Date:         Mon, 15 Mar 2004 21:50:34 -0500
Reply-To:     Jonce Fancher <strtbug@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jonce Fancher <strtbug@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      air vanagon vs. water vanagon
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi all
not sure if this has been covered in the past but im in need of some
info. ive been a vw air cooled type 1-2-3 person for about 15 years. im
an advanced hobbiest. meaning i have a 1500sf pole barn with a lift,
heat and air cond. ive got 6 air cooled german cars ranging from 56 to
71. so you could say im a air head. i purchased a 85 westi gl for a
good price to fix up and resale to have more hobby money. the wife
liked the westi. so i went through it and made it mechanically safe and
it runs and drives great with the stock 1.9L. the problem is that being
an air head and not a water head im having freakish fears of being
stranded in the middle of no place with a water cooled problem. so i
thought i wanted to go to the late model bay window say 76-79 westi and
sell the 85. the group (you guys) recommended staying with the vanagon
vs the bay window due to space and comfort. so what im asking is i
guess is are the 80 to 83 vanagons the best of both worlds for a air
head like myself. takes away my freakish fears and lets me do a
performance 2.0L or larger with dual carbs ( im not in a emmissions
controled area). i keep the space and ride and go back to the big block
air cooled mental comfort? i do know that heat is reduced on the air
cooled. are there plusses and minuses to both? are these good year
vanagons. the early 80s were not kind to any auto manufacturer and the
vanagon was an infant then. do any of the parts ie trans, suspension,
steering, doors, interior trim etc. that crosses over from the 85 to a
early air vanagon? during the time of owning the 85 gl for about 1.5
years i purchased another 85 gl non camper with motor issues for parts.
so i have alot of parts.  any wisdom to share would be great. i only
drive my vws on fair weather days and in michigan that can be a
problem. all of my cars are required to live indoors ( wife says i can
have as many cars/vw that i want as long as there not in the yard).  i
just want to go camping with the wife and kids on the weekends and be
more at ease with my vw. thanks again Jonce
Jonce Fancher
56 Single Cab
62 Fiberglass Buggy
66 Sunroof Bug 1835 w/Webers
66 Squareback Variant
71 Deluxe Sunroof Bus
75 911 S sunroof
85 Vanagon GL  Westi
85 Vanagon GL 7 passenger parts van
96 F-350 Crew cab dually (work truck)
99 Honda Accord ( understanding wifes car )