Top Access Hatch
- whc03grady
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Livingston Montana
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Top Access Hatch
Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful that Volkswagen was gracious enough to give me access to my engine from the top at all, but we still can be jealous of the hatch that Vanagons get, right?
VW obviously thought a top access hatch was a good idea, so why didn't they go for broke from the beginning and give us a huge Vanagonlike hatch? Or huger? Would it've been harder to make? Reduce structural integrity? Or did they think we'd only want to get at the carbs or something? They didn't think it'd be nice to, say, look at the distributor from directly above?
"Ve vill giff you ze sighs oxcess haughtch ve vant to giff you und you vill like it, bekommen sie?"
Sometimes I wonder how hard it would be hack a Vanagon hatch in....
VW obviously thought a top access hatch was a good idea, so why didn't they go for broke from the beginning and give us a huge Vanagonlike hatch? Or huger? Would it've been harder to make? Reduce structural integrity? Or did they think we'd only want to get at the carbs or something? They didn't think it'd be nice to, say, look at the distributor from directly above?
"Ve vill giff you ze sighs oxcess haughtch ve vant to giff you und you vill like it, bekommen sie?"
Sometimes I wonder how hard it would be hack a Vanagon hatch in....
Ludwig--1974 Westfalia, 2.0L (GD035193), Solex 34PDSIT-2/3 carburetors.
Gertie--1971 Squareback, 1600cc with Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection from a '72 (E brain).
Read about their adventures:
http://www.ludwigandgertie.blogspot.com
Gertie--1971 Squareback, 1600cc with Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection from a '72 (E brain).
Read about their adventures:
http://www.ludwigandgertie.blogspot.com
- Xelmon
- Sedna of VW lovers
- Location: LA or Portland, OR
- Status: Offline
Re: Top Access Hatch
From the little amount of time I screwed with busses, I can see a few reasons:
* Since you have an end access hatch for the engine, you don't need a huge top hatch.
* Smaller top hatch is lighter.
* On the contrary, vanagons do not have an end access hatch, you have to be able to get to everything... Enter full top access hatch.
We could test the structural integrity part too, all we need is a 1:1 full-detail model of the bus that we can perform FEA on. :)
* Since you have an end access hatch for the engine, you don't need a huge top hatch.
* Smaller top hatch is lighter.
* On the contrary, vanagons do not have an end access hatch, you have to be able to get to everything... Enter full top access hatch.
We could test the structural integrity part too, all we need is a 1:1 full-detail model of the bus that we can perform FEA on. :)
- poptop tom
- Old School!
- Location: La Porte, IN
- Status: Offline
Re: Top Access Hatch
Where the heck would they have hung the fan?
Mr. Blotto wrote, "Boy - thanks for the offer, but a month in poptop tom's world means 5 years"
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Top Access Hatch
Definite structural integrity issues. The Vanagon was the first fully-computerized designed bus. They managed to reduce the frame rail/body post dimensions by 40% with no loss of rigidity even with the lower cargo deck.
I like the smaller bus access, it gives my huge pot belly a nice wide place to spill over and spread out as I lean into the engine compartment.
Colin
I like the smaller bus access, it gives my huge pot belly a nice wide place to spill over and spread out as I lean into the engine compartment.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- tristessa
- Trusted Air-Cooled Maniac
- Location: Uwish Uknew, Oregon
- Status: Offline
Re: Top Access Hatch
VW did eventually give the Bay a larger engine hatch, starting in Mexico around '88 or '89 and continuing on through the Brazilian watercooled era. Hard to find pictures of, unfortunately -- this is the best I've found.
Remember, only YOU can prevent narcissism!
- satchmo
- Old School!
- Location: Crosby, MN
- Status: Offline
Re: Top Access Hatch
In 1972 VW didn't think you needed any hatch at all.
Tim
Tim
By three methods we may learn wisdom:
First, by reflection, which is noblest;
second, by immitation, which is easiest;
and third, by experience, which is bitterest. -Confucius
First, by reflection, which is noblest;
second, by immitation, which is easiest;
and third, by experience, which is bitterest. -Confucius
- airkooledchris
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Eureka, California
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Top Access Hatch
if you go further back, there was no overhead hatch and even more room than the Vanagon!
1979 California Transporter
- Kubelwagen
- Addicted!
- Location: Portland, OR
- Status: Offline
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Top Access Hatch
And a big petrol bomb next to the ignition coil!Kubelwagen wrote:And a handy crank for winding it up!
ColinThemWasTheDays
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- Kubelwagen
- Addicted!
- Location: Portland, OR
- Status: Offline
Re: Top Access Hatch
Looking at the S. American (or Mexican?) picture, I wonder why they never dropped that engine in any of the rigs up here. Was the Vanagon just considered too heavy for it? Can't be smog issues, they were selling them in other things right?
Patience the 81 Adventurewagen
- tristessa
- Trusted Air-Cooled Maniac
- Location: Uwish Uknew, Oregon
- Status: Offline
Re: Top Access Hatch
I don't think that engine has ever made it to teh USA, that's the EA111 four-cylinder engine from the Polo. Far as I know we only ever got the EA827 four-cylinder and the occasional EA831 in the Porsche 924...
Post-1988 Mexican Bays did get the EA827 though...
Post-1988 Mexican Bays did get the EA827 though...
Remember, only YOU can prevent narcissism!
-
- IAC Addict!
- Status: Offline
Re: Top Access Hatch
the 924 engine was an audi engine. audi stopped making them, amc/rambler had purchased the right to manufacture and use the engine in the usa. porsche found themselves using amc/rambler engines for a short period of time.
1/20/2013 end of an error
never owned a gun. have fired a few.
never owned a gun. have fired a few.
- Xelmon
- Sedna of VW lovers
- Location: LA or Portland, OR
- Status: Offline
Re: Top Access Hatch
tristessa wrote:I don't think that engine has ever made it to teh USA, that's the EA111 four-cylinder engine from the Polo. Far as I know we only ever got the EA827 four-cylinder and the occasional EA831 in the Porsche 924...
Post-1988 Mexican Bays did get the EA827 though...
And my daily trivia quotient has been fulfilled.vdubyah73 wrote:the 924 engine was an audi engine. audi stopped making them, amc/rambler had purchased the right to manufacture and use the engine in the usa. porsche found themselves using amc/rambler engines for a short period of time.
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Top Access Hatch
Vanagon is 300 lbs more than a Bay. Both vehicles are "light" by today's grotesquely bloated standards.Kubelwagen wrote:Was the Vanagon just considered too heavy for it?
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- Kubelwagen
- Addicted!
- Location: Portland, OR
- Status: Offline
Re: Top Access Hatch
True, it just makes me wonder why they didn't do the South Africa type engine in the later US vanagons? Must be have been a cost thing.
Patience the 81 Adventurewagen