Date:         Fri, 24 Oct 2003 13:30:00 -0700
Reply-To:     mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Junkyard finds, 85 Syncro (F)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Tomorrow is half price day at a chain of self serve yards mostly found
in SoCal so I made the rounds to several of them in the last couple of
days just to see what gems might be available. Not as many Vanagons are
showing up in these places as this year goes on. I had gotten used to a
new one showing up 2 or 3 times a week but 2 or 3 a month is more like
it now. Mostly water cooled models from 82-87, Campers now and then.
Parts are staying on them longer, too. A complete diesel engine setup
was at one place for a month before I broke down and bought it all to
save it from the crusher.

I stopped at one yard this morning to get a few minor items from a full
Westy loaf that was already well picked over and to see what new had
shown up. The table brackets I wanted were still there so I grabbed them
along with one of the "H" pipes that are always breaking on 1.9 cooling
systems. As I wandered through the rows I saw that they were putting out
a fresh batch of cars across the yard so I went to see what fresh meat
there was to pick at. Right away I spotted a Syncro but with the old
style pre 86 headlights. I checked the vin and sure enough, an 85. I was
likely the first person to get at it and everything was there so I
decided to see what I could grab in the few spare minutes I had. One
thing I saw right away  that I wanted was the diff lock vacuum switch
and led panel. I am planning to put a locker tranny in one of my 2wd
Vanagons someday so getting that stuff should simplify hooking up the
diff control and indicator. This one had a dual vacuum switch as it also
had a center locker or some such. I had to leave in a hurry so some
other vulture will get the rest. Not that many people are interested in
Quantum parts anyway.

I went to the checkout window, held up my 5 items, "what is that?" she
says pointing to the difflock panel. Vacuum switch says I. $8.36 total
for everything says she. Dang, she is in a good mood, why didn't I grab
more? If I had I probably would have gotten the cashier at the next
window anyway, the one scowling and making another customer cuss under
his breath in Spanish.


Mark