Date: Fri, 7 May 2004 15:59:47 -0500
Reply-To: Stan Wilder <wilden1-1@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stan Wilder <wilden1-1@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: roadhouse. NVC - TYrue To Form
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
The expenses Larry has faced are just normal expenses for a Vanagon.
I've always said "Expect to spend as much on repairs, parts and maintenance
as you paid for the vehicle within the first year of ownership".
Larry is about to that point.
I'm looking forward to hearing from Larry when he says: "Oh! Forget it guys.
it was just an empty beer can on top of the engine".
In reality his noise and loss of power could be something quite simple like
bad ignition timing, dropped valve seat, bent pushrod, backed off valve
adjusting screw or a piece of bailing wire wrapped around an axle.
I remember a desperate call for AIRS from Mexico and the problem of
overheating, low power, low oil pressure was all because a plastic garbage
bag got into the engine cooling fan on an air cooled Van / Vanagon.
The speculation that a complete engine is required is pretty far fetched
when you consider that the Syncro got to Westfalia Acres under it's own
power.
Larry is at an event this weekend but I'll bet someone follows him home and
can make a responsible diagnosis.
After a responsible diagnosis is the time to help.
Stan Wilder
----- Original Message -----
From: "mark drillock" <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, May 07, 2004 3:24 PM
Subject: Thoughts on the roadhouse. NVC
> Eric, we all make decisions in our lives that we later learn were wrong
> or that we come to regret. I know I have done things that I prefer the
> whole world not learn about and then remind me of whenever I need
> something. From the outset Larry made a large part of his personal life
> available to us and many have followed his trials and tribulations as
> well as some extravagances. Now with the advantage of hindsight some
> think it good sport to rub his nose in what they view as his errors. I
> suspect jealousy as the primary motive behind this as most cannot hope
> to embark on such a journey and some seem to resent his access to the
> funds that made it all possible. It seems those funds are nearing
> exhaustion and some are now relishing the thought of him falling on hard
> times. So anxious are these few to see him go down that they lobby those
> who might offer help to instead let him fall unassisted so that the end
> they long for comes sooner rather than later. This urge comes from the
> darker side of human nature in my opinion.
>
> I will stop now so as to keep this on a more civil side of what I think
> of a few people here.
>
> Mark
>
> > vw4x4@fyi.net wrote:
> >
> > Mark,
> > What we need is a definition of the word help. Help- is:
> > doing for someone witch they can not do for themselves.
> > Example: holding a 2x4 by 20 ft piece of wood level in place
> > to be nailed. 20 ft would be difficult at best by one person.
> > Help- is showing someone how to do something that one
> > does not know how to do for themselves. Example: explaining
> > things here on this list. You have been very help full, as the
> > part you have retrieved for me I would have not found on
> > my own. I have returned the favor to many others with parts
> > I have had, and shipped to them.
> > Help is not doing for someone, when they can do for themselves.
> > Help is not spending your funds, when they have there own funds. This
> > I take a little bit further and say if you have blown you money, and I
> >
> > have saved mine, give them money is usesless. They must learn,
> > to save for rainy days. "You danced to the music
> > now pay the piper". Anyone ever hear this?
> > Eric
> >
> >
> >
> > mark drillock wrote:
> >
> > > I have helped a lot of Vanagon owners over the years, with my time
> > > and
> > > sometimes free parts I did not really much need anyway. I guess I
> > > wasted
> > > my efforts as none were homeless as far as I know. I even bought
> > > some
> > > parts at a junkyard for ERIC ZENO and sent them to him as he could
> > > not
> > > find them in his locale. I neglected to ask him his financial status
> > > before I helped him. Can any of you complainers give me a sure fire
> > > method of determining who qualifies for help based on financial
> > > hardship? I have been doing it wrong for years it seems, often times
> > > just helping people when I could and not first asking for a
> > > financial
> > > statement.
> > >
> > > I have met and camped with Larry Chase a few times. I find him to be
> > > humble, generous, and kind. He very recently gave me a NEW $100 part
> > > that would not fit his Syncro as the VW parts guy ordered the wrong
> > > one
> > > and Larry could not return it by the time the error was discovered.
> > > It
> > > is a Syncro only part and only on non-AC models and Larry could
> > > never
> > > find anyone who really needed it. I have a couple of models it fits
> > > and
> > > though I have never seen a bad one of this version I am happy to
> > > have it
> > > instead of someone who could never need it.
> > >
> > > I always thought helping each other was why we had this list. Lately
> > > I
> > > wonder why I am still here.
> > >
> > > Mark
> > >
> > > Tom Miller wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >> I have to agree with Adam. We are not talking about helping a
> > >> homeless
> > >> person here. Do what you want. I will use the money to keep my
> > >> own van
> > >> running and to try to keep the tank full ($31.50 per fill up!) of
> > >> midgrade.
> > >> TEMiller
> > >>
> > >> ----- Original Message -----
> > >> From: "Vanagon Man" <vgonman@MSN.COM>
> > >> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > >> Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 6:22 AM
> > >> Subject: Thoughts on the roadhouse.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> > Well by now a few have sniped at my take on this.
> > >> >
> > >> > Ask yourselves this question. How many of you contributing to
> > >> > this great
> > >> > cause have gone out of their way to help a newbie on the list
> > >> > keep there
> > >> > $500 car running with a $2000 motor or a $20 donation? Vans
> > >> > that were
> > >> > rusting into the ground, had head leaks, etc? Wouldn't they be
> > >> > worth or
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> our
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> > financial support? They do not have the money for GPS or
> > >> > internet links
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> in
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> > their vans, or fancy wheels or High powered
> > >> > engines.............just
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> people
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> > trying to get by and keep their car on the road.........NOT
> > >> > joyride around
> > >> > the US. Believe it or not, I have helped people on Sunday
> > >> > afternoon the
> > >> > dealer referred to me to get their vanagons back on the highway.
> > >> > Did I
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> make
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> > money? Yes, but also i had given untold bits of advice via
> > >> > pmails and
> > >> > postings over the past several years.
> > >> >
> > >> > When I decided to upgrade my stereo to MP3 did i ask for
> > >> > handouts? No, I
> > >> > sold my old radio and didn't go out to eat with the family for 2
> > >> > weeks. I
> > >> > made it just fine.
> > >> >
> > >> > When my van broke down in Rock Hill 2 weeks ago did i instantly
> > >> > fire up my
> > >> > mobile internet link and ask for money for my new alternator?
> > >> > NO. I
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> walked
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> > to advance and bought one and installed it with my own tools that
> > >> > i always
> > >> > bring on road trips. I didn't need to have it towed to a
> > >> > mechanic.
> > >> >
> > >> > Now granted, it would be cool to joyride around the US. But
> > >> > don't ask for
> > >> > handouts. Sell some of your toys. That's what those of us in
> > >> > the real
> > >> > world have to do when times get tough................draw money
> > >> > out of
> > >> > savings, etc. With all that has been done to this vehicle, I
> > >> > seriously
> > >> > doubt its owner is broke.
> > >> >
> > >> > Adam P
> > >> > Charleston,SC Coburn, WV
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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