The Classic Volkswagen Kombi – Does It Still Make A Practical Daily Driver?

The air-cooled Volkswagen Kombi is a motoring icon. It is really a common van that is chock whole of character, and a large amount of young guys (and women) however aspire to own one as their day by day driver. But are they getting a bit prolonged in the tooth now to make a functional automobile for each day use?

I travel my 1976 2 liter bay window each and every day, and my knowledge gives a excellent sign of what you may possibly have to do to make your unrestored Kombi harmless and relaxed to travel as your major car.

Volkswagen Kombis are perfectly about 30 years old now and it shows. I’ve expended a large amount of time and revenue over the last couple many years acquiring mine back again to a acceptable issue, and if you purchase a inexpensive Kombi you have to be prepared to do the very same. Even a additional expensive Kombi will most most likely need to have some repairs and TLC.

The 1800cc and 2 liter versions are the most realistic simply because they have extra get up and go than the designs with more compact engines, even though it does expense additional to rebuild the engines.

Initially the upside.

Kombis are great, they’re iconic, they have character and they are unquestionably not uninteresting.

They are enjoyment to travel and when they are in good nick they are relaxed and tackle properly with superior steering. The later on product bay windows continue to keep up with the site visitors fantastic and can cruise on 60 mph all working day, however they do gradual down on bigger hills.

And they are useful. There’s tons of space in a Kombi. Probably it really is not as very good as a modern-day van due to the fact of the hump for the rear motor, but they nonetheless make a fantastic camper or an 8 seater van with space for luggage or groceries. Floor clearance is excellent and the engine above the rear wheels offers good traction for a two wheel push if you want to get off the beaten track a little bit.

Now, this is what to be informed of if you program on possessing a single of these as your everyday driver.

Rust of system is the largest killer of Kombis or any previous motor vehicle. You are a great deal superior off paying a little bit a lot more dollars and getting a moderately rust no cost Kombi. Presented that you do come across a rust cost-free Kombi though, there are nonetheless a great deal of matters to take in up your income in advance of it is even practical to use your van on a day by day foundation.

The motor could be worn out. I rebuilt mine a pair of a long time in the past 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 identical time. This all expenditures money.

The steering and suspension are security associated and have to be right.

On the suspension I have changed the 4 principal ball joints and the shockies. With the steering I’ve changed all the tierrod finishes and the principal center pin. The steering damper is subsequent on the substitute record, and that must see the steering appropriate for my Kombi. It’s often attainable that yours may need a new steering box as properly.

Your Kombi’s brakes also have to have to be suitable. Brake linings are a little something that do need to have standard changing, but I’ve also changed the rear brake drums for the reason that they had been worn outside of limits, and the front discs will want changing following time the front brake pads are performed.

I’ve changed all the adaptable brake hoses simply because they are properly about 30 years previous now and they do get brittle and I have changed some of the steel brake strains because they ended up corroded. The rear brake cylinders were replaced a handful of yrs in the past and the front brake calipers were rebuilt with new seals.

On the rear drive practice there are 4 cv joints, and the types on my bay window have been quite unfortunate. They had been changed alongside with the rear wheel bearings.

One particular extremely critical location to look at is the gas strains for the motor. Kombis do melt away, and it’s brought about by petrol spraying all more than the engine. Verify the gasoline strains carefully and if they glimpse aged and cracked substitute them with excellent gas line. Make guaranteed that they are not rubbing on the tinware and that the pipes likely into the carby and gas pump are not free. This is crucial!

As perfectly as matters that you know might want repairing, there is always the unpredicted. A spray nozzle came unfastened from the carby in my bay window and went via the motor. It is only a little skinny brass tube but it sounded as though there have been marbles rattling all-around in the engine. The good news is there was no destruction, but it did indicate pulling out the engine and using off the cylinder heads to look at everything and to remove the continues to be of the spray nozzle. And just this 7 days I’ve had to switch the alternator.

As nicely as mechanical wear and tear there are the cosmetics to imagine about. Your inexpensive Kombi may well have to have a paint career, new carpets, new upholstery, and even the front seats may perhaps need awareness.

On the comfort and ease facet new door seals and window seals might be wanted to end rattles and drafts. The heater may perhaps need some notice. On my Kombi the heater cables had seized. That failed to worry me till I moved from a scorching component of the place to a a lot colder place wherever temperatures get down below freezing in the wintertime.

On the as well as side components are readily offered. For my Kombi, a 1976 2 liter model, I have been in a position to purchase just about every part I have required aside from the carby spray nozzles, and even then I was ready to get by with pieces of a various design VW.

My impression is that in spite of all the repairs and restoration, Volkswagen Kombis can even now be a practical everyday driver. You do need to have to acknowledge the point that your buy price tag is only aspect of the story, and that you will have to invest time and revenue bringing your common Kombi back again to a protected and relaxed ailment.