New Member - byoung

[byoung]

Hello, I'm introducing myself as a new member.
My name is Bruce Young, from Alameda, California, and I bought a 1969 Subaru 360 van off eBay for $1200.
My ebay name is bellsonracing, so if I've outbid you for something you desperately need, I'm sorry. Drop me a line and maybe I am just getting it for a spare.

Looking at the posts here, I probably spent too much for the van but at least it is a California desert vehicle with little rust.

My story is thus:
I've always had a thing for micro cars, even though I am 6'1". I've always wanted an Austin Mini, or a Messerschmitt. But I've never had the money. As my
first car was an MGB, I knew better than to get another British car as a daily driver, so no Mini yet. My second through present car has always been
Japanese. Always reliable and inexpensive. I had two Honda N600's until they got smashed by other drivers in the rain. They were also the most oil leaky Hondas ever. I've also got into motorcycles, my present being a BMW R1100s and Aermacchi SS350 racer.
My racing days are on hold with two kids, so I was really looking for a small van to commute with that got the maximum mileage possible. I work about 15
miles from my house. I saw a Subaru 360 van a few years ago parked in an alley and never got any information about it. When I saw them on eBay, I started watching and when the $1200 one came up, it seemed like a pretty good deal. Especially since I could drive down to get it.
I really loved the doors and shape of the van. Also, I am keeping the electric powerplant conversion option open.
I have some experience with restoration and fabrication from the Aermacchi. I even had a few Vespas to give me the two-stroke experience.

It wasn't until I got the Subaru home that I realized parts were going to be a problem. It being obsolete didn't scare me; put in "Aermacchi" in eBay and see how many hits you get. Also, there are parts dealers for Aermacchis, even though they haven't been made since the early seventies. Anyway, When I went down to the Subaru dealer and asked for about 20 parts they calmly checked every single one and replied "obsolete - can't be ordered." That was not a good feeling. I was not prepared to fabricate absolutely everything. At the same time I had mailed my check to Ed, and when he sent me a small list from his stash as well as listings from the newsletter, I felt a lot better. I am pleasantly surprised to see how reasonable the prices for parts here are, and the non-gouging philosophy from the members. I guess I'm used to paying for parts for the BMW motorcycle. I think I once paid $130 for a broken taillight.

The van is missing several key components, like the front-motor mount, brakes and distributor cap. The pedals are missing and I'm going to have to get a key made. I am on a mission to get it running ASAP, and fix little things like upholstery and paint later on. Thanks already to Frank DuVal for supplying parking light lens. I have none, and I need to get it inspected by the DMV to get ownership.

Thanks in advance for any parts or advice.

Bruce

[project 360]

Welcome aboard. You'll find lots of friendly help here and, like you said, reasonably priced parts. Good luck with your van project!

[subaru360nut]

Bruce - I am out of front motor mounts but check the Roster for members with *PARTS* on their lines.

Referring to Pages 26 thru 28 in Vol 2 of the Book of Reprints, see which distributor you have. New caps are available if it's a Nippon-Denso (see P. 368) and if it's a Hitachi you may be able to find a used cap, since Hitach caps have no carbon post and therefore nothing to wear out.

E-mail me the brake parts that you need and I'll try to help. See articles indexed BRAKE SYSTEM.

Nothing you have listed should be hard to find, and with the help of other members you should be on the road soon!

Ed

[2stroketurbo]

Hi Bruce,
Congratulations with your new van and welcome to the club. It sounds like you have expirience with hard to find parts on your other vehicles. The Subaru is really no different. You may have to make the pedals, but not hard to do. It's a good thing you joined the club, you will need us!
Mark