I haven't had much time to check in the past year, as we've been busy building a house. Sadly this means our poor '88 Westy has spent the past 7 months outdoors, along with our '85 Jetta TD. This has presented two unpleasant problems: the Westy has developed significant mildew on the poptop liner, which came on rather suddenly in the past 2 months. Not surprising in our climate I guess, but it's the first time she's been out of the garage that long (and not driven) since we've had her, and hopefully the last. Also a strange problem with the driver side window rubber, which seems to have developed a weird cancer - wrinkled and shriveled, presumably from being on the north side of a large house, partially under an Aspen tree for several months. Strange that the rubber could have survived for 14 years and 375k km in very good shape, and then gone downhill so fast! The second major unpleasantness was the discovery of serious rust through of the rear strut tower on our 85 Jetta TD. I am now driving the Westy again, as I see needing to take the Jetta off the road asap. If anyone knows of a cheap, reasonably rust free A2 Jetta or Golf in the Victoria, BC area, please let me know. Mechanical condition not an issue, as I plan to drive it until I can rebuild my TD engine, and swap the TD into it. I would also consider a cheap Vanagon in decent shape, but I know this is not likely in my area. Thanks for any help you can provide. ps: I haven't written of the Jetta yet, but given the mileage (480k), and rust in other areas, I think it may be best to find a donor body to house the mechanicals. If anyone has experience fixing strut tower rust out, please let me know...
Shawn Wright, I.T. Manager Shawnigan Lake School swright@SLS.bc.ca http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright http://www.sls.bc.ca |
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