Date:         Tue, 18 Dec 2001 08:45:59 -0800
Reply-To:     Don & Christina Preston <betsy@UTAH-INTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don & Christina Preston <betsy@UTAH-INTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: Propane Tank removal and sway bar swap...

Thanks for the info everyone! Very helpful.

Looks like we're going to put the strip show on hold until after we get back
from the annual family Christmas trip (I've been talked outta driving the
van *sniff*).

I'm sure I'll have lots o' questions for all you Westy/ASI owners out there
when we get back.

Also, for those that are interested, I will have a bunch of parts (and a
straight '83 body, with a hole in the roof ;-)) available when we are
finished that I'll be posting for either super cheap or free to whoever will
come and get them outta my garage. I already have an interior set from my
'87 Weekender in the garage fro whoever wants it. (panels are kinda
battered, but rear bench/bed is in good shape, and fold out table is there
as well)

Pmail me if your interested! I'll be out Dec. 24th-29th.

Thanks again. I love this list!

Don Preston
Seattle, WA
 '87 Wolfy GL
~Betsy the Mp3 Bus~
 '83 1.6D ASI
~Frodo 2~




----- Original Message -----
From: "Joel Walker" <jwalker17@earthlink.net>
To: "Don & Christina Preston" <betsy@UTAH-INTER.NET>
Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2001 7:56 PM
Subject: Re: Propane Tank removal and sway bar swap...


> > There is a bit of propane left in the canister. How can I disconnect
> the
> > propane tank correctly? Is there a shut-off valve?
>
> yeah, there's a valve on the tank itself, where all the pipes come to
> the tank.  you should be able to shut off the propane there and
> disconnect the pipes.
>
> > Also, I noticed that this van has a rear sway bar. I'm thinking that
> this
> > was a standard for the camper vans, correct? If so, any advice on
> how to
> > swap this over to my '87?
>
> nope. not all campers had REAR sway bars. some in europe had them
> (extra cost option from vw), but the u.s. models never did. go figure.
>
> if it's the vw one, it should be just unbolt, move, and rebolt ...
> with one leeetle problem. the vw one has a tab welded on the trailing
> arm (that thingie that the wheel fits on .. it bolts in two places to
> the bus body and allows the wheels to go up and down) ... and our u.s.
> models do NOT have that tab. :(  so if you see that the rear sway bar
> bolts to the trailing arm, you might want remove the camper trailing
> arms as well (get everything ... bolts, nuts, washers, and especially
> bushings) and swap them out on your bus. it'll mean having to get the
> rear end aligned, but if you can find a semi-competent alignment shop,
> that shouldn't be a big deal.
>
> you may want to consider swapping the FRONT sway bars as well. see,
> the non-campers have a 19mm front sway bar. the campers have a 22mm
> front sway bar. :) it'll definitely make your 87 corner flatter, but
> may seem too harsh for some folks.
> now, i am NOT sure that the ASI campers had the bigger front sway bar
> ... i know only that the Westfalias did have it. not sure if ASI just
> took regular buses and converted them or not.
>
> good luck!
> joel
>
>