Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 06:25:40 EST
Reply-To: RAlanen@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Replacing the Power Steering Lines
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 10/02/2005 4:14:53 PM Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
The hardest part has been finding the
leverage to turn the old, rusted parts, and having the patience to see it
through.
Matt, you hit the nail on the head with that statement. It just keeps
getting worse. Some days I keep asking why I want to work on these old rusted
junkers. I just got done cleaning up the mess I found behind the leaking gas
tank of my '87 Westy. If you think there's no rust on your Westy, remove the
tank and take a look. You won't believe what's hidden on the other side.
Hydraulic clutch and brake lines so rusted that touching them made them leak and
they were not leaking before lowering the tank. Lucky me got to replace some
hydraulic lines ! Every try using a flaring tool under the van with hardly
any space to move ? Also thought it a good idea to remove and clean the
brake equaliser that's stuffed up on the frame near the rack. Bet some of you
didn't even know you had one of them. Wanna see how much crud I found inside,
no, I bet you don't. Anyways, that got cleaned up and replaced. Then I
spent the pretty much the rest of the week scraping, prepping and POR-15ing the
space and components behind the fuel tank. Nice job tying to get liquids to
go up ! Ha ! Well, I've not got myself and work clothes pretty well rust
proofed anyways. But, it sure looks nice all shiny black waiting for the new
tank to arrive. It too will get POR-15ed before installing. No more visits
to the fuel tank and beyond for this Westy ! Just as a side note this it
this Westy's third fuel tank. The original was replaced under warranty back in
Edmonton, AB when owned by the original owner !
BTW, glad you got through the power steering hose repair. Yes, that
coupling on the rack can be a PITA. Heat and two long handled tight fitting
wrenched seem to have worked for me so far as I've not wrecked one yet but I'm
sure my turn is coming.
Maybe we should go buy one of them there brandy new Sprinters with no
rust ?!!?
Cheers,
Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12, 2005
'87 Westy, '90 Carat & Lionel Trains
Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/) & _CCVWC_
(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
or http://frankcondelli.com
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