Date:         Fri, 7 Jul 2006 00:57:57 -0700
Reply-To:     tele2222@YAHOO.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Curt Newsome <tele2222@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Just how far in over my head am I? (long)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I bought an '85 westy several months ago and have been
going through it as $ allows trying to make it right.
The immediate PO flew down to the Bay area to buy it
(from Seattle) and threw a rod on the drive home.
Consequently the van had about $5500 worth of work
somewhere in OR - and the PO had his fill.  I paid too
much on the basis of the new 2.1 engine, radiator, CV
joints etc, but that's another story.

This is my 3rd VW van, the most recent being a '78
that I sold about 14 years ago. Undoubtedly this
recent purchase was somewhat nostalgia driven and I
didn't really think it through.  Although I once did a
valve job on a bug I haven't done much of my own work
since I sold the '78 (which was a great car and didn't
need much) - so the realization of what's really
involved in keeping a 21 year old vehicle (with LOTS
of deferred maintenance) afloat has been sobering.

I don't have the time, space or tools to do much of
the work myself anymore and this thing is eating me
alive.  I think I'm getting close to having it right -
the van itself is in excellent condition and along
with the substantial work paid for by the PO I now
have a rebuilt AT and front end, plus many other odds
and ends - but I'm really wondering if it is feasible
for someone like me to own a Vanagon anymore. I've
saved money b shopping for parts online and using
different shops for different work but that will only
get you so far when there's a lot to do.

So what's the bottom line - will I ever be able to
truly relax and have miles of trouble and worry free
driving, or is something always gong to need fixing?
Sure, I shouldn't have to deal with major engine or
transmission problems, but I'm pretty sure that
anything not replaced since the thrown rod is original
(the front end certainly was).  As you are all aware
there are quite a number of other parts that can spoil
a camping trip,and I don't have unlimited $ to throw
at this thing (if I did maybe I would pay $30k for one
of GoWestys restore jobs!).  I'd never get out what
I've put into it but I'm fantasizing about cutting my
losses - though I do love driving it.

The second part of my question is if you were me, what
other probable original parts might be especially
suspect at 21 years and 158,000 miles?  What else
might I consider replacing pre-emptively?

I have some niggling problems I'm trying to solve but
will post those specific queries separately.  Thanks
for your time, this board is a huge resource.

Curt

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