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Date:         Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:04:16 -0800
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: '84 value?
Comments: To: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <c4e7c5f90711271644g1bfca932i346e5e046858bbac@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I put an entire Power steering 85 front end and PS system onto an 83. quite a job. But it all fits. Is this 85 of yours got power steering ? you can bolt on the rack and run it non-PS if you want to. Doesn't seem to hurt. But check that out, if it's PS or not. Friend of mine through away an 85 body. Since I re-build and upgrade vanagons from the ground up, I was really tearing my hair out over that. I coulda got parts off that thing for YEARS. Take a simple a thing as the visor holder clips - ya can't get them that I know of . There are so many great parts on an 85.

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of neil N Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 4:44 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: '84 value?

This is an interesting thread. I still have my 85 parts van in the drive way.

Is it worth pulling the front brakes and suspension for future spare parts?

i.e. will the brake and suspension parts bolt up to my 81 Westy?

I was going to just pull the steering rack as it looked the same as my 81 rack

Thanks!

Neil (who clearly doesn't need to add work to his engine conversion project!)

On Nov 27, 2007 4:10 PM, Mike Collum <collum@verizon.net> wrote:

> You would have to get the steering knuckles off an '86 or newer model in > order to use the newer brake rotors and calipers, David. > > Mike > > > David Kao wrote: > > Can it be done to put 86+ brake calipers and rotators on an earlier > > 1.9 Vanagons? Are the spindles compatible between the two? > > > > The front brake of my 84 and 83.5 have been a constant issue to me. I > > found that I have to use only OEM pads for the front brake to work. > Tried > > many aftermaket pads with no luck. They are not even close to be usable > > in my several attempts to use them. VW must have realized the brake > issue > > so they upgraded it for the 86+ models among other reasons. > > > > I am concerned that once VW dealers no longer carry them I would be > > out of luck for good brake pads. > > > > David > > > > > > > > > > > > --- Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET> wrote: > > > >> The main thing is to find one that has been loved enough to be worth > >> committing yourself to and don't worry too much about the year. > >> > >> As Scott says, the later sliding door is a huge improvement that all 85 > >> and newer models have. The better parking brake was phased in during > the > >> 85 model year and many 85s don't have it. Ditto for the plastic coolant > >> pipes and cast front lower arms. At least the newer and much better > >> parking brake can be easily added to earlier models. > >> > >> The 86+ has more powerful front brakes to go with the more powerful > >> engine. Better caliper design, more pad area, larger effective diameter > >> rotor and of greater thickness. > >> > >> The upgraded wiring found in 86+ is a more robust and versatile system > >> though I'm not sure too many owners would notice the difference. > >> > >> Lots of small changes were made after 86 as well and the vehicle just > >> got a little bit better year by year. I prefer 87 and later but 85 is a > >> sweet spot in the value curve and 86 is only slightly different than > 87. > >


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