Back Home...

Hello Constant Reader. You miss me? I doubt it. But, I missed you. That counts, right? Good! Well for an update, Doodle turned out to have burned plugs on the Cold Start Valve, and Thermo Time switch. Not a huge deal, and quite a bit less than buying those parts. So I ordered a ton of parts from Bus Boys, to include plugs, plug wires, other small things. So I wait.

And wait.

And wait.

AND WAIT.

Bus boys is slow as shit, btw.

And wait.

Finally my parts come in. Plugs replaced. Got my man Robb to help with the timing. Valves adjusted again. And he fired right off. Idles well. To celebrate, I put 68 miles on him today. Ahh.....

I can't tell you how awesome it feels to be back behind the wheel of Doodle. I've missed him so. Camping to come. I promise. :)

And now this commercial break!

Due to the fact there is no new Doodle news to report, other than one large looming order from Bus Depot and Bus Boys, (more on that as it occurs) Nothing is happening. So, in lieu of no real bus news, how about one small commercial break, with all my favorite VW Westfaila Ads from generally my same year? Let us harken back to the era where gas was cheap, VWs cheaper, and you could stroll on down to the dealership and getcha a fully loaded Westfalia camper with all the trimmings, even coming back for VWoA certified maintenance should you choose to. Yum. So interested?

Yes? Excellent.

I just realized something. NONE of these have spare tires on the nose, and I dont like my spare on the nose. THAT is one of my Doodle related new year resolutions. Remove that spare tire and mount, and put an emblem on. Also, to camp more. Yes. Yes indeed.

Doodle Cruise!

Well Constant Reader, How are ya? Although, I admit that I honestly dont really think there are many "constant readers", but since I do this mostly for my own enjoyment anyway, I digress. Now, Doodles issues are often lamented in my Blogging, and honestly, I forget sometimes to mention how much I really do enjoy owning and driving him. This is one of those posts. This last Saturday was a wonderfully bright sunshiney day, and my VW Gang was having a cruise to a burger place on Rockwall Lake. What better day to strech Doodles legs and for for a drive. After about three attempts, Doods decided that yes, he did want to cruise and away we went. The meet up place is in Garland, Texas, about an hour or so on a good day away from me. The trip there was fairly uneventful, if not underpowered, until what appeared to be a bed sheet hit my front windshield momentarily then flew away. Hmm.

So I arrived at Robbs house in Garland, and parked out front....

I just really like his beetle. Something about it. Lots of character. Anywhoo. We hung around awhile, when he comes out of the garage in......

Hmm.. More on this later. I just noticed I lost my spare tire cover somewhere. Damn. Guess thats what that bedsheet that hit my window was. Lets pause for a moment out of respect for the loss of Mr. Smiley off the front of Doodle. ........................

So away we go to the meeting place. Me, following a Rambler. What an odd couple. Once there we meet up with some freinds, for good times and great photos...

Look at that sexy pair of bus butts. Clearly a difference from 59 to 77, eh? Another gratuitious Rambler vert pic, just because I think its super cool, and for no other reason...

Looks naked without that spare tire cover though. Gotta do something about that. Might even consider having that mount surgically removed, and putting the spare into the inside cabinet. Thoughts for later. Well, we are off and gone. Cruise time. Doods fired right up (because hes warm. Cold start valve maybe giving me issues? A quick google shows that costs a whopping $183.45. Damn.) and away we went. Ah. Thanks for listening to my randomness, but its nice to be back on the road with Doods, at least a little bit. Until next time constant reader, life is short. Drive a VW.

Trouble continues...

So the fuel pump is in! Worked on the bus on Saturday, got it installed, and after a battery charge, and some lengthy turning over, Doodle started! Still doesnt run well, or feel powerful, but running! Drove him a little on Saturday, and shut it down to work on him Sunday. Setting the valves, and trying to get a little more power out of him. Making sure the points are set. You know, basic stuff I've done 100 times over in my life.

Hmm.

After a valve adjustment, Doodle did fire right up. Idled great for ten minutes, and I backed out of the garage. All of a sudden, Doodle went on revolt, started backfiring roaring and refusing to move under his own power, then died. Wont restart. At all. Ever. Ever pushed a fully loaded tempermental Deluxe Westy into the garage? Uphill? No? Dont try. That back pain aint nothin Tylenol will touch. Seriously. BUT, Doodle is back in the garage warm and dry. So, today, I go back out and check each and every valve again. Perfect! I even consulted the manual to make sure Im doing it right. Yep. The only thing I can think is that perhaps someone (Traci?) had hydrolic valves put in (even  tho those didnt start until 1978) and I just messed up big big. Hmm... might be time to bite the bullet and take Doods to a shop. Im man enough to admit defeat. Seriously. I mean, I do want to drive him more than just once a month. Like him to be more than (insert my wifes voice here...) a multi thousand dollar paperweight.

On the upside, I did score some freshly powder coated wheels CHEAP! I think these will look much better once Doods is back on the prowl. More on these later.

Oh Doodle. Why do you hate me?

The fight continues...

Constant Reader, how ya been?

Good! And your mother? Glad to hear it.

Been awhile for me and Doods here, and, I gotta tell you, it aint been great. I'm gonna try to recap my last four months in one blog.

So, as you know I've been having intermittent fuel issues with Doodle. Can't trace them, that type thing. So I finally sat down with my tools and tester to figure it out.

What I found is that the number three injector is dead. The wires from three will fire injector four, but injector fours wires do nothing on three. Hmm. Okay, so pricing them shows me I can have all four rebuilt for the cost of one. And this place that rebuilds them, is pretty highly regarded. So I pull all four injectors, and awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay they go.

Okay. Fast forward to a month later, on my birthday (June 30) I go to the mailbox and BLAMMO!

Four newly rebuilt injectors courtesy of Witchunter Performance, who specialize in rebuilding injectors. These things are PURTY! All new parts, flow tested, ready to go. So I head out to the garage with a newly reknown sense of purpose, intending fully to put Doodle on the road today. Yes!


Pulled and charged the battery, installed the new injectors with all new rubber and clamps, and Doodle lives! I adjusted the timing, and all systems go. Next stop was the monthly SHAC meeting the next day! YEAH BOYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.

So the next day at work FLYS by. I cant wait to get home and drive. Finally Im done, go home, change, and I'm out! Hamburgers, other VWs and good times! Me and Doodle roll up on the scene, clearly the best looking thing in the group, and take our spot.

Nice. I mean really. Look at him. Awesome in everyway. Tell you what, lets air it out a bit. That garage is STALE!

THATS what Im talking about. So many people stopped by to complement Doodle and me. One guy even offered to buy him. Yeah. Thats happening. Anywhoo, Doodle was further awarded his second sticker...

Doodle is now a formal Sherman Air Cooler Member. Nice. Im proud, hes proud, everyone loves us, alls well in my world....

Well, time to go home!

*click*

Wait. What?

*rrr rrr rrr rrr click*

Click? Really?

*rrr rr rr rrr click*

Well damn. Ole Doods decided he liked Watsonburger so much, he didnt want to go home. I checked everything. Coil, distributor, everything. NOTHIN. Luckily, we got a tow back to the house. Well, at least we got a sticker.

About two weeks go by and I finally get some time to work on Doodle again. Ive done lots of reasearch, turns out I probably need to clean my grounds and electrical system. I replace the battery cables, clean every single ground, and most of the contacts for the relays. Charge the battery, and.... DOODS LIVES!!

Awesome! Everything is again as it should be. Runs great all afternoon. That night, I drive him to Walmart for groceries. I get no less than ten compliments and one offer to buy him. Seriously. Get my groceries and come back out. Life isnt good, its freakin great.


 *click*


Wait. What?

*rrr rrr rrr rrr click*

Click? Really?

*rrr rr rr rrr click*

Insert deep sigh here reader. Im stranded. Again. I think Doods hates me. I scan the parking lot for the guy who wanted to buy him, but alas, I think he took his Ramen noodles and left. :(  An hour later of fiddling, calling family and fiddling more, I finally get someone to come get me. I get the truck, and haul Doods home in shame. Ever tried hooking up to your bus with a big ole tow bar in a dark Walmart parking lot?

Yeah, its about that easy.

This time, Doods sits a month. Mostly out of my own personal frustration. I focus on my beetle and other bus, getting them both in running condition. Fast forward to a week ago, just before Halloween. I rent a fuel pressure tester, and it shows me Doodle isnt putting out any fuel.

Ever priced a FI fuel pump, constant reader? You haven't? Would you believe its $210.95? You wouldn't? Me freaking neither, but it is. So that is where my tale brings us. Doodle waiting on organ transplant, and me still having faith in him. Ive got to get him on the road. I have had him forever and havent camped in him once! I dont care if I have to sleep in him in a blizzard. I'm doing it. Oh yes, I am.

So, stay tuned. Fuel pump should be here this week. I have a renewed sense of purpose, and plan to throw as much money at this bus as I have to. And to all you naysayers, telling me to pull his big heart and put a beetle motor in, or pull his fuel injection and put carbs on him, I say NO!

I will do this.