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
"Confucious Say: Man who have dubs in driveway walk out of house in morning with smile, but then move around two dubs to leave." JD3
- YASHA7FOLD
- Euro Addict!!!
- Posts: 2092
- Joined: Jun Wed 30, 2010 4:42 pm
- Vehicles: 58 Buggy,65 Baja,69 Beetle, 72 Westy
- Location: Laurel
- Contact:
Re: Projekt Uber Geizig 1972 VW Bus Deluxe 9 Passenger
What the Caddy couldn't handle it. 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
.R13 5 (o\!/o)
..╚╬╬╝
... 24
..╚╬╬╝
... 24
- MT-Getto
- Euro Addict!!!
- Posts: 2747
- Joined: Dec Sun 17, 2006 11:46 am
- Vehicles: 20VTMK2GLI
MK6DSGGTI
2010PowerStroke - Location: Fraggle Rock
Re: Projekt Uber Geizig 1972 VW Bus Deluxe 9 Passenger
His excuse may be kids and wife, but I remember being in my dads with my mom and at least 1 brother. Not sure how that worked and if that would fly these days.......
It's not how fast you go. It's how well you go fast.
- Mikewire
- Site Admin
- Posts: 4090
- Joined: Oct Thu 20, 2005 1:23 am
- Vehicles: Air and Water
- Location: San Antonio, TX
- Contact:
Re: Projekt Uber Geizig 1972 VW Bus Deluxe 9 Passenger
Been a while on the Bus. Getting back into it being my main project.
I've been having an issue with cyl #2 not firing, and I've chased it down to a few things. I have spark, so that's not the issue.
First was to get a visual on the valvetrain to make sure I had rockers and pushrods working properly. So here's a terrible video of me hand turning the motor over while recording the results:
Those looked fine. So, onto a compression test...
Cyl #2 came out at 115 PSI
So, that's good too! Awesome, so it's probably a fuel delivery issue. Let me check the injector...yep I found a nasty spider web thingy in one of the terminals, reconnected, and it started firing! Verified with a noid light that I am getting voltage to the injector, and have ground pulse.
However, that result was short lived. After a few starts I ended up finding the same result. So I'm expecting I have a bad injector, and I do a have a spare new one from Bus Depot ready to install tomorrow.
Also going to do a smoke test in the intake to check for leaks - it seems to have an issue with RPM hunting, so I expect I'll find something broken and/or cracked to fix.
After a bit I found the issue...well, and couple of them. Got it into European Performance where Ian and Quinn let me store the Bus in the interim before we head to TX.
Did a smoke test and found that there were small and large hard to see cracks in the S boot and one PCV hose.

One was the cracked up S boot.


Repaired it with some super glue (cyanocrylate) and some Flex Tape (because why not...).
Also found a bad injector on my #2 clyinder, which I went ahead and replaced with a new on from Bus Depot.
Fired it up and took it for a spin firing on all 4 cylinders!
I also ordered a new S boot from Airhead parts https://airheadparts-kgpr.com/shop/bus- ... ory=Engine
When I get it, I'll do a quick review and post it up!
I've been having an issue with cyl #2 not firing, and I've chased it down to a few things. I have spark, so that's not the issue.
First was to get a visual on the valvetrain to make sure I had rockers and pushrods working properly. So here's a terrible video of me hand turning the motor over while recording the results:
Those looked fine. So, onto a compression test...
Cyl #2 came out at 115 PSI
So, that's good too! Awesome, so it's probably a fuel delivery issue. Let me check the injector...yep I found a nasty spider web thingy in one of the terminals, reconnected, and it started firing! Verified with a noid light that I am getting voltage to the injector, and have ground pulse.
However, that result was short lived. After a few starts I ended up finding the same result. So I'm expecting I have a bad injector, and I do a have a spare new one from Bus Depot ready to install tomorrow.
Also going to do a smoke test in the intake to check for leaks - it seems to have an issue with RPM hunting, so I expect I'll find something broken and/or cracked to fix.
After a bit I found the issue...well, and couple of them. Got it into European Performance where Ian and Quinn let me store the Bus in the interim before we head to TX.
Did a smoke test and found that there were small and large hard to see cracks in the S boot and one PCV hose.

One was the cracked up S boot.


Repaired it with some super glue (cyanocrylate) and some Flex Tape (because why not...).
Also found a bad injector on my #2 clyinder, which I went ahead and replaced with a new on from Bus Depot.
Fired it up and took it for a spin firing on all 4 cylinders!
I also ordered a new S boot from Airhead parts https://airheadparts-kgpr.com/shop/bus- ... ory=Engine
When I get it, I'll do a quick review and post it up!
2015 Porsche Macan S
2021 VW Atlas SEL Premium 4-Motion
1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC
1965 VW Beetle
FAQ | Forum rules
- YASHA7FOLD
- Euro Addict!!!
- Posts: 2092
- Joined: Jun Wed 30, 2010 4:42 pm
- Vehicles: 58 Buggy,65 Baja,69 Beetle, 72 Westy
- Location: Laurel
- Contact:
Re: Projekt Uber Geizig 1972 VW Bus Deluxe 9 Passenger
Awesome man. Way to iron out the misfire issue.
Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
.R13 5 (o\!/o)
..╚╬╬╝
... 24
..╚╬╬╝
... 24
- Mikewire
- Site Admin
- Posts: 4090
- Joined: Oct Thu 20, 2005 1:23 am
- Vehicles: Air and Water
- Location: San Antonio, TX
- Contact:
Re: Projekt Uber Geizig 1972 VW Bus Deluxe 9 Passenger
So far here's what I've gotten done while in SATX:
Rear bumper paint removed and installed:

Middle slider window acquired, and I did a quick rebuild on the felt and sliders:

I have fresh window rubber to install, and I have some work to do on the inside (old picture):

Rear bumper paint removed and installed:
Middle slider window acquired, and I did a quick rebuild on the felt and sliders:
I have fresh window rubber to install, and I have some work to do on the inside (old picture):

2015 Porsche Macan S
2021 VW Atlas SEL Premium 4-Motion
1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC
1965 VW Beetle
FAQ | Forum rules
- Mikewire
- Site Admin
- Posts: 4090
- Joined: Oct Thu 20, 2005 1:23 am
- Vehicles: Air and Water
- Location: San Antonio, TX
- Contact:
Projekt Uber Geizig 1972 VW Bus Deluxe 9 Passenger
Time for some updates. Some have been posted on social media @countdowngarage, but always like to also post here because it's so much more informative!
https://www.instagram.com/countdowngarage
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3puS0 ... Rphf-VlsuQ
Decided if I was going to replace window seals, i also should do some window fixing. Pulled the windows and used some Ospho to turn the rusty bits back to good metal, then used a bit of body putty to smooth out the areas. Then used a primer and satin white Rustoleum paint, masked off the area and gave about 3 coats and let it cure for a few days before putting the new solid rear glass and middle slider in with brand new Wolfsburg West window seals. Really happy how it turned out:




Upgraded the front lights to the Hella H4 housings with replaceable bulbs:

I have a whole video on my YT channel, but I finally got the rear bumper and hitch bolted up to the back, with the OEM stock 1977 F.I. exhaust:

Then mounted up the gauge holder, ran 4 wire trailer wire, and mounted the gauges all with intent to wire them in with the appropriate senders


Ordered some mud flaps a while ago, and finally got to putting them on - kind of a pain because I had to bend one of my inner fenders back into place (because factory AC used to be installed) but the brackets made the job pretty easy, with only a couple of slight modifications.


Got a few more stickers on, mudflaps and a slow moving vehicle sign from @slowmovingvehiclemagnets:

Then decided I wanted to get a CB radio, so I found a compact model that would work well and am just now in the process of installing and mounting it up:

For the antenna I used a mount from Firestik, replaced the stock mounted FM antenna base that was broken, and used a spring and Firestik 2' antenna


And the finished antenna:

Not a lot of distance but I can get NOAA etc. so I'll have to get it out there and try some different channels out on the road!
https://www.instagram.com/countdowngarage
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3puS0 ... Rphf-VlsuQ
Decided if I was going to replace window seals, i also should do some window fixing. Pulled the windows and used some Ospho to turn the rusty bits back to good metal, then used a bit of body putty to smooth out the areas. Then used a primer and satin white Rustoleum paint, masked off the area and gave about 3 coats and let it cure for a few days before putting the new solid rear glass and middle slider in with brand new Wolfsburg West window seals. Really happy how it turned out:
Upgraded the front lights to the Hella H4 housings with replaceable bulbs:
I have a whole video on my YT channel, but I finally got the rear bumper and hitch bolted up to the back, with the OEM stock 1977 F.I. exhaust:
Then mounted up the gauge holder, ran 4 wire trailer wire, and mounted the gauges all with intent to wire them in with the appropriate senders
Ordered some mud flaps a while ago, and finally got to putting them on - kind of a pain because I had to bend one of my inner fenders back into place (because factory AC used to be installed) but the brackets made the job pretty easy, with only a couple of slight modifications.
Got a few more stickers on, mudflaps and a slow moving vehicle sign from @slowmovingvehiclemagnets:
Then decided I wanted to get a CB radio, so I found a compact model that would work well and am just now in the process of installing and mounting it up:
For the antenna I used a mount from Firestik, replaced the stock mounted FM antenna base that was broken, and used a spring and Firestik 2' antenna


And the finished antenna:

Not a lot of distance but I can get NOAA etc. so I'll have to get it out there and try some different channels out on the road!
2015 Porsche Macan S
2021 VW Atlas SEL Premium 4-Motion
1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC
1965 VW Beetle
FAQ | Forum rules
-
- In the trunk...
- Posts: 336
- Joined: Jul Sat 05, 2008 10:23 am
- Vehicles: 02 M3, 06 Taco DCSB, 90 240 Wagon
- Location: Moab, UT
- Contact:
Re: Projekt Uber Geizig 1972 VW Bus Deluxe 9 Passenger
Looks great man. Way to keep after it with the troubleshooting.
I've run firesticks before and have had good results. Looks pretty slick how you mounted yours. SWR meter to tune? (tbh i never tuned mine b4 (for shame
) )
I've run firesticks before and have had good results. Looks pretty slick how you mounted yours. SWR meter to tune? (tbh i never tuned mine b4 (for shame

- Mikewire
- Site Admin
- Posts: 4090
- Joined: Oct Thu 20, 2005 1:23 am
- Vehicles: Air and Water
- Location: San Antonio, TX
- Contact:
Re: Projekt Uber Geizig 1972 VW Bus Deluxe 9 Passenger
Thanks! I have to get an SWR meter to tune it, dunno how much it will help but I'm interested it getting it dialed in.
2015 Porsche Macan S
2021 VW Atlas SEL Premium 4-Motion
1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC
1965 VW Beetle
FAQ | Forum rules