Date:         Fri, 10 Jan 2003 08:03:18 -0600
Reply-To:     Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Total Cost of a complete engine overhaul
Comments: To: bmuller@UOFT02.UTOLEDO.EDU
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Barry, I replaced the rear axle bearings on my Westy at 300K, they were
what I'd term marginal.
I replaced everything on the brake / steering / suspension system except
the equalizer valve under the van.
I replaced everything in the clutch system, except the rubber flex hose
that was BOed on me.
I replaced the CVs and boots.
To shorten this story, I've replaced everything that could put me down on
the road.
In most situations I have electronics spares (used but known to be good)
that I carry with me on road trips.
The most common Vanagon failures are electronics, that goes from your
dash lights to O2 sensor.
In over 180K in about 8 years I've never broken down on the road.
I blew #4 ring set and drove 250 miles back home adding a quart of oil
every 35 miles, but made it.
I locked the tranny in 4th gear in Monroe LA and drove home 278 miles in
high gear, running 5 red lights at 3am in the morning getting home, but
made it.
There are road hazards and Murphy's law situations that you can't avoid
so just use your own judgement and replace the parts that are known to
fail from neglect or age and carry some spares for simple things like
alternator belts, fuses, light bulbs, brake fluid and enough oil for a
change.

Stan Wilder

On Thu, 9 Jan 2003 07:23:54 -0500 "Barry E. Muller"
<bmuller@UOFT02.UTOLEDO.EDU> writes:
> Thanks all for your insight's and information.
>
> Regarding the don't "fix what ain't broke" I am "down with that",
> however my
> intent (and I could have been clearer on the initial posting) is to
> get a
> rebuilt engine and then mount all new components.  So as you can
> see
> everything will be moved and jostled, and with the engine out
> replacing a
> lot of these things, I hope, should be easier.
>
> To give something back, I'll post what I found out when I'm donw
> (which
> should be in about 6 mos)
>
> bem-stem
>
> > I agree, but I think replacing parts like the ECU and alternator
> is
> > unnecessary unless they're showing signs of problems.  My feeling
> is that
> > replacing parts like that preventatively is as likely to cause
> problems as
> > it is to prevent them.  Wiring harnesses get disturbed, bolts get
> > loosened, hoses get pushed out of the way...and every so often
> that causes
> > an unexpected failure a few miles down the road.  The ECU that's
> in there
> > has been working fine for years, why disturb it now?  It has no
> moving
> > parts and it doesn't wear out unless something breaks from
> vibration or is
> > damaged by a wiring problem.  Alternators sometimes fail but have
> been
> > known to last the life of a car, too -- and an OEM alternator is
> much
> > better than a rebuild you got from the parts store.
>
>

________________________________________________________________
Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today
Only $9.95 per month!
Visit www.juno.com