Date:         Wed, 12 Apr 2006 03:33:32 +0000
Reply-To:     joe trussell <vanagongl@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         joe trussell <vanagongl@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Was Passat Steel Wheels FS, now a big long b**ch session
In-Reply-To:  <71d9cdf90604111731x42adc7d1td0d42668319b641c@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Not contagious, but physically more nauseating than three day-old sushi.
Left on a Vanagon's dash.  In the summertime.

Part of it is here: www.josephtrussell.com/Vanagon.html.

What's not there is that I've had the Subie engine mount/timing cover/engine
dropped in and out/ three times now.  I've had three different sets of cam
and crank sensors.  Three starters, two of them high-torque (to their
credit, the latest high-torque starter turns the motor really well.)  I've
had four ECM's, four sets of plugs, two coil packs, and two mass airflow
meters.

Now I'm up to three months (four weeks of NO START,) 200 hours of labor, and
about four hours of sleep per night.

I've tested voltage as I was instructed to do.  I've taken off every single
connector, cleaned it, and plugged it back up.  I've taken out the injectors
and tested them.

I've got spark, I've got fuel, I've got air, I've got timing, but I've got
no running engine.

I've had friends look at it.  My neighbor, a real-life professional mechanic
(on Freightlineres, but still...,) is stumped.  My brother, who's been
racing VW's for twenty-five years, can't figure it out.

I've had the SubaruVanagon list on their ear trying to figure it out, and
God bless them and all of the suggestions and encouragement and support and
general good vibes.  Warren, Brent, Jake, Tom, and Leon, and everybody else
that I am probably forgetting, I wasn't kidding when I said I owe you Jack
Daniels Single Barrel.  The SubaruVanagon list is amazing.

I know what most of you will say, it's my own damned fault for going against
VW and my weak, anemic, P.O.S. 1.9l wasserboxer, but I want to prove to
everybody I know that time has NOT passed this vehicle by.  There is nothing
better than a Vanagon.  Especially one with 140 horsepower.

Thing is, I drove a Subie conversion and was so taken with it that I had to
do it.  I bit off more than I could chew.  The conversion looks absolutely
beautiful; I didn't skimp on anything.  Wiring harness professionally done
to perfection.  Top-of-the-line conversion parts from Kennedy, Smallcar, and
H&R start to finish.  Only OEM Subaru parts.

But it won't fire.

I hate to lay this out there, but tonight I thought I had it dead to rights.
  I was sure I'd found the key, in the form of another ECU and the correct
air flow meter, but still nothing.

Tomorrow I'll have it towed to a shop, if I can find a shop that will look
at it, and take it on the chin monetarily and in the pride department.

Taking it too seriously you say?  I do admit that I had an absolute blast
putting everything together.  Accumulating parts, the installation, the
education, the friendships I've developed cannot be understated.  But, it's
been a lot of work without the ultimate payoff, so I'm a little pissed.

The whole time I was working towards finishing, I couldn't stop having that
creeping feeling in the back of my head, that nightmare thought, what if it
doesn't start?  The whole time I was spending money, getting parts,
cleaning, prepping, assembling, it was always in the back of my head.

In any case, hopefully a professional can complete the job for me.  I'm out
of time and almost out of money.

I'm thinking maybe I can put a towtruck on retainer and have it pull me up
to beautiful campsites around Colorado this summer.  Maybe I'll see some of
you in the mountains!

Look for the '85 Wolfsburg Westfalia.  It'll be on a flatbed, top popped and
awning precariously swinging from the side.

Sorry to waste time bellyaching, but AHHH damn I feel better already.  If
you're still reading, I apologize for the waste of time.

Oh--I bought a set of Vanagon alloys.  That's why the Passat wheels are for
sale :).  Of course, right after I hit the Paypal button, I said to myself,

"what the hell are you doing???  The damned thing doesn't even START!!!"

I've always wanted Vanagon alloys, though.  (This is a disease, folks.)

Joe T.
Denver, CO
'85 Wolfsburg Westfalia with a starter-powered Subaru EJ22 paperweight


>From: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
>Reply-To: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Passat Steel Wheels ET37 FS in Denver
>Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2006 17:31:48 -0700
>
>Joe has "freshly installed Subaru motor that won't fire" itis.  Very
>intense
>at first, then gradually disappears. Not contagious.
>
>On 4/11/06, Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> > Hey man, whats wrong with the gon? Those wheels sound nice and the price
> > is
> > more than right.Lets get a smile back on your face and maybe keep those
> > wheels(ear to ear then).What symptoms do you have?
> >
>
>
>
>--
>Jake
>1984 Vanagon GL
>1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
>www.crescentbeachguitar.com

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