Date:         Mon, 20 Mar 2000 12:06:04 -0800
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
Organization: The Cobalt Group
Subject:      Re: looking for advice
Comments: To: Josh Monson <jmonson@USWEBCKS.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

> Josh Monson wrote:
>
> recently purchased an 85'GL, absolutely love it. The body is in
> excellent shape,
> interior needs a little work but not much, seats are in good shape,
> dash is great, etc. . .
> Then engine has 200,500 mi on it. A week and half after purchasing
> it($2000),
> it started leaking lots of coolant, took it in, heads need to be done.
>
> Mechanic quoted $1050 for the job.
>
> Now i am in a bit of a financial bend here and am looking at what will
>
> be the most cost effective choice for the van staying with me in the
> next 5-6 years. With as many miles as it has, 200k mi, is it better to
>
> get the heads done for $1050 now and risk other parts of the engine
> going
> a little while down the line

No, you will be doing a rebuild soon and will have wasted the money
spend on labor here.  At 200,000 miles your bearings and lifters are on
limited time.  $1050 sounds like he is using rebuilt heads, which I
personally am not a fan of, with new heads this would be closer to
$1400.
>
> OR
>
> should I get the engine rebuilt now for roughly $2500 and know that it
>
> is solid for the next 7-8 years???

Best idea.
>
> OR
>
> purchase a used engine with low miles???

Cheapest solution, but don't expect to find anything with much less than
100,000 miles on it, which is okay, particularly if the heads have been
done recently.
>
> I have been struggling with this for 2 weeks and could use a little
> "I've been there" advice.
>
> thanks everyone-this list has already been an excellent resource for
> me,
> jm

--
Stuart MacMillan
Manager, Case Program
800-909-8244 ext. 8208
Fax: 206-269-6360

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