Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 00:19:34 -0500
Reply-To: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: True Grit---
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I saw on your web page the ridiculas amount you have spent on your
Westy---and I think your wacky also--
---------------------
I'm 60 years old and I'm lazy at heart so I just decided to do the whole
McGilla and hopefully be done with the fixing of big items.
Since money wasn't an issue I bought new parts and in many cases used the
still good used parts on my resurrection project vans so it worked out
well.
I don't try to impress anyone with my foolishness but I've got my Westy
to the point I'd drive it anywhere in the US at a moments notice.
I did a 72 hour turn around 2000 mile trip to Albuquerque from Dallas and
it didn't even hiccup once.
So I'm OK with my investment.
Stan
On Tue, 28 May 2002 00:03:48 -0500 "Terry K." <CTONLINE@WEBTV.NET>
writes:
> Stanley,
>
> I don't think you struck any fear into anyone-----
> They just think your nuts----
>
> However I will make a comment regarding purchasing a Van from list
> memeber's, as I did, and please allow me to state this does not
> reflect
> at all upon the majority---
>
> I did purchase a Westy from a list member---- and yes he did have
> receipts,someof the Vans history, and it was a pleasnat
> experience----and I felt at the time it ws a good deal---
>
> But after havinng the vehicle for about two months I have found
> there
> was a lot more incorrect with the vehicle than was disclosed, and I
> don't know, or am not sure if there was any intented colusion
> involved--but it has cost me considerably more than originally
> intended----
>
> Not double, but at least half again as I payed----and I still have a
> few
> more items to be dealing with, until I am satisfied, that all bases
> are
> covered---and I'm happy with the vehicle as a whole---
>
> I am real picky,I like things to look like nw, as welll as operate,
> and
> function the same way, and this may be my downfall finacially---but
> this
> is my choice---
>
> I saw on your web page the ridiculas amount you have spent on your
> Westy---and I think your wacky also----
>
> But this right now is the path I have chosen, and so be it----
>
> One thing I do know the Westfalia is a lot more resonable in the
> long
> run than Fem Fatals----and I know there is going to be some smoke
> on
> that statement----but it is a fact of life----
>
> So unzip the matress, and keep the enconomy rolling, by spending
> the
> cash on the never ending Vanagon Money pit---
>
> " if you want to be happy for the rest of your life, buy a Vanagon,
> and
> pretend she's your ugly Wife---"--:>)
>
>
> Later,
>
>
> TK-----
>
>
>
> E-mail message originate by Stosh---
>
> It was not my intention to strike fear in the hearts of every
> Vanagon
> and Westy owner with my statement about spending your purchase
> price
> again within a year of buying your vehicle.
> I've never purchased an Air Cooled Vanagon and Westy from a list
> member
> and most of the people that sell the vans are just members of the
> general public and are not list members.
> I've found that the sellers have just reached their maximum level
> of
> endurance for keeping their vehicle running. In many cases of
> Westies
> I've purchased to resurrect or Vanagons I purchased for an
> economical
> parts source the vehicles have had extensive and expensive repairs
> and
> maintenance done on them by local and even authorized VW dealers.
> I find one new head or often a VW Factory rebuilt engine and all
> kinds
> of signs of recent new fuel pumps, ignition systems, brakes and
> every
> other potential repair.
> The glove box often has a good supply of repair tickets and parts
> receipts.
> Along with the stack of receipts I find many potential reasons for
> the
> engine failure, this list is lengthy but I'll list a few; Engine
> Seal
> Missing, Muffler Heat Shield Missing, Dropped Valve Seats, Hammered
> out
> Valve seats, leaking cylinders, over tightened lifters, jumpers on
> the
> full throttle switch, massive vacuum leaks everywhere, wrong spark
> wires
> and wrong spark plugs, running Automatic Transmission Oil with the
> engine oil to quieten lifters, running 10/30 motor oil.. Since I
> don't
> pay retail on these dead units it is very easy to double my
> investment
> very quickly if I have to buy new parts to bring them back to a
> safe
> dependable vehicle.
> I quickly doubled my investment on my 83 Westy after I bought it in
> 1995. I'm guilty of driving it like a normal car, pushing the
> speed,
> overworking the engine and just in general making those miles
> without
> really knowing anything about the proper care and maintenance. After
> I
> blew #3 cylinder and bought a new set of heads in 1996 I started
> getting
> a little smarter and started taking care of the little things
> before
> they *stopped me in my tracks*,
> I managed to get 140K out of the existing, recently rebuilt engine
> after
> the above repairs over a periods of four years. I nearly wore out
> the
> roads to the lakes and 500 miles a weekend was never a problem. I
> managed to log a lot of miles going to Vicksburg MS and lots of
> trips to
> Houston from Dallas.
> I require myself to say this ......... If I had known how a really
> good
> rebuilt engine would improve the vehicle, I'd have installed one the
> day
> after I bought the Westy.
> I suffered through about five years with just marginal performance
> and a
> fair amount of tinkering trying to peak out a marginal engine.
> Stan Wilder
> 83 Air Cooled Westfalia
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