Date:         Sun, 28 May 2000 19:03:49 -0700
Reply-To:     t <vbob@PRIMENET.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         t <vbob@PRIMENET.COM>
Subject:      The 83 lives...(long narration)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

At long last, I finished reinstalling the motor in my 83 AC. It had been
leaking oil like a sieve. I pulled the engine, prepared to do the front
and back seals. Found out it was the oil cooler not only leaking like a
cheap faucett, but also clogged with crappola (spanish.. oh never mind).
So, new oil cooler, did the seals anyway (I was there, right?), and then
it sat. Been sick with this damned flu, coughing bit for a month now.
Just not the energy to go put it back in.
Thursday evening, I said, yep, it goes back in tonight. It did. No real
issues, replaced the 4 M8 bolts and self locking nuts that hold it all
up. Tightened the Front tranny mount (I learned from experience) and let
it sit a couple more days. Finally, today I decided I want to use my
shop tomorrow for woodworking (Impossible with the van in there), so I
connected almost everything and it fired right up. Sort of click clacky
for a bit (as I expected), and didn't seem to have a lot of power. Drove
it arounfd the block and there was bunches of light gray smoke coming
from the tailpipe. Now this thing didn't burn oil before, it was leaking
it too fast... hmmm. Let it heat up thinking it was oil passthough from
the valves... nope. Ok, Pull it back into the garage... whoops, dies.
won't restart. Open the hatchway again, everything looks ok... wait,
what's this? A connector many pins... under the passenger side intake
tubes.... Hmmmm where does this go?  Over to look at the 81... Ah...
Mass air box! The amazing thing is it ran. And not too bad with it off.
Plugged in, around the block a couple more times to get it up to
temp...  Now it is in the driveway doing a leak test. Two hours and not
one drop...
It does idle fast. Any clues?

Soon... for sale 83 AC 7 passenger. I need to replace the windshield and
give it a good cleaning.


tim o'brien
84 halfbreed weekender hardtop 'Cory'
83 7 passenger, no longer called 'smokey'
81 Westy Hulk... I keep looking at this van and thinking it needs me
(kinda like the christmas tree in "Charlie Brown Christmas, no?)
92 Toyota (I gotta drive something)