Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2004 15:48:10 -0400
Reply-To: Paul Whitley <paulwhitley27@MSN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Paul Whitley <paulwhitley27@MSN.COM>
Subject: Lessons from a dumb donkey
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<DIV class=RTE>Hello All.</DIV>
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<DIV class=RTE>Let me share some of what I have learned from my Vanagon (The Rolling Turd).</DIV>
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<DIV class=RTE>1. Not all air-cooled engines are the same. I have owned 7 different beetles during my 36 years and I can tell you that the 1500/1600cc motors are NOT from the same immediate family as the air-cooled 2000cc my Rolling Turd had. (A second cousin maybe.)</DIV>
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<DIV class=RTE>2. Just because a person has worked on 1500/1600cc motors for 20 years does not exempt them from having to occasionally read a maintenance manual. Here is one painful example. On the 1982 2000cc I learned that the heads DO NOT need to be removed in order to remove the push rod tubes for a lifter change. Yep, I was the idiot who wasted 2 hours removing a head when spending a little time in the book would have let me finish the job in an hour.</DIV>
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<DIV class=RTE>3. An oil filter is NOT an oil filter. Again, 20 years of motors without oil filters led me to believe that any oil filter would do on my van. Using cheap oil filters led to bad lifters (and lesson #2). Mann filters are the only way to go in my now humble opinion.</DIV>
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<DIV class=RTE>4. Duct tape is still one of the greatest inventions of all time. VW determined that the bead seal that goes around my sunroof was an obsolete part, so they quit making them. The duct tape has held for 18 months and a hurricane. With no leaks.</DIV>
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<DIV class=RTE>Just thought I would share some of what I have learned on my way out the door. My van has been good for me. She was wonderful for day trips, golf, and shopping. But we had some fierce battles along the way. </DIV>
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<DIV class=RTE>The Navy is moving me to California and I need to get rid of her. I am keeping the engine and transmission for a mean 1963 convertable/hotrod project. I am also keeping the battery as a spare for my 74 Super Beetle. The rest of the van is FREE for whom ever wants it. She is in Virginia Beach, VA. I am not going to part her out. Somebody please come and get here before I have to send her to the bone yard.</DIV>
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<DIV class=RTE>Thank you,</DIV>
<DIV class=RTE>Paul Whitley</DIV>
<DIV class=RTE>82 Vanagon "The Rolling Turd" </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE>74 Super Beetle "Tori #7"</DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></div><br clear=all><hr> <a href="http://g.msn.com/8HMAENUS/2728??PS=47575">Get fast, reliable Internet access with MSN 9 Dial-up – now 3 months FREE!</a> </html>
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