Date:         Sat, 11 Aug 2001 00:07:05 -0500
Reply-To:     andrewbell <andrewbell@QWEST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         andrewbell <andrewbell@QWEST.NET>
Subject:      of St.Paul/Minneapolis, MN Vanagon shops and Vanagonites
Comments: cc: Chris Stann <ChrisS@INFORMS.COM>,
          "jjbbhome@ll.net" <jjbbhome@ll.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854";
              x-mac-creator="4D4F5353"

Welcome to Minnesota!

I use a mechanic in Cokato, Minnesota (45 miles West on MN Highway 12). His
name is Brian Balsadis, and he has a shop called Vintage Performance.  Honest
and low rates because he's in the sticks; and a great mechanic. He is a TIICO
authorized installation guy, too.

In my experience over the past four years of his servicing my '84 GL, he has
done major rust removal, and lots of mechanical work. His specialty is
mechanical, though does complete body and interior. He's AC certified, but I've
never had him do anything except remove all my AC junk. He has a flat bed and
trucked my Van out to his shop after my clutch failed (the only time I was let
down by the Van, and it was at my house...). The only thing he said he couldn't
repair/rebuild is a Syncro tranny. "Too many very important, small, expensive,
fragile  pieces involved that I've never seen."

Here's his info:

Brian Balsadis / Vintage Performance
jjbbhome@ll.net
320-286-2369

By the way, all the Vanagons live in Minneapolis, too! Just kidding... a couple
live in Saint Paul!

Call me or him for more info -

AB

Chris Stann wrote:

> Hello list!
>
> I recently arrived in St. Paul from Alabama.  The trip took 3 days and about
> 1200 miles as I did some sightseeing on the way.  So far I saw only ONE
> camper, a white Eurovan.  What gives, eh?
>
> Any Vanagon shop recommendations for the area?  I am planning on some
> repairs in the month of September and would like to get this done at a
> knowledgeable VW shop.
>
> Thanks a million,
>
> Chris Stann
> '85 Westy