Its much safer to simply keep an empty 30lb can of R12 and fill it with compressed air.
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Before I bought my compressor, I had a 30-pound tank that I fashioned several brass fittings together to get a valve stem to screw on the spout which made it easy to fill. I knew an older gentleman who had drilled a hole in his tank top and installed a regular tire valve stem. I do not know how he managed to get the stem installed butt first…. Maybe a lot of soapy water and lot of “elbow grease…”
Having actually owned a Bug and a Van back in the day
Pros
1 Cheap
2.Easy and cheap to repair
3 Counter culture cool
Cons
- Cheaply made
- Required constant repair
- A minimalistic death trap
Expanding on the last, grossly underpowered, lacking the basic amenities and survivability even by the old standards… “Features” included a supporting “Pan” that would tend to rust, on the Bug a gas tank located above your knees, on the Van a crumple zone that included your knees, a heating system that drew it’s heat and fumes from the exhaust and a rear engine/swing axle design that was more prone to flip than the ill fated Corvair.
Didn’t want one then and certainly wouldn’t have it as a “Classic” now.
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My first car was a '69 Beetle! The W Washer was powered by the spare pressure, down to a certain amount so the tire could still be used.
You were lucky if that system worked for more than a few months. My brother’s '64 beetle had that system, and the WW tank’s seam separated while the car was still under warranty. So, the replacement was gratis, but once the warranty ended, he decided to not replace the tank on his own dime because it was obviously always going to be a weak point in design that would require ongoing repairs.
Perhaps by 1969 they had improved the design of that WW system, but in 1964 it was pure crap.
They must have improved it because I bought the car in '75 (6 years old) and it worked for me.
I guess that, after they had to replace a lot of WW tanks under warranty, they decided to do a redesign of that part.
Oh I think you would like this “Cartoon Custom Creation” of a VW Van…
I can see practical advantages of that method, but why would it be safer? Diy’ers wouldn’t usually have an empty 30lb R12 can.
This is a great example of “Car Porn”; looks great but the reality is something else.
Realistically, would anyone want to drive a 40 HP car with no safety equipment on today’s roads?
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Further proof that those who long for the past with their cars are relying on faulty thought processes…
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The automobile hobby isn’t for everyone, criticized for not driving the old cars because “cars are meant to be driven”. Drive your old car and you have a faulty thought process.
My dad bought an air-cooled VW Bus in the 1970s
While on a trip with the family and driving up a hill, the engine literally EXPLODED
In place of the engine were now chunks of molten metal
He said it was the most underpowered piece of garbage he ever owned
Needless to say, there were no more air-cooled VW vehicles in the future for him after that
He moved on to Toyota and couldn’t have been happier
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At least he didn’t get to experience the use of his legs as part of the crash absorbing system.
Would the first generation of Ford Econolines or a Dodge A100 been any different?
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Probably not, but at least those could avoid being rolling traffic hazards. Years ago when commuting to work the slow car at the front of the line was often a VW, many times a VW van.
I haven’t seen a Toyota van in years, I wonder how many exploded while climbing hills (2.0 L engine in a 7-passenger van).
It’s funny you should post a picture of THAT particular Toyota van . . .
My dad DID buy one of those in the early 1980s . . . it was called Model F in Europe
While it wasn’t exactly powerful, it performed a LOT better than that pathetic air-cooled VW Bus, and it was quite reliable
He actually had fond memories of that Toyota van
And it made it up hills with the family, versus EXPLODING 
That seems like a pretty sensible design. While the foot pedal would have to be replaced from time to time b/c of parts wearing out, that would be considerably easier, less expensive, and less likely to leak compared to replacing an electric water pump. My Corolla’s electric windshield washer pump is near the top of its “aggravating repairs needed” list.
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Some of the members have remarked how expensive the old, vintage VW Vans have gotten. Well here why, they are “all” being bought up by Gabriel Iglesias, also known as “Fluffy…” Love this guy, watch his Netflix special on YouTube (Free…)
