Date:         Sat, 28 Dec 2002 00:09:43 +0000
Reply-To:     Anthony Polson <acpolson@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Anthony Polson <acpolson@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Need advice on buying an early Eurovan
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

I apologise for even daring to ask this question on the Vanagon List!  What
I'd like to know is what to look for, what to avoid, and what are the weak
points of the Eurovan.

I have learned a lot from y'all in the last year.  You've helped me to keep
my Vanagon working well and even to improve it in some respects.  I'm aware
that some of you are also Eurovan owners, and I would value your opinions.

My '84 Vanagon needs some bodywork and a rebuilt gearbox and deserves a new
1.9 TD engine.  So it will be in the shops for some time, and I am looking
for a replacement.  I want to stay with VW, so I intend to buy an early VW
Transporter T4 panel van (European equivalent of the US market Eurovan) and
convert it to a mobile living and working space for travel photojournalism,
which is what I do to pay the mortgage - and repair the Vanagon, which will
continue as a leisure vehicle.

I expect I will buy the long wheelbase version. and fit a GRP (fiberglass)
high roof to obtain enough room for sleeping (in a roof bunk) above the main
working, eating and bathroom areas.  The new furniture will be from Reimo,
and will be very similar to that from Westfalia.

So what I need to know is, what should I be looking for in a nine- or
ten-year old Eurovan?  As the Transporter is a panel van, there will be no
interior fittings other than a plywood floor and plywood lining to the
sides.  So what are the weak points, in the bodywork, chassis, engine and
gearbox?  In winter, our roads in the UK are salted, so rust resistance is
very important to me.

I should tell you that the engine is likely to be a 2.4 liter Diesel
non-turbo 5-cylinder engine, and that the gearbox will be a 4- or 5-speed
manual (stick shift).  The van will also have power-assisted steering,
although not all the early Transporters had this from new.

All advice and opinions gratefully received.

Best regards,

Tony

'84 Vanagon Reimo.

P.S. I do


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