Date:         Thu, 4 Oct 2007 20:15:31 -0700
Reply-To:     Stan A Vanagon <stanthevanagon@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stan A Vanagon <stanthevanagon@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      1983.5 VW Vanagon camper for sale in Houston, Texas
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Hello all! I have not had time to post in many months. I was
fortunate enough to purchase a 1983.5 Vanagon GL with water cooled
engine from an older couple in California in February of this year.
The vanagon was VERY well maintained (it had the original tires when
I bought it & they were good condition!). I have really enjoyed
doing what little work on it that needed to be done, but I am about
to get married and need the money for our honeymoon. If anyone would
like to purchase or know anyone who would, here is the info.
Pictures are available on www.xanga.com/ stanthevanagon

It has approximately 120,000 miles. The odometer broke when the
engine was replaced @ 90,000 miles, but I took it apart, rolled it to
120,000 (the number of miles I was told were actually on it) and
reinstalled. The odometer has since stopped working again, but can
easily be fixed. The transmission is automatic. The V-belts were all placed in April.
  The front captain's chairs are in good condition as is the back seat, though the back
seat could stand new fabric - there are no holes, but it looks its
age. There is an air conditioner that was obviously added after
market. The freon is charged up. I think there is a problem with
the ac wiring, however, as last time I ran it for a long time I saw
some smoke coming from the wires. I placed a new radio antenna after
I purchased it - I believe the radio was taken out of the dash for
the ac and is placed on the floor in front of the gear shifter. The
radio and tape deck work well, but there is a back speaker missing.
I have the replacement rubber to go around all of the windows
(including windshield), but have only replaced the rubber around the
front windows (these were the only windows that were in really bad
shape). There is a sunroof in the body (as opposed to in the pop-
top) that leaks a little when it rains. The body is in EXCELLENT
condition. There are a few small dings in the left side - you can
see in the pictures where there is discoloration. ..I did this to
prevent rust until I could repaint. I have not had time/money to
have the vanagon professionally repainted, but I did get a can of
matching spraypaint and repainted that area. I replaced the hydralic
struts that hold the back end open, and that came out great. I have
also replaced the side mirrors (and subsequently glued them in place
so they did not fold in on the freeway!) All of the windows have new
curtains on them. The windshield does not have any cracks or dings -
I have placed a privacy curtain that adheres to the sides and velcros
in the middle. There is dirt/a kink in the windshield washer fluid
tubing or something wrong with the windshield washer fluid motor -
when trying to clean the windshield the fluid just dribbles out...I
tried to fix this, but was sent the wrong part and could never find
the right one. Both bumpers are in great condition - I replaced the
back one as the original had some dings in it.

The vanagon was outfitted with a "country homes camper" conversion
when it was purchased. It has a pop-top with both pieces to the
upper bed. The canvas to the pop-top is in excellent condition with
slight black (mold?) discoloring to the back corners. I replaced the
rubber around both parts of the pop-top after I purchased it. The
refrigerator works and runs off the battery. I have the set-up for
an axillary battery, but never purchased one. I have not put propane
in the tank, so I do not know if the stove works, but it looks like
it should. There is a problem with the water pump that I have been
unable to fix, so the sink needs work before it works right (if you
fill the water tank the faucet does not come on, but the sink will be
filled with water the next day). The back seat folds into a queen
bed - they forgot to give me the mattress when I bought it, but I
have put a tempur-pedic mattress topper on there that does the job.
The ties that hold the back seat straight when it is in bed-form were
broken when I boought it (it looks like time got to them), but it is
corrected by placing a cooler under the foot part of it. I'm sure
the straps could be easily replaced.

As I said I purchased it in February, and have probably only put 2000
miles on since then. Maintenance- wise I changed the oil in April.
The transmission had its first service and they flushed/replaced the
trasmission fluid. All 4 tires were replaced (I believe the spare is
still original to manufacture) with 60,000 mile rated tires. The
water pump was replaced. The freon was recharged with R-12 freon (I
think that's the right name...it's the "legal" freon replacement) . I
believe the brakes were serviced too.

I paid $4000 for the vanagon, and have probably put at least $2500
into fixing things and general maintenance. I would really like to
get the $6500 that I have put into it back, but would be willing to
take the best offer as it may or may not be worth that much. If I do
not get much response here I will post on ebay before November.
Email me or call me @ 281-636-5372 with any questions/offers.

  I forgot to mention the most important part!!!  The vanagon start up
great, but needs to be warmed for a minute before it is good to go.
The speedometer works well.  Most importantly, it drives and handles
REALLY well (as well as a non-power engine can handle)

  Thanks - Heather





Check out my progress at www.xanga.com/stanthevanagon