78 Bay - newbie member, newbie owner, beginner
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2017 8:30 pm
"Tootsie" - my first bus. I have never owned a classic car and basically have "never" done anything to any vehicle up until now. This is gonna be painful but I am so excited to learn and I am completely in love with my 1978 Bay. Tonight was a first for me, I know this is going to sound ridiculous but I changed my first fuse. haha I'm all in. So...the reason for changing my first fuse is because my brake lights are not working. I'll get to that in a second.
I posted today on facebook with a quick question and everyone was so nice and so helpful. It was the old adage - historical versus regular plates. I'm living dangerously with the historical plates and I like it! We are titled and registered and off to the races. Because everyone so nice on FB today, I thought lets just put it all out here and see if I can learn a thing or two.
I came home after the DMV and took off the previous owners plates, which surprisingly was not that easy. I was feeling quite adventurous and took the covers off the tail lights. I can tell I need a new bulb for one of the brake lights. I was going to call a general auto parts store and see if that is something I can just pop over and pick up? or are these vintage as well? (I know all of these questions are going to be so dumb - sorry in advance!). The left brake light will come on when the lights are on but will not come on when you hit the brakes. I took that bulb and tried in the right side and it doesn't work period. I went to my trusty manual and changed out all the brake related fuses, no dice. By the way, I am now out of 8amp fuses, are these regular fuses I can pick up anywhere? That was a lot for my first day, so I thought I would read up and start a thread on my new project to see if I can get some guidance. I'm a quick study, I just need a group of bus aficionado friends who have A LOT of patience.
I bought the book How to keep your Volkswagen alive (idiots guide) and I'm just going to read it cover to cover as many times as necessary or at least until my registration is due again in 2050!
I live in the Cleveland area and I am also looking for a good mechanic, someone I can trust and who also may teach me a few a things. The previous owners gave me a tip on winter storage out near where they live (hour and 1/2 from me) but am curious if anyone has a lead on a good storage place in Cleveland relatively inexpensive? We only have a one car garage.
Buying this bus is the best thing I've done. She is in great shape. There are some rust areas around the windows that I need to address, but I am hoping just to meet with a mechanic and get an overall assessment and possible tune up with advice on what I can/can't do. And of course any/all help from you all is greatly welcomed and appreciated! I'm hoping to get involved in this group and start living that VW Bus life. I'm planning to go to the meet up this month so please come by and say hi. It will be a pleasure meeting all of you. Thanks in advance.
I posted today on facebook with a quick question and everyone was so nice and so helpful. It was the old adage - historical versus regular plates. I'm living dangerously with the historical plates and I like it! We are titled and registered and off to the races. Because everyone so nice on FB today, I thought lets just put it all out here and see if I can learn a thing or two.
I came home after the DMV and took off the previous owners plates, which surprisingly was not that easy. I was feeling quite adventurous and took the covers off the tail lights. I can tell I need a new bulb for one of the brake lights. I was going to call a general auto parts store and see if that is something I can just pop over and pick up? or are these vintage as well? (I know all of these questions are going to be so dumb - sorry in advance!). The left brake light will come on when the lights are on but will not come on when you hit the brakes. I took that bulb and tried in the right side and it doesn't work period. I went to my trusty manual and changed out all the brake related fuses, no dice. By the way, I am now out of 8amp fuses, are these regular fuses I can pick up anywhere? That was a lot for my first day, so I thought I would read up and start a thread on my new project to see if I can get some guidance. I'm a quick study, I just need a group of bus aficionado friends who have A LOT of patience.
I bought the book How to keep your Volkswagen alive (idiots guide) and I'm just going to read it cover to cover as many times as necessary or at least until my registration is due again in 2050!
I live in the Cleveland area and I am also looking for a good mechanic, someone I can trust and who also may teach me a few a things. The previous owners gave me a tip on winter storage out near where they live (hour and 1/2 from me) but am curious if anyone has a lead on a good storage place in Cleveland relatively inexpensive? We only have a one car garage.
Buying this bus is the best thing I've done. She is in great shape. There are some rust areas around the windows that I need to address, but I am hoping just to meet with a mechanic and get an overall assessment and possible tune up with advice on what I can/can't do. And of course any/all help from you all is greatly welcomed and appreciated! I'm hoping to get involved in this group and start living that VW Bus life. I'm planning to go to the meet up this month so please come by and say hi. It will be a pleasure meeting all of you. Thanks in advance.