Date:         Wed, 15 Mar 2000 15:33:07 -0500
Reply-To:     Todd Kaderabek <todd@LARKBOOKS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Todd Kaderabek <todd@LARKBOOKS.COM>
Subject:      almost safe at home
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Picked up the bus last night: 1990 full camper Westfalia with 104,000 on it,
auto tranny, everything works but the pump in the water tank, for $7,000.
Needs a bumper, still.  But I got an awning and some sort of a screened room
type tent.

Pulled into town, taking it to my shop to have all the fluids
changed/flushed (the bus had been sitting for two years) and the oil light
blinks on.  Half a mile later I'm in their lot when the buzzer sounds, and I
shut her down.  Oil spewing out the back, looks like I'd been harpooned.
But, I'm in a good place for this to happen, and as it was dark I didn't
investigate too much, went home to a major case of buyer's remorse and a
rather sleepless night.  I just spent $7,000 on a short lived oil geyser.

Anyway, just heard back from the shop -- oil filler tube is gone.  Glad I
didn't waste my time trying to add oil.  They've now gone painstakingly
through the bus, and short of flushing the coolant and bleeding the brakes ,
plus the oil tube, she looks to be in great shape.  (I took the bus to a
mechanic in TN prior to buying it, who also pronounced her healthy, but I
wanted the word from my shop as well.)

So, early next week I'll bring her home and drive with confidence.

Thanks to everyone on the list.  I can't begin to tell you what a tremendous
resource of information you have been, and I'll do my best to contribute as
well.

TJK
--
Todd J. Kaderabek, Director of Production
Lark Books, Fiberarts Magazine, Folkwear Patterns
50 College Street
Asheville, NC   28801
Phone: (828) 253-0467, X 331
Fax: (828) 253-7952
todd@larkbooks.com