Date: Tue, 1 May 2007 19:02:42 -0700
Reply-To: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Thanks for all the help, the van is looking better
In-Reply-To: <032601c78c36$5ef18e40$5d19a8c0@cspfr2>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Nice Bob Gollihur Bass sticker Brian! :)
On 5/1/07, BJ Feddish <bfeddish@netreach.net> wrote:
>
> I'd like to thank everyone for all the help this spring getting by van
> back
> in shape after driving it for 11 years. Chris got my ass in gear last year
> when he told me that if my van came in with a blown motor he would part it
> out (ouch!). Last spring I got (what was apparently one of the last) the
> interior from an '84 Wolfsburg. It is in mint condition. I completed
> putting
> that in this spring with the rust repair. With lots of help from the list
> I
> got the camping gear out (and back in) and fixed all the rust. I also
> added
> the South African front grill which has a set of lights that are amazing.
> I
> got allot of help with that one. The final plan I took was to run a fresh
> wire up to them and put a switch on the dash. I only need them for the
> long
> dark stretches of road around here. I also got a nice Shady Boy awning.
> Not
> really a whole lot easier to setup than the Bus Depot one I had but gets
> me
> that much more room back for traveling. I added a 3 point seat belt for
> the
> rear seat. I added a 3rd eye brake light to the rear cabinet. Lots of
> misc
> parts from GoWesty, including the best part, that cool flip down cup
> holder.
> There are some pictures at http://www.feddishbasses.com/vw/ . GoWesty can
> get addicting, point, click and it's in your mailbox 3 days later.
>
> Yeah, I know I need new bumpers but I'm sticking with "as needed" this
> spring.
>
> The next step is the pop-top canvas. I need to see of Bus Depot has those
> Westfalia ones in stock. Of course I'll be asking someone out there how to
> replace it with the top still on. I know some of you have done it but I
> cannot find it in the archives.
>
> As for the engine, that's a different story. It was rebuilt by my old
> mechanic 11 years ago. It was the last thing he did before he retired. He
> was semi-retired when he rebuilt the motor because he was drunk all day.
> The
> heads blew 1 week after getting the van. I did them myself after that
> happened. OK, the motor has 72K on it and has had a knock since day 1.
> Would
> YOU drive this thing to CA. I don't think so. I will add it runs smoothly
> and the van has only seen 1 tow truck in it's live with me and that was my
> fault. This summer I'm going to stay within "AAA towing distance" of my
> house. I've been doing ALLOT of research on engine options, even lurking
> on
> the Subaru Vanagon list. I'm still up in the air right now. If money was
> no
> option I would order a Ztec tomorrow from Bosig. The thought of having an
> almost new engine back there with overheating fail-safe is really
> enticing.
> The turn-keys from Vanaru also look awesome. I can't say that a new
> rebuilt
> WBX is out of the question but the thought of putting that shiny new
> engine
> in then strapping on all my old stuff gives me the shivers. I've met list
> members who say to just get a $300 Subaru junker then the KEP kit and go
> to
> town, giving you an engine for a total of $1800. That one is probably out
> of
> the question. I'm not going to spend hours upon hours matching wires and
> installing an old motor only to be worse off than I started. That's easy
> to
> do if you are mechanic but it's not for me. If I did do it myself it would
> be with a complete kit from Bostig or Vanaru, I think it's worth the time
> saved to spend some more money to get everything. Of course the final
> decision will come from "she who pays the bills."
>
> Now, what to do with these mysterious leftover parts from putting the
> camping gear back in...
>
> Bryan
>
--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
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