Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:56:37 -0400
Reply-To: Daniel Stevens <dosteven@SYR.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Daniel Stevens <dosteven@SYR.EDU>
Subject: Re: WWUD?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
More of a reality $2,000 isn't a down payment ona Class C. that $8,000
is a down payment on a Class C with ameneties.
I wouldn't concern of the total costs of a total restoration, spurred
on by a tranny rebuild.
rebuild/install the tranny, enjoy the van as you would have anyways..
put some more love back into it as you feel it deserves and you can
afford..
but know that if you do need a new bodied westfalia, you have a tranny
with known good rebuild and miles on it.. a double value indeed.
these vans are our companions, we entrust our safety and enjoyment
onto. they ask little in return other then a caring hand on the steering
and shifter and some maintenance when they get weary. just like us, some
get weary sooner then others, but who are we to blame them. they are
carrying us and our gear thru hectic traffic, mountain roads, and ocean
side beaches. just so we can sit, grin and smile..
there isn't a much happier sound then a faithful westfalia, strumming
around 55-65 down a coastal or mtn road wind in your hair/face
cold lunch in the back and all the gear you need for a day on the
river/lake/beach.
we all own then because a class C isn't a suitable replacement.,
though the SPrinters have stolen a few of our faithful..
Dan Stevens
dying to get out from the hustle and bustle in my 1980
William Alexander wrote:
> 1987 Westy, beautiful (see it here:
> http://www.homepage.mac.com/william_idzyn/vanagon ) condition -
> exhibiting a shifting problem. It doesn't seem to be the infamous
> sudden death - according to the local stealer (VW dealer) they think
> the shifting forks are bent, and now that I drive it since they've
> said that, it does feel a bit like that - shifting into third is
> slightly difficult, shifting into fourth at first seems impossible,
> but with patience and pressure fourth does happen - no grinding or
> weird noises - just tough shifting and the nagging "I'll be stuck
any
> minute" feeling.
>
> I love the westy, have had a ton of fun in her in the last two years
> since I bought her, and haven't been shy about spending a couple
> thousand dollars every year on little things here and there, but
this
> is the first couple grand big thing I've encountered, and I'm having
> trouble pulling the trigger on a Go Westy or similar rebuilt tranny
> for the van, especially when rust is strating to make holes in the
> body, and based solely on a visual inspection - the kind of lift the
> hood holding a beer and say "yep" visual inspection - the engine
will
> be wanting some major attention some day in the not too distants..
>
> The dilemma is this: dropping the $$ for the tranny switch this
summer
> feels like commiting to more $$ for body work and paint next summer
> and an engine swap down the road - along with lots of other little
> goodies I see it more as the first installment on a $8000 fix rather
> than just this one job.. should I submit to this kind of commitment
on
> the vanagon? Or should I take the $2000 and make it a downpaymnent
on
> a Class C RV? I sure would enjoy all f those extra ameneties..
shower,
> bathroom, master bedroom... all in a similarly parkable package...
and
> it's not my daily driver, it's just for liiving large while
> vacationing... but would I be selling my soul?
>
> Discuss... I need help here..
>
> William in Roanoke
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