Date:         Wed, 31 Jan 2001 21:36:32 EST
Reply-To:     NotaJeep@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steven Denis <NotaJeep@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: my vanagon sob story
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

And now I see where these cars get a "bad name"
Head on a "typical" van are reusable..( and I've got quite a few 100K+ mile
gasket jobs out there) I've generally given up on replacing guides and the
like as they are just not worn..So..valve job? the "trade" cost for labor is
$80-150
for the pair..that's you take semi-clean heads to the machine shop..
the gasket set? 100 bucks or so..Coolant? oil? Hey! new water pump?
sure..maybe a length of fuel line to replace the old stuff while you wait for
your heads..you KNOW that you're gunna bust at least ONE exhaust pipe..so
figure on that...I've done the job in and out of the van..it's about the same
amount of time..IN the bus it's a goat-twist..but pulling the motor?..I
mostly find a reason to pull 'em...figure a day's labor to do the job..yes
"with air" and syncro's too.that stuff adds an hour, maybe..Soo...machine
shop cost, pump, gaskets, hoses and clamps and exhaust stuff? still under
$500...what do shops get, anyway? $50? $100?/hr? so 8 @100/ Where is the
extra grand? the new heads? no..they are not that much and take off the
machine shop cost..
I'm in the wrong line of work, ya know?
steve

"Hey! nice Jeep, Mister! "
"Look kid, it's NOTAJEEP! "