Date:         Sun, 22 Apr 2001 16:30:01 EDT
Reply-To:     Chgolynch@aol.com
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Sean Lynch <Chgolynch@aol.com>
Subject:      Re: Why do you like your Vanagon?
Content-Type:  text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

     Several years ago, a friend of mine was driving an '84 Toyota van, and I
was driving a '69 Bug. My friend loved his little 5-spd Toyo wagon, but was
intrigured by my little Diamond Blue baby, with 48K on the clock, and a
lionhearted 1500 what would mortally fly when put to task. Eventually, his
van got crunched by a drunk, and he decided he had to get a Bug. He bought a
bare, decrepit husk of a '73 for $50, and we redid that car one summer in '95
Corvette Quasar Blue metallic, with '66 front fenders, '67 popouts, '69 vent
windows (chrome!), and literally raided parts from the best of all years. Had
a late 3.88:1 tranny, and we built one mutha of an 1835. That car ruled, but
he decided he missed the space his van had. So, we went Bus hunting. We found
a stash of breadloafs up in Tennessee, the prizes being a '77 sunroof Samba,
and a '69 Panel.  The Samba had a locked motor, but it only had 77K on it,
and it looked beautiful. So, we gave the panel to a fellow Dubber, and a
serious bushead, and we redid that Samba. Eventually, he decided to sell it
for a Golf  (as I had a Rabbit at this time). He bought the Golf, and loaned
me his Samba to drive while I rebuilt the motor in my Rabbit. For two weeks I
drove that van, put on a fair bit of highway miles, and cruised the backroads
of north Alabama in it, sunroof open, of course. Eventually, it sold.
Currently, that bus is a frequent traveller between Birmingham and San
Francisco. But, it was too late. Now I wanted a bus.
      Almost a year later, an old brown Vanagon appeared out front of my
buddy's VW shop. Interested, I asked about it. It was an '82 GL Diesel, which
had the #3 rod poking through the case. Still, the body was relatively sound,
interior was mainly good, and I liked the cabin. Pumped, I scraped up the
required cash, and went back to claim it. Much to my horror, it was sold, and
gone!  Fortunately, the new owner had a rebuilt motor plunked in it, and had
it restored to operational status. Even better, the guy couldn't stand the
revs the engine turned at on the highway, and couldn't tolerate the
acceleration/speed. So, months later, I bought it for little more than it
would've cost me with the engine blown. The van had 158K on the chassis, and
now has 207K on her. Pieces have broken, a few holes opened up in the
driver's seat, she smokes on hot days or if I go too long without running a
little Marvel through her tank. She's slain a '01 Grand Marquis, and had her
rear bumper mushed by an errant Kia. I've driven her 7+ hours, minus fuel
stops, several times at wide open throttle with no faults. I ran the heck out
of her last summer working for the Census, putting 100-200 miles a day on
her. And she never let me down. Now, one of her front wheel bearings died.
So, I ordered all new brakes, calipers, bearings and cabling for her. Some
ill-repaired rust has peeked through the passenger rear wheel arch and lower
panel. I've ordered the sheetmetal, and arranged with a friend who paints for
the local Volvo/BMW dealer to redo her Assuan Brown/Tan paint scheme.  Is it
all worth it? Heck yeah. I'm content driving my dieselbox. No poptop or
camping gear, but that's okay. She's taught me patience in my driving habits,
and I've grown to appreciate trading light signals with semis. The diesel
emits an assuring thrum through the cabin at speed, and you can only hear the
valves clatter when you're running near concrete highway dividers. As far as
Vangons go, she's been the anti-Vanagon through her steady reliability, and
mostly nominal operation. I wouldn't say I've neglected her, but it was nice
that she's held up so well for so long without coddling, and without
stranding me somewhere.
     After forming a loving bond with my diesel, I wanted a Vanagon that
could cruise long distances at normal highway speeds, and occasionally pass
things other than stalled cars and mileage markers. So, I bought my second
one, a white '86 GL. Again, it was a 7-seater passenger van, but it was a
different animal thant the diesel. I liked the ability to bark the rear tires
in second, the nifty overhead a/c, and the new Bilsteins, Agilis tires, and
power steering. Plus, it was QUIET. I paid $1400 for it. However, not all was
well. I had the van towed four times in one week as various parts of the
cooling system exploded, the water pump fragged, and it would overheat in the
blink of an eye. Plus, it had the 'extroverted oil light' syndrome. Several
burpings, and a highway run with a Stant tester hooked up later, I found I
had an exhaust leak into the cooling system. So, I found a guy wise in
wasserboxers, and dropped it off for a rebuild. Thirteen months later, I have
a dismantled motor. Disheartened? Heck no. I'm building a 2.4L bottom end,
replacing both cracked heads, and have been researching some fixes of the
common 2.1L problems. Raceware studs and rod bolts are in order, and FAT
performance is going to balance, counterweight, and stroke the crank. I'm
looking forward to haveing even more zoom from my '86, which should be ready
to roll by the end of June.
     Loving a wasserboxer? Am is sick? Yes, smitten with the Vanagon bug.
Which is why I bought number three, an '83 aircooler, seven-passenger.
Motor's out, reportedly locked, but it's in good, complete condition. No
dropped valves. I have 914 2.0L pistons new in the box, and all new bearings
and goodies. Body is cherry, but I'd like to swap the dash, since it has
undesired speaker holes in it. I have a donor dash. best part was the price,
a mere $200. This one will be getting whipped back into shape as soon as I
finish restoring an old 36hp for a friend.
     In conclusion, I don't just LIKE my Vanagons, I LOVE my Vanagons.
Regardless of what shape they're in. And just as long as they're all manuals.
;)

                                             -Sean L.