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Date:         Tue, 1 Jan 2008 13:12:20 -0600
Reply-To:     Dan Weeks <theprofileco@DWX.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dan Weeks <theprofileco@DWX.COM>
Subject:      Fwd: And on the 20th day...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

> > On Jan 1, 2008, at 12:44 PM, Pensioner wrote: > >> The ongoing repairs to my otherwise-running-fine-when-it-went-to- >> the-shop >> for a timing belt change and an upgraded exhaust system, syncro >> are now into >> the twentieth calendar day. > > O, Hell, that's nothing! My folks drove their I-4 conversion westy > out here (Des Moines) from Maine. Before they left, they had jiffy > lube change the oil. By the time they arrived here, we concluded > what they'd filled the crankcase was was ATF, ruining a perfectly > good motor. > > My mechanic said he could swap another I-4 into it, no problem. > Along the way, my dad decided he might as well get the trans > rebuilt (syncro was out of third, and it was very noisy), along > with a new clutch, repack the CVs, etc. That job started Oct 13, > 2006. The van is still not done, 14 months later. Endless > complications, some due to the previous conversion being wired > wrong and it taking huge amounts of diagnostic time (including lots > of expensive dead-ends) to discover, some due to parts wholesalers > selling the wrong or mislabeled parts, which weren't discovered to > be wrong until they were installed, etc. The trans has been in and > out of the van 4 times now. > > It has cost huge amounts of money, and my wrench, who is at least > honest, has not charged for more than one trans rebuild for at > least some of the dead-ends, and has lost far more money in parts > and shop time than I've spent on it. I feel like gogo in waiting > for Godot: Not today, but surely tomorrow. Meanwhile, my dad has > developed macular degeneration, and can no longer drive! > > I think I'll end up selling my keep-it-forever 1.6TD Westy to pay > the bill, and buy my dad's from him, since he can't use it anymore > and since no one else would pay him what he's got invested in it > now, which is far more than his van--or even my diesel--is worth. > > Lesson: Stick with the mechanics on this list who are known experts > in these rigs, even if the job seems duh! simple, and the > specialists are a half-continent away. I think the van will be fine > when its all sorted out, and fortunately, it's now a spare, but > cheese louise! > > Dan > 82 Westy 1.6TD (probably for sale when the gasser is finally done) > 83 Westy 1.8 I-4 (still in pieces) > >


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