Date:         Tue, 17 Jun 2003 18:44:07 -0400
Reply-To:     lauterba <lauterba@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         lauterba <lauterba@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      List vendors plz note ($$$)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I am trying to spend $$$ on my van, but I am not getting much help.  I want to put in a new 1.9L long block plus new alternator, injectors, etc.  I don't have the strength, tools, and skill to do this on my own.  When I mention waterboxer here in Macon, GA, people run the other way, or in the case of one shop that didn't, the owner said he did his last WBX long block 10 years ago and he wanted to get the engine and other parts from places I never heard of.

Right now I am running on Bars Leak and who knows how much life is in the engine even with new heads, which I hear is still best done with engine out of van.  I figure I could maybe make it 50 or 70 miles going to a shop outside of Macon to get the job done right or maybe there is a "traveling mechanic" out there who could do the job in my driveway.

Except for the head problems, van is in fine shape and still wants to go faster than is prudent even here in the wilds of Georgia.

Any suggestions?

John Lauterbach
Macon, GA
'84 7-passenger with 1.9L WBX and auto transmission