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Practical Upgrades that Make a VW T2 Easier to Live With
The Volkswagen Type 2 is one of the most iconic vehicles of all time.
More than 2.5 million of them rolled off the VW production line between 1967 and 1979 – and production then continued under license in Argentina and Brazil right
up until 2013.
It checks all the right boxes as a classic vehicle to own today. Perfect for weekend use and with the added practicality of being a camper, it can bring fun to the entire family, not just the nostalgic gearhead behind the wheel. But a few sympathetic and subtle upgrades can make the world of difference if you plan to drive it regularly on today’s roads.
Engine
The early T2 had the same 1.6 aircooled engine as the contemporary Beetle. Through the 70s, this was upgraded to the 1.7 “pancake” engine, which packs a lot more power despite being only marginally larger. Even this will strain to keep up with modern traffic. Not a problem if you’re a weekend cruiser but inconvenient if you plan on
taking extended trips in your bus.
If you’re a stickler for keeping things as original as possible, there are a couple of carburetor conversion kits available, either a
single Weber or twin Solex. If you have the budget and are less bothered about originality, some VW buses have had Subaru engines installed – but be prepared to upgrade the brakes, transmission and suspension, too!
Brakes
The stopping power of a T2, or lack thereof, can come as a shock if you’re accustomed to a modern car. Let’s just say you have to plan ahead. There’s an easy upgrade in the form of a
four-pot caliper kit that will sharpen up your stopping power no end.
It’s compatible with the original discs, so the calipers just bolt straight on with no fuss. Having said that, uprated discs are available too if you want to improve braking even more.
Lights
Like the brakes, the illumination from the original sealed beam units will seem at best underwhelming and at worst downright frightening by modern standards. They weren’t great in the 1970s, and original units will have suffered clouding of the glass and deterioration of the reflective surface to a greater or lesser extent over the past 45 years or so.
The easiest upgrade is to replace them with new quartz/halogen sealed beam units. They are available from Lucas, Hella, Bosch and others. A word of caution, though. Don’t go too crazy with the brightness. New 60/55W units will make a noticeable difference. Resist the temptation to go for 130/90W or 160/100W unless you’re prepared to upgrade the wiring loom too, or you'll be courting disaster.
There’s also a
fabulous LED upgrade that you can make to improve your tail lights – after all, when you’re cruising in a VW bus, the most important thing is to ensure the modern day cars and trucks are aware of your presence. Have fun and stay safe out there!
Alexey Chudin