Aircooled VW South Africa

I have just bought a Type4 station-wagon, saved from being dragged screaming to the scrap-yard, as my next VeeDub project. It looked ok when I went to see it, except for the rust and missing bits, but now it sits about 6 inches lower at the rear.

Any ideas at what is broken? Presuming it is the shocks, where can I get some?

Type 4's (especially the Variants) always had a 'factory-designed' sagging rear end. It is to enable you to load the front trunk with heavy luggage.
If you can perhaps post a pic of the Variant from the side, on a level surface, one could determine if the sagging is worse than what it is suppose to be. A great Type 4 site is at http://www.type4.org

Thanks,
Have just reied to start her, and had fuel quirting out, by the time I found out, I had run out of petrol there wasnt much in the tank), but it looks like the little flexible fuel pipes that come from the injectors are perished. Can these be replaced? They look like they are part of the injector assembly.

As for the sagging, looking at it now that it is outside, it looks like the back is sagging, and the front is way too high, so maybe two problems, not one???

Shoulda stuck to bay-window 1600's, those I understand!

Will take a photo tomorrow.

it looks like the little flexible fuel pipes that come from the injectors are perished

...one of the reasons MANY type 4s ended on the scrap yard, burnt-out. Be careful, and have a fire extinguisher handy

Can these be replaced? They look like they are part of the injector assembly.

Yes, I've done it before. If you remove the injector, carefully pry away the crimping with a side cutter - and replace the pipe with fuel-injection hose, with hose clamps on both sides.

The original Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection is a bitch, though - difficult (read: close to impossible) to get new parts.

Many Type 4s were fitted with twin carbs, but what might be an even easier/cheaper option is to source the fuel injection system of a 2.1i Microbus. I've fitted it to my Type 4 - it is a lot simpler than what might appear at first. Just ensure the harness is complete, and that you get all the parts - if I can think quickly of, the following

- petrol pump
- 4 x injectors
- relay box
- computer box
- throttle body
- airflow meter
- fuel pressure regulator
- harness
- electronic Bosch ditributor + coil + TCI unit

(A few years ago, I got the lot for less than R 1000). I also have copies of the original VW dealer service booklet for the fuel injection, so give it a try!

like the back is sagging, and the front is way too high

That is what my 412 looked like when the tank was empty, and the spare wheel/jack/wheel spanner were removed. Ensure they are in, put 8 - 10 bricks in the trunk, push the nose a few times up-and-down, and you will see it is a lot better!

P.S. try this forum in England as well - looks identical as 'ours', but less busy

http://www.vwtype3and4club.org.uk/forum/

I am going to try get new shocks on Monday, failling that, I can also try the old beach-buggy trick of filling the front bumper with concrete to keep the nose down.

Gabriel G44525, if I recall right, for the front ones...

I've never had a Varient, so stupid q&a time.

Does the Varient use a simmilar sustem to the Bug at the rear with the swing axil and big torsion bar? Or is it IRS?

IRS, with CV joints.

Nope - coil springs, and IRS.

From http://www.type4.org

The Volkswagen Type 4 was a strange member of the VW family. Some think it was the last attempt at continuing a technological tradition doomed long before. Others characterize it as the step between the "old" aircooled and the new watercooled models. It is a strange hybrid indeed if you look into the details.

On the one hand we have the well-known rear engine and rear wheel drive-layout with the 4 cylinder air-cooled boxer setup. All well known and proven by its predecessors. But we also have some startling new elements:

The unitized body design which does away with the old "body-on-chassis"-setup. It allows the VW engineers to introduce the first 4 door VW passenger car, the VW 411 4-door sedan.

At the same time the torsion arm axles are making way for far more modern McPherson struts up front and an independent suspension in the rear with coil springs and constant velocity joints joining the axle shaft to the transmission and the wheel.

The steering is of the recirculating ball-type, something only found in high-priced premium automobiles at that time.

Thanks for all the advice, it helped me some.
Since I do not have a spare wheel, and the fuel tank is completely empty, I took the advice given and placed a big bag of builder's rubble under the bonnet, then jumped up and down on the front bumper.

This has definately helped, and I reckon if I put a couple of dozen bricks in the front, the car should look just about normal.

osvw wrote:This has definately helped, and I reckon if I put a couple of dozen bricks in the front, the car should look just about normal.

Sorry to disillusion you, but there is NO WAY to make a 411/412 look even "just about" normal.

Next step should be to remove the bag of rubble from the boot and toss the car in the bag.

Hey Fig,
How can you say anything bad about VWs finest !!!!! The 411/412 has.......
er......
um.....
ahhhh, I've got it !
It has inner beauty !

Owch!

to have a look at my incrediible, pristine, exquisite, latest project, the rear sagging, fwd lifting, VeeTroubleU Type 4.
type 4