Just wondering what the ride quality of a 1970 kombi is like. I'm thinking abotu buying one but haven't driven it yet.

I've driven a few late 70s kombis and a few splitties... I love the cushioned ride of the bays. Also love the power of a 2L but unfortunately this one's a 1600 (manual)...

So is a 1970 bay (i'm pretty sure it's all stock) drive like a direct cross between a late bay an a splitty? Or is it more like one or the other?

from what i have read pretty much indistinguishable from a late bay. maybe slightly softer brakes and suspension (tiny amount) but the underpinnings are close enough to identical.

Cheers kid. Sounds good. The bloke says the brakes have recently been redone so hopefully they will be ok... were they discs or drums??

70 should have been front disks i think. just maybe a slightly thinner disk or smaller booster then the late ones (cant remember). just checked my book, disks supposedly came in in august '70 but if you have drums and want to convert it should be simple.

As baybuscamperkid said, chassis, suspension etc varied little in all T2 kombi's, just minor upgrades on bearings, shocks etc as they progressed (though the width of the beam increased early on).
Brakes did undergo a number of big changes from ~'69-'72 as they progressed from drums to discs. There were many variations during those years.
All brake systems worked well, but obviously some of the less common brake systems are a little harder to get parts for.
Even though I have a 2L kombi, don't be upset it's "only" a 1600. They do hold their own and are much cheaper to re-build/replace if need be.

I have a 71 kombi with a 1600.. Also have a 72 microbus.. Both have great ride and handling.. Also, don't be put off by the 1600.. It is a great honest and hard working plant..

Mine is 71 with front power boosted front discs. They are fantastic, it stops as good as my 1990 T3. The 1600 is a good motor that will work it's little heart out all day and night. I keep thinking of doing some mods to make it more powerfull but alwways talk myself out of it after I drive it again.

What those two just said. ditto 71 bay, more depends what condition the brakes and suspension are in.

mine were pretty knackered and still fines, stopping was a bit hairy

I found when we put 16" wheels with low profile tyres and then some new shocks, the handling and braking improved noticeably.

Great, thanks for the info guys, it sounds like it will suit my pruposes. I'm coming up against strong opposition from the mother and the missus because they convinced me to sell my splitty because it was eating all my money! But I've realised I can't live without a kombi!

From what you've all said I'm pretty keen, it sounds pretty good so if I get it I'll post some pics.

70 is a good reliable bus. plus you can upgrade that 1600 to give it some real kick. i know kom123 runs a 1776 in his early bay and its a rocket... and a bloke running a lightened flywheel and twin dellortos on his gets up to 140 km/hr.

so dont worry about power, they can be fixed... just make sure its a good example rust wise and you'll be sweet.

Mmmm...'70 Bay :thumb

lowered? corner well, but have the turning circle of the Bizmark. Stock? noice but can be floaty ... steering boxes matter, make sure you take it on a run to see how it wanders....with sways they are nicer on less maintained roads...

1600 can be frustrating on a long trip, but pick up well. 2.0s, better cruising speeds for less fuss, but not economical in traffic.

Depends what you want, what you will spend and what you will use it for really, a decent shop should be able to set it up to suit the k's you will do, that's the good thing about Bays, very flexible. The bad thing is that there is a mile of difference between one and another. Some just feel tight and ride well, others seem vague and need more of your attention.

Just drive some, you'll see what I mean ... personally I like 2.0ltres and low lights, but that's me...others like later ones....you'll get into it....good luck.

Go for it my boy.
Brakes "should" be front disc, vacuum assisted, but I stripped a 69 once that was drum all round.

As has been said, a 1600 aint real quick, but they're f#cken near bullet proof. Not to mention parts are a hell of a lot cheaper & easier to come by than the 2L gear.

I LOVE YOUR BAY.. DID YOU SIT BEHIND ME ON SOUTHERN CROSS DR A WEEK OR TWO AGO???

You could be right, that's why I said "should".

Fact is I don't think I've stripped two identical early bays yet. There would always be one or two minor differences.
Seemed to be a lot of trial & error with them.

So, you mean they didn't do it just to piss me off ??