Well it is time to sell I sold the 87 Westy. I bought in a bit over a year ago with the use case of driving the dogs to vet and to the trails. I love this beast but my better half who drives this most of the time wants a new van with AC and and automatic. Make this a daily driver or repaint it and make it like new.
The stats:
- 233k Miles
- 2009 a Subaru 2.5 swap was done at ~180k miles
- I purchased it in August 2022 with about 231k miles
Upgrades done in the last year:
- GoWesty Big Brake disc upgrade in front
- GoWesty rear disc upgrade
- GoWesty Deluxe Manual Mirror Kit
- GoWesty upper control arm bushings
- GoWesty lower control arm bushings
- Schwenk 2″ lift springs
- GoWesty USB charger map light conersion
- GoWesty upper and lower battery cover
- VanCafe stainless steel coolant pipes
- VanCafe stainless thermostat pipe
- VanCafe aluminum expansion tank
- VanCafe reverse coolant manifold
- VanCafe shortened oil pan
- VanCafe reserve coolant tank
- GoWesty H4 headlight upgrade (lens and bulbs)
- VanCafe 9004 -> H4 adapter
- GoWesty exterior LED light kit
- GoWesty ashtray elimination kit
- GoWesty driver side grab handle
- Oreilly water pump
- GoWesty front washer fluid tank
- Washer tank seals
- Rear washer filler cover
- Ebrake cover
- Gary Lee Ladder Rack
- SewFine interior carpet kit
- SewFine leather interior panels
- SewFine engine cover carpet
- SewFine rear mattress foam
- SewFine rear mattress cover
- GoWesty engine cover mat
- GoWesty floor mats
- Removed rear heater core
- RotoPax
- Super Start Premium Battery Group Size 41
- 944 Fog Light Switch
- Hella LED Driving lights wired to fog light switch
- LED interior lights
- BG Goodrich TA KO2 (July 2023)
- Turn signal socket replacement
- Fuel filler grommet
- Fuel filler housing
- Fuel breather line
- Fuel filter
- Fuel tank sending unit
- Vanagon.org fuel line replacement
- Fuel evap canister
- GoWesty rock rails
- Oil change
- Side marker lenses
- Side marker gaskets
- Door handle seals
- Sliding door seals
- Rear wiper motor
- Rear wiper relay
- Wiper blades
- Uniwerks aluminum door levers
- Syncrotimes aluminum door handles
- OEM VW pedal pads
- GoWesty wiper hardware
- Stainless exhaust
Things the previous owners did, just a few, they took care of this van.
- Fuel pump
- Window cranks
- Bilstein shocks
- GoWesty decoupler
- GoWesty rebuilt syncro trans with locker
- Radiator fan
- Valve cover gasket
- New clutch
- Rack and pinion
- New clutch master cylinder
- VanCafe big bumper
- GoWesty wheels
- Drive shaft
- Replace tent
- Subaru swap
Great things about this van:
- It is reliable as far as a 36 year old van goes. It has never failed me.
- It is plenty peppy with the Subaru 2.5 swap
- AWD and locker work, I drive 99% of the time in RWD
- New interior means no smells
- Includes rear door rack and rear Kuat bike rack
- Handles really well
- Everyone smiles at you
- Heat works great
- You can park it in your garage where it won’t leak anything or smell like gas
The bad:
- There is a dent in the front passenger door
- The paint is 36 years old, there are scratches and fading clear coat
- A few small dings
- The headliner could be replaced to match everything else
- Split in the headrests, I have used seat covers 100% of the time I owned it
- If it is below freezing you will want to let it warm up for 20 seconds before heading off
- It is a tintop that someone coverted to a pop top.
- I have not used it to camp, I’ve never even popped the top. The tent was replaced in 2010 so maybe it could be replaced if you want it to look perfect.
- I got the fuel tank sending unit (fuel gauge) replaced, and adjusted twice but it only shows half full when it is full. This can be adjusted, I just didn’t want to pay any more to have my mechanic adjust it.
It comes with service records going back to the original purchase. It has been in Idaho since 2009 and Montana since before that. It was purchased new in North Carolina. You will also get a box of parts including a GoWesty cluster foil kit, a new in box SewFine rear mattress cover, air filter, fuel filter, lots more.
Thanks for looking!
Is this van still for sale? I previously had a ’70 and a ’90 so I am familiar with the model. I lived in Utah from 1955 until 1998 — don’t know why I told you that, but am very interested in the van. What happened to the armrests?
Hey Thomas – It is still available.
Once a Utahan always a Utahan, that is why you told me 🙂
The armrests are fine and just behind the seat covers. I wanted to keep dog hair off of them.
Cheers,
-Joe
Hello Joe –Now I’m wondering about the engine displacement: for some reason, the government of California won’t allow a VW-replacement-Subaru of larger than the 2.2 ! (I was getting all set to drive up to Moab, take a short drive in your van, and then who knows what might happen!) — do you know anything about these rules? This is getting, uh, ridiculous, like the government of California banning C2H5OH alcohol because of backpackers starting fires with it, and allowing methyl alcohol to sell in the state under the name Heet. (Which I use.)—- cheers, Tom