Date:         Mon, 17 Apr 2000 15:06:13 EDT
Reply-To:     VeeDubVan@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         - Lauren Pelzer <VeeDubVan@AOL.COM>
Subject:      '85 Vanagon - Back on the road
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

I want to thank everyone for your suggestions throughout my recent ordeal
with my Vanagon.  It all started in the end of February, when my rear heater
core went, turning my van into an "antifreeze sauna".   Researching the
mechanic's tale of what was involved in replacing the core (for which he
quoted $625) is what led me to this list and I am *SO* thankful for that!!
Fifty miles later, the engine died, and once again I turned to you all for
advice.  Don't let anyone tell you that free advice is worth every penny!
Sometimes, it's priceless!

I'm back on the road again now, and I wanted to let you all know how it
turned out:

So many of you who contacted me had such high praise for Ken Wilford and
VanAgain, I called him and decided to have the van towed (2 hours) there.

Ken made some calls and got back to me with prices for rebuilds from various
sources, all of which were just slightly more than I had hoped to spend, but
I didn't have much choice.  That same day, as I was fretting over how much
this job as well as a rental car was going to cost, I got yet another call
from Ken, with news that sounded too good to be true.  He had learned of an
'84 Vanagon for sale in Cherry Hill, NJ.  He offered to drive up there to
check out the engine in the '84, and if it was in good condition, maybe I'd
be interested in going with a used engine rather than a rebuild.  Well, it
turned out that the engine, which had been rebuilt about 5,000 miles prior,
ran sweet, and the van itself was in great shape.  (You may remember Ken's
posting about this '84 - he suggested I put my tranny in it and keep it, but
I am too sentimentally attached to mine.)

I trusted his judgement, and decided to go for the used engine, and I still
can't believe how well everything turned out!   With Ken's know-how and
attention to detail, he managed to overcome all of the obstacles he
encountered during the swap,  AND,  he even replaced my broken hatch struts
and fixed the loose lining on my slider!!.  I got my Vanagon back about 2
weeks ago, but had to go away on business in the interim, so I'm just now
getting around to filling everyone in on the conclusion of my story.

My Vanagon is running GREAT....better than it has in a long time.  And, with
the added convenience of being able to use the sliding door and the back
hatch, it's almost like having a whole new van.  I am so happy to have had
the opportunity to meet Ken, and to talk to the many fine folks on this list
who have contacted me!!

Thanks to all!
-Lauren
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     '85