which engine type best to look for?

[toomanytoys]

Yep.. your not wrong... got to look at loads to get a feel for whats right and whats not... loads out there to choose from...

[Simon Baxter]

Thing is, WBX's aren't great, neither are 1.6D's or 1.7D's.
Aircooleds are okay, if you don't want to drive anywhere.

Loads of pro's and cons for both.

WBX probably most popular, also the most problematic to get parts for.
early WBX cooling system only ran for 2-3 years, all parts obsolete, very little on aftermarket, so to keep one going it's second hand bits, which is a bit of a mare.
later WBX, some parts are available, but for how long? lots of the parts really needed like thermostat housings aren't available, which again could see you off the road for a long time.

Diesels on the other hand are sourced from most other contemporary VW's, so you are tripping over parts for them.
the availability of sumps etc is a load of cobblers, why would you need a sump unless you crack one putting a rod through the side? not very likely, then those nifty geezers at brickwerks make products to get around the "lack of spares" like this... Click

At the end of the day, all the engines are "pooh", really, but in my eyes, fixing the bleedin things everytday I would go for a Diesel over anything else.
Run on Diesel, run on veg oil, loads of cheap, easy to find spares, reasonably economical for what they are (big van small engine) and they don't poute the place like then 'orrible stinkin' petrol things.
And, if anyone wants to contest my last statement they are quite welcome to come and stand in my workshop for as long as they can stand it for with a petrol and a diesel.
I bet your eyes bleed first with the petrol, oh and the small that hangs onto your clothes...

[purplecrocs]

Looking to spend £5000 or so, the prices seem to vary quite widely though so its hard to know what to expect. Going to look at the first couple this weekend, one at £7500 for a 1988 1.9 petrol - which seems a lot..? Another at £5500 I'm going to look at which I've been sent a few pics of has some rust issues - see added picture... how bad would you class this? looks bad to me but maybe easily remedied... no idea!

[eatcustard]

£5500 with a step like that, I would walk away you should not have any rust issues other than maybe a little seam rust for that kind of money.

There a good vans around for £5500 without rust like that.

[Dartmoor]

£5500 with a step like that, I would walk away you should not have any rust issues other than maybe a little seam rust for that king of money.

There a good vans around for £5500 without rust like that.

I agree. You have to ask yourself what rust like that tells you - i.e. that the previous owner(s) have not bothered to keep into top of rust, or waxoyl the chassis, or wash off winter salt etc etc. So if there's an issue on the step, there WILL be more rust on the van in lots of other places.

[T'Onion]

never mind the step , You would have thought the seller would have at least swept or cleaned the cab out for that price

[purplecrocs]

thanks for all the advice! so, going on the complete opposite end of the price spectrum what do you all think of this - condition, spec, etc. vs price:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Volkswagen-T3-wes ... 7C294%3A50" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

just after advice really. we will be going to shows and will definitely look at many before we buy but interested to know if spending this kind of money is worth it if we have little mechanical expertise and limited time to tinker with a van.

cheers again!

[eatcustard]

for 12K It will need to mint, with no rust at all

Would you not be better off looking at a T4 for that kind of money (runs and hides)

[purplecrocs]

I've started a new topic re body work conditions as i'm going off-topic here, I've posted a pic of another I'm going to have a look at tomorrow, would appreciate feedback on an issue I noticed. Thanks!
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=54490

[ghost123uk]

I've started a new topic re body work conditions as i'm going off-topic here,
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=54490

Blimey, a sensible 80-90 forum user in or midst

Staying on topic is not summat this forum is used to

Good on ya

[purplecrocs]

I may not know my way round a t25 but I know my way around a forum

[DanO]

purplecrocs, I'm in Brighton, more than welcome to have a look at ours to see what you can get for your money. It's a Westfalia 1.6TD, goes fine.....a bit smoky sometimes

[Pepperami]

Subaru 2.2 IMHO.

[jamesc76]

Subaru 2.2 IMHO.

Would that be the ej22 enigne heard there rather good >???

[Pepperami]

Economical and fairly quick i believe