1984 VW Volkswagen Westfalia Vanagon Full Camper with Subaru Legacy Conversion Engine For Sale


Located in Springfield, Oregon, USA



1984 VW Wesfalia Camper

1984 Volkswagen Westfalia full camper van in original factory color Alpine White paint.


TREMENDOUS FEATURE

Instead of the whimpy and prone-to-failure 1984 VW 2.1L, 4 cylinder, 95 HP engine, this camper has been given a 1990 Subaru Legacy 2.2L, 4 cylinder, 135 HP engine conversion. It is now possible to go uphill, fully loaded, at 70-75 MPH along with the rest of the traffic. (It goes even faster... see the speedometer photo at the bottom of this page http://www.cycoactive.com/Urabus/ )

Factory options include:
4 speed manual transmission
Double burner propane gas stove
3 way refrigerator and freezer (AC electric, propane, battery)
Sink with running water
Rear compartment heater
Swing out picnic tables (rear table installed, front table not installed but included)
Front passenger and drivers swival captains chairs
Folding rear convertible bench seat/bed with storage locker underneath
Rear deck mattress (to complete the folding rear seat bed)
The 'pop-top' roof (2 double beds sleeps 4 - 2 up top and 2 down below)
New scotchguarded canvas side panels
Moon roof - does not open
Locking gas cap

The Subaru engine purrs like a kitten and the transmission shifts smoothly through the gears. There are no oil leaks and the added temperature gauges always remains cool.



OTHER BENEFITS

This camper comes with a full awning system that costs hundreds of extra dollars.

I have installed a modern, removable face-plate JVC AM-FM-CD stereo. The stereo has front door and official VW rear speakers (4 total)

Van comes with a black leather-like car bra which covers the full front of the van. (not pictured)

KNOWN PROBLEMS - not really

I have owned and driven the van since 2002 without mechanical failure or trouble of any kind.

Once, I had a dead battery while camping and running the refrigerator, interior house lights, and stereo all night. I have installed a second "house" battery with an electrical isolation switch and have never had a problem since. On another occassion, when I left my headlights on after parking the van, I was able to give myself a jump start, using the "house" battery and jumping the isolation switch terminals. This is a nice feature, actually.

While driving in stop and go conditions in very hot climates, the airflow through the radiator is not enough to keep the engine cool. I have installed a manual radiator fan switch on the dash which fixes the problem. I have not taken the initiative to find and install the correct temperature gauge/switch in the radiator. I live in Oregon, so this is never a problem, year round. But the few times I have been in Southern California, in the 100 degree Summer, in traffic, I have used the manual fan switch.

The original factory paint is in fine condition with only minor imperfections, dings, or rock chips expected in a 20 year old vehicle.

The interior panels have been recovered and the back seat and rear compartment cushion has been completely reupholstered. Original brown front seats were replaced with blue seats from another VW Vanagon that had arm rests (nice for long drives). These front seats have inexpensive brown seat covers on them.

FINAL NOTE

This is a nice example of this conveniently sized and legendary mobile full camper which is no longer in production and therefore becoming increasingly desirable and harder to find. All of this without the typical VW rust!


This Subaru conversion is not some weird, custom, hack job. To ease any fears you might have about a VW powered by a Subaru, check out these VW Westfalia Vanagon Conversion Websites

http://www.bostig.com/products/zetec/
http://www.subaruvanagon.com/
http://www.vanaru.com/
http://www.smallcar.com/index.php?act=viewDoc&docId=1
http://www.classifiedadzs.com/showproduct.php?product=416&cat=4
http://www.cycoactive.com/Urabus/
http://www.kennedyeng.com/index.htm
http://www.weidefamily.net/vanagon/
http://www.poptopheaven.com/index.asp




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1984 VW Wesfalia Camper 		IMG_3118.JPG
1984 VW Wesfalia Camper 		IMG_3119.JPG
Black leather bra (included, but not pictured) covers entire front of van)
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1984 VW Wesfalia Camper 		IMG_3121.JPG
"Bull Westy" with Subaru Legacy 135HP engine (rather than 95HP VW) 		IMG_3122.JPG
Some touch-up paint/cosmetic work needed
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Aluminum tape covers old antenna hole. Black leather bra (not pictured) covers entire front of van) 		IMG_3125.JPG
Largest "dent" on the van. Slight horizontal crease below camper hookups
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Rust stains on fiberglass luggage holder 		IMG_3127.JPG
Missing rest of Westfalia letters 		IMG_3128.JPG
All working appliances
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Sink faucet pump works, as well as 2 burner propane stove 		IMG_3130.JPG
Rear swing-out table (front table included but not installed) 		IMG_3131.JPG
Newly reapolstered back seat and all interior wall panels.
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This van has a powerful, working rear heater 		IMG_3133.JPG
Storage. Have never needed a jumpstart with a dual battery system. 1 house and 1 engine battery. 		IMG_3134.JPG
Front seats have armrests and are blue in color, so I put on brown seat covers to match rest of interior
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View of moonroof from back seat. Mooroof is permanently attached with silicon caulk and cannot be opened. Moonroof plastic is opaque and not clear. 		IMG_3136.JPG
Side door panel (and all panels) have been recovered in matching cloth and inside wall and door panels have been brushed with anti-rust, waterproofing, soundproofing undercoating. All open cavities have also been filled with fiberglass insulation. 		IMG_3139.JPG
132K on Westy chassis, but less than 100K on Subaru Legacy engine. Comes with both Westy and Subaru repair manuals.
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Cruise control added 		IMG_3141.JPG
JVC MP3 CD player with Aux input, front door speakers and official VW rear external speakers. VDO instrument cluster show water and oil temp and oil pressure calibrated for Subaru engine. 		IMG_3142.JPG
Passenger seat swivels 180 degrees so it can face the rear compartment
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Front of canvas top closed 		IMG_3144.JPG
Front canvas top opened to reveal screened window (which ALSO zips open, allowing access to exterior luggage rack 		IMG_3145.JPG
Strange view of stationary, opaque moonroom. 5 former hinge holes and 2 corner cracks have been sealed shut with hot glue gun.
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View of top sleeping area, sleeping platform not extended. 		IMG_3147.JPG
View of top sleeping area with fully extended, padded platform. 		IMG_3148.JPG
View of brown seat covers over blue seats with arm rests. 4-speed stick shift with VW transmission, attached to Subaru engine.
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New camo canvas sides replaced the original side pieces which had been torn. 		IMG_3150.JPG
Looks nice. 		IMG_3151.JPG
Pop top is up, and rear door is open. Besides having ALL matching curtains which circle the entire interior, back door has a screened piece which snaps in place so door can remain open and allow air flow through back door and front screen of the pop top.
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Side storage compartment and thin top storage compartments (NOT included) have been removed to allow for a larger sleeping area and greater visibility with rear view mirror. If you must have these items, I have seen some available on eBay, Craigslist, or GoWesty.com. 		IMG_3153.JPG
1990 Subaru Legacy engine. 135HP is so much stronger than the 95HP original VW engine. Almost every VW Van/Westfalia for sale has recently had an engine overhaul or new engine installed. By comparison, the trusty Subaru will continue to perform reliably year after year. 		IMG_3154.JPG
This Subaru modification is documented and being replicated at www.subaruvanagon.com
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The Subaru engine is much less loud than the VW engine. You can actually carry on a conversion between people in the front and back seats. 		IMG_3156.JPG
Original VW door closes nicely over the Subaru engine. I've driven this camper for 4 trouble-free years. It will go up mountain roads, fully loaded, at the going freeway speeds. I cruise right along with other traffic at 70-75 MPH on the freeway. No more 45MPH uphill in the right lane with traffic zooming by on the left. 		IMG_3157.JPG
Nice open shot from back to front.
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Have you ever seen a rear lift door strut, that didn't cost an arm and leg, work for very long. These struts assist well, but a bit of guerrila engineering (metal sleeve) solves the problem nicely. 		IMG_3159.JPG
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Yes, this camper comes complete with the full awning. No rips or tears, waterproof, complete aluminum frame. When retracted, the entire unit fits in a narrow aluminum cylindrical case clamped to the van's rain gutter.
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Decorative frill end (a little curled up from storage) 		IMG_3162.JPG
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Awning is as wide as the van.
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Here's photo with the black bra installed.