Date: Sat, 26 Oct 2002 22:53:15 -0700
Reply-To: fgfd gfd <empigt@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: fgfd gfd <empigt@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: opinion which to buy `82-`88 westy UPDATE
In-Reply-To: <200210270043_MC3-1-176C-18AC@compuserve.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Well, if you recall I asked the list about a month ago
which I should buy.
-`82 westy abandonded at tow company (mechanics lein
title, dropped vavle seat,large dent on slidder door
some seam rust, some broken glass and other interior
probs $500
-`88 Westy GL 69K miles, sitting since `97, supposed
bad engine, nice but super SUPER dirty
interior...coffe and dog stains everywhere! $1500
Well, update I offer the `82 guy $300 he says
no..offer the `88 person `$1000 and she says $1100. I
decide to buy neither but take the cash and pay some
credit cards off and toss a bit into my aircooled
early vws 50,52 beetles and my `6owesty.
Well a couple weeks go by and I get a call from the
`88 westy lady. They sold their house and are moving
she says $900 firm takes it. I call back and tell her
no longer interested UNLESS she would take $750 as it
is all the extra cash i had. Well she took it and I
have th `88 here!
Well here is news about the `88. I try to start her
with a new battery and no go...just like owners said.
Bad starter...so I order one and proceed to coffee
stained carpets and dog stained seats.
My buddy says gut the interior and get a gallon drum
of OXYCLEAN...ever used this stuff? Holly SHIT this
stuff is mystical!!??? How the hell does it work.
Long story shorter it totally cleaned EVRYTHING outta
the carpet and seats. The damn interior is now
SPOTLESS. If I knew it would have come that clean I
think I would have bought the van for the $1500 asking
price earlier! I was WAYYYY happy with results.
Get the starter next day. Install it...yep cranks
nice now. She sputters but no start. I pull the
plugs...champions!? DO a comp test...get some strange
results, but again this is a cold engine that has not
been cranked over in 5 years. I just wanted to see if
there was anything terribly wrong. I get
1-190 2-160 3-140 4-200 hmmmm not great but again this
thing has not run in 5 years. So I stick in new plus
bosch supers. She fires first crank! Some smoke and
coughing but then smoooooth! Did I mention the lack
of exhaust system ....yes VERY LOUD too. I jump in
the spot were drivers seat was (seat is still drying)
and take off down the road. Heck she drives great and
amazingly everything works! Power mirrors, heat,
gauges, lights. rear wiper wow! I love this thing.
I return home still wondering why they deemed the motr
shot? I then see a trail of fluid down the road
durectly behing the van...Ughhhh damn heads! But
curiosity is the owners said they had done the heads
not too long before parking it in 97. Remeber this
thing has only 69K on the clock. I wonder if this
leak is what they saw and gave them their..oh shit the
engine is junk..idea. Upon close inspection I notice
the fluid looks oily...maybe some coolant but not
sure. Definitely too big a leak to drive though.
Next day I get under her...exhaust studs too rusted
for a quick pull so I just cut off disk the bracket
for the pushrod tins...I will just weld her after
wards when i do the exhaust. Heads are DRY as a bone!
and very clean underneath too! Well I start her up
and its the dam low oil pres sender just POURING out
oil. CoooL! Cheap easy fix...I buy a new low and
high sensor and voila no leak. She starts at the turn
of the key! I plan on redoing the comp test when the
engine is warm and just ran to check if to see if that
earlier test was a fluke. All and all very happy with
it so far for $750!
I do need a coupel items and some info...will post em
in following messages. If anyone has any helpful
hints or what not for me with this van please let me
know. I am a 15 year seasoned air cooled mechanic and
am very new but eager to add the waser boxer to my
list.
Thanks
Todd s
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