Date:         Wed, 3 May 2006 22:03:49 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: 1984 Vanagon GL H2O
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="UTF-8"; reply-type=original

I think you're off your Ritalin again man. : )

How much of this can you do yourself? How would you rate your mechanical
ability (including access to tools and a place to work) with one being the
lowest and ten being the highest?

Most of that stuff you should be able to do with a Bentley and a simple tool
kit between beers.

Check with the list vendors for that coolant hose, or someone might know of
a proven alternative. There's a list of Napa hoses by number and what they
can be substituted for in the archives

The A/C and the tranny are a different matter- the tranny you can deal with
if you're motivated (maybe 500 bucks of motivation), at least in getting it
out and back in, and shipping it off to be rebuilt. I'm gonna take a flying
guess and say if you've been doing the old fill-and-leak routine then the
'hard parts' are likely already damaged. Anyway if it's gotta be opened up
you might as well go all the way, it's not that expensive. I believe a list
member recently paid around $600 for a rebuild.

The A/C in the earlier models was a dealer option, IIRC. Hard to say what
you have or used to have there, but you can get various setups to add it.

If it's an option I'd spend my money on some decent tools and only let the
mechanic at the things I just flat-out could not do myself. If you're gonna
pay somebody to do all that little stuff at shop rates that van is gonna
bankrupt you.

Good luck,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Levine" <ELevine3035@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 9:09 PM
Subject: 1984 Vanagon GL H2O



I took in my vanagon to the local  mechanic and gave him my wish list.
He called me back with an estimate:
1. Bottle for re-fill tank, level  sensor, hose over transmission: don't
make
it anymore, so needs to figure out  and make one that fits. Previous owner
put a hose on that was too big and even  fully clamped down, leaks. Hose is
to
the oil cooler on the transmission. He  needs to fiddle with it until he
finds
the right hose: $210.00
2. Transmission leaking everywhere,  pan, gasket, torque converter, seal
between transmission and differential.  The transmission has to be taken out
and
resealed.  A new clutch will be put  in and basically needs a re-build.
This
has to be done before I begin doing damage to the hard parts:  $1,100.00 (he
takes it out and brings it  to the tranny guy across the street)
3.  Lubricated the doors and locks, now my  doors open like butter (was
having trouble with my back door lock and passenger  side lock was not
opening,
sliding door has no key).  I have three keys:  ignition, door and gas  cap.
4.  Oil Change
5.  Clamped the filler pipe for the oil so  it doesn’t vibrate off, it was
cracked.
6.  As for the sliding window.  It locks but it vibrates open after
driving.
 So I need to check if it  is locked.  I thought it was the  weather
stripping or the guide rail on the bottom.  He said it needs a new lock for
the
sliding window and I can look on ebay, samba, go westy,  etc.
7.  The starter is working.  Sometimes you have to wait for it to  start.
He
said the starter is full  of transmission fluid from the leak, so it may
have
to be replaced.  He said the starter could be okay and I  could wait to
replace it until it fails but while he has the tranny out, there  is no
labor cost
for changing the starter:  $155.00 (its up to me if I want a new starter put
on)
8.  The rear brakes are shot that’s why I  need to pull the parking brake
all
the way up:  $250.00
I plan on giving him another  list:
1.  I gave him the original keys.  Need to check if the key copies work
like
the originals on the two doors he lubricated.
2.  Show him what I know about the sliding  window lock, may or may not be
the lock itself.
3.  I put on a new passenger side rear view  mirror.  It did not hold its
position, so I took it off and twisted the base to tighten the screw
mechanism
inside.  I put plumbing goop in  between the rubber washer and the door and
between the mirror and the  washer.  Do I need to reapply the  glue between
the
washer and mirror again.  I haven’t tested it yet on the highway to see if
it
holds position.  Did I twist it too much?  Is it a defective mirror or did I
loosen  it by twisting it when I was trying to figure out how to install
it.
4.  Blind spot mirrors for the side  mirrors.  Where to put them and how
big
to get?
5.  Show him the extra parts such as fuel  filter, window roll up handles,
belt, spark plugs, fuses, light bulbs  etc.
6.  Is it possible to set up a hammock or  rack to hang surf boards from the
ceiling of the vanagon.  To access the engine, I have to move my  surfboards
to the front of the vehicle.
7.  The van doesn’t have AC.  How much of the hardware for the AC was
removed and a price on installing AC.
8.  License plate holder for front  bumper.
Eric
1984 Vanagon GL H2O
Asuan  Brown