Date:         Mon, 7 Jun 2004 09:29:54 -0600
Reply-To:     Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Syncro 5 Speed "crunch"
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

    A while back, Karl Wolz was kind enough to put out an alert regarding my
broken transmission. I owe him, Frank Condelli, Jerry Masar, Daryl
Christensen (AA Transaxle) a very big thanks for all their help of time and
effort to help me out. If I've left someone out I apologize in advance. The
last 11 days are a sort of blur, combining that with the precedent condition
of Anheisers Disease, and all bets on accurate recollection are off.
    I broke my granny/reverse transmission case trying to compression start
my van in a gas station parking lot after the solenoid switch failed. I was
pulled into a parking position nose-first so tried to start it in reverse
.. a big mistake.
    I had the Rescue Squad list with me so called Karl and he went to work,
contacted Jerry and he came over to the ARCO I was "parked" at and took me
to a local mechanic, Jim Kitchens in Cottonwood, AZ. He has the van now and
is awaiting the arrival of the tranny Wed, 6/09 to install it. I go back the
18th to pick it up.
    Jerry drove me from Cottonwood to Congress where my brother lives. That
was the kindest gesture I've yet needed and got while on a vanagon
adventure. Can't thank you enough, Jerry.
I spent the rest of my "vacation" at my brothers and flew home last night
from Phoenix to Salt Lake. I'll fly back the 18th to finish it off.
    Frank responded quickly and passed on a "good deal" on a Syncro tranny
to me. It was UPS that dropped the ball. I paid for Priority shipping, which
would have put the tranny at Jim's in Cottonwood 6/03 but the clerk checked
the "standard" box on the form and so it was on its way with no hope of
retrieving it. They have agreed to refund all the shipping $$ so that will
take much of the $$ sting out of this experience. Also, I'm selling a very
good 5-speed tranny and will repair the case at the granny/reverse section
prior, if that's needed in order to sell it. A couple volks have expressed
some interest already so we'll see what happens there.
    Also, this list has provided so much wisdom and good guidance,
friendship and fellowship, I want to say thank you to Coyote and TomC and
all of you who make this such a valuable resource. It's a place I check into
daily and provides a contact point, and I miss it, and you when I don't have
access.

Best,
Bob Stevens
'87 Westy Syncro
http://groups.msn.com/BobsPhotoShare
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tiico