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

The air-cooled Volkswagen Kombi is a motoring icon. It’s a common van that is chock total of character, and a great deal of youthful fellas (and ladies) nevertheless aspire to very own one particular as their each day driver. But are they getting a little bit very long in the tooth now to make a simple vehicle for day-to-day use?

I push my 1976 2 liter bay window each and every day, and my encounter provides a superior indication of what you may have to do to make your unrestored Kombi risk-free and at ease to generate as your main car or truck.

Volkswagen Kombis are properly in excess of 30 years old now and it reveals. I’ve spent a good deal of time and funds around the past couple of many years getting mine back to a realistic affliction, and if you purchase a cheap Kombi you have to be ready to do the very same. Even a a lot more pricey Kombi will most probably want some repairs and TLC.

The 1800cc and 2 liter versions are the most practical mainly because they have far more get up and go than the models with scaled-down engines, even though it does cost a lot more to rebuild the engines.

Initially the upside.

Kombis are amazing, they’re legendary, they have character and they are absolutely not monotonous.

They are exciting to push and when they are in great nick they are snug and deal with perfectly with superior steering. The afterwards product bay windows retain up with the website traffic wonderful and can cruise on 60 mph all working day, nevertheless they do sluggish down on more substantial hills.

And they are practical. You will find lots of place in a Kombi. Perhaps it is not as fantastic as a modern-day van since of the hump for the rear motor, but they nevertheless make a wonderful camper or an 8 seater van with room for baggage or groceries. Ground clearance is good and the engine over the rear wheels gives good traction for a two wheel push if you want to get off the crushed observe a little bit.

Now, here’s what to be mindful of if you program on owning 1 of these as your day by day driver.

Rust of training course is the greatest killer of Kombis or any old car or truck. You are substantially improved off shelling out a bit extra income and getting a fairly rust free of charge Kombi. Specified that you do discover a rust cost-free Kombi nevertheless, there are however a great deal of points to take in up your money in advance of it can be even functional to use your van on a everyday foundation.

The motor may perhaps be worn out. I rebuilt mine a couple of a long time ago 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 exact time. This all prices revenue.

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

On the suspension I have changed the 4 primary ball joints and the shockies. With the steering I have changed all the tierrod ends and the most important centre pin. The steering damper is subsequent on the substitute checklist, and that should see the steering suitable for my Kombi. It is generally probable that yours may well have to have a new steering box as properly.

Your Kombi’s brakes also will need to be proper. Brake linings are one thing that do need to have standard replacing, but I’ve also changed the rear brake drums because they have been worn beyond limitations, and the entrance discs will have to have changing subsequent time the front brake pads are completed.

I have replaced all the flexible brake hoses mainly because they are nicely more than 30 a long time previous now and they do get brittle and I’ve replaced some of the metallic brake strains for the reason that they were being corroded. The rear brake cylinders ended up replaced a few many years in the past and the entrance brake calipers had been rebuilt with new seals.

On the rear push train there are four cv joints, and the types on my bay window were really unfortunate. They had been replaced along with the rear wheel bearings.

One particular very vital location to seem at is the gasoline traces for the motor. Kombis do burn off, and it’s brought on by petrol spraying all more than the engine. Verify the gas lines meticulously and if they look aged and cracked change them with top quality gasoline line. Make confident that they are not rubbing on the tinware and that the pipes likely into the carby and gas pump are not loose. This is essential!

As effectively as items that you know might need to have fixing, there is always the sudden. A spray nozzle arrived loose from the carby in my bay window and went as a result of the engine. It can be only a small thin brass tube but it sounded as however there were marbles rattling all around in the engine. The good thing is there was no hurt, but it did imply pulling out the engine and having off the cylinder heads to look at every little thing and to remove the continues to be of the spray nozzle. And just this 7 days I have experienced to replace the alternator.

As effectively as mechanical wear and tear there are the cosmetics to feel about. Your affordable Kombi may possibly will need a paint work, new carpets, new upholstery, and even the entrance seats may perhaps will need attention.

On the comfort and ease aspect new doorway seals and window seals may possibly be needed to cease rattles and drafts. The heater may well have to have some consideration. On my Kombi the heater cables had seized. That did not stress me until I moved from a warm component of the place to a much colder place where by temperatures get underneath freezing in the winter season.

On the additionally aspect elements are quickly accessible. For my Kombi, a 1976 2 liter model, I have been in a position to purchase every single component I have needed aside from the carby spray nozzles, and even then I was capable to get by with pieces of a diverse design VW.

My impression is that inspite of all the repairs and restoration, Volkswagen Kombis can continue to be a practical each day driver. You do require to settle for the reality that your invest in cost is only component of the story, and that you will have to devote time and cash bringing your common Kombi again to a safe and sound and at ease condition.