@vanagon_archive

Anti-Locking Braking System. a computerized method of helping to prevent wheel skid/lock-up during braking. it does not prevent spins, nor does it allow you to stop in a shorter distance. it does allow you to steer the car while braking as hard as possible. available as an option on some Vanagons and EuroVans in Europe during the late 1980's-1990's.

Air Flow Meter. the silver box next to the air cleaner box on the fuel injection model buses . it measured the volume of air entering the intake system, and allowed the computer to adjust the amount of gasoline required.

Special model of the bus , based on the Standard bus , first available in 1951. The most notable feature was the smaller engine lid than the previous Barndoors , and a rear hatch hinged at the bottom, which allowed stretchers to be loaded into the interior of the bus . The gas tank and spare tire were moved in order to accomodate the rear hatch.

( Automotive Services Inc. ) A U.S.-based camper conversion company out of Washington state. Manufactured a Vanagon camper conversion called the Riviera with a straight-up pop-top.

Buses made before mid-1955, whose major characteristics are the oversized engine lid and the lack of a rear cargo hatch. These also did not have the ventilation eyebrow above the windshield/windscreen.

Another name for the buses made from 1968-1979. So called for the large single-piece windshield.

Vanagon model Transporters . Any VW bus or Transporter .

Usually refers to the buses made from 1968-1979, due to the resemblance of the body shape to that of a loaf of bread

The German nickname for the original VW buses . loosely translated, it means "work horse" or "oxen" (some sort of strong animal used for pulling heavy loads).

Any Volkswagen Transporter of any model and any year. Specifically those VW Transporters from 1968 to 1979, distinquished by a large one-piece windshield and rounded body contours. all had double-jointed independent rear suspension. also called T2 Transporter .

Cold Cranking Amps. a bogus number printed on the sides of automobile batteries to confuse the buyers. generally, the bigger this number is, the easier the battery will crank your car when everything is frozen. assuming everything is in perfect operating condition, of course.

A model of bus that contained interior features such as a bed, stove, cabinets, and in some versions, a refrigerator. some versions had a pop-up roof to allow extra room, ventilation, and sleeping room 'upstairs'. Some of the many companies making campers are Westfalia , Winnebago , Devon , Country Homes, Dormobile , and TRAKKA .

Another name for camper versions of the VW Transporter . For whatever reasons, this term seems to have been dropped for the Vanagons , except in Canada.

Catalytic Converter. a large, usually round cannister in the exhaust system. it helps convert emission gases into more harmless, less noxious vapors.

Another name for Double-cab pickup trucks.

( Constant Velocity Joint ) One of the small circular devices at an end of an axle on a bus . Buses , Vanagons , and EuroVans have four of these, while the Syncro Vanagons have a total of eight. These are necessary to allow the axle to move up and down while still turning to propel the car. the joints need to be keep greased to function properly. when they are worn, they make a knocking-noise that strikes fear into the hearts of bus owners everywhere. Microbuses do not have CV joints, but use a 'swing-axle' and reduction gear box instead.

Department of Transportation. an agency of the U.S. Federal Government that has authority over some aspects of auto- mobile construction, especially in the safety-related areas.

A model of early buses that had the highest level of interior features and trim levels. Usually with the small sight-seeing windows in the roof and either 21 or 23 side windows. Also a HUGE fabric sunroof was available as an option.

An English company that made camping conversion VW buses .

A form of fuel injection found on VW Vanagons / Transporters from 1986 and later. A later variation of Digijet . Also reported to be a slightly less complicated version of the Bosch Motronic fuel injection used on BMW's and Porsches.