Date:         Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:56:59 -0500
Reply-To:     Michael Sullivan <sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Sullivan <sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: so it turns out i like vanagons.....
In-Reply-To:  <d1ea9acf0803311416n5466e4d2k7fe01441410b9944@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I think I'm gonna cry! ;-)  This story was better than any I've heard in
awhile.  Try explaining it to your future(or current) spouse(?) and see if
they get it. In awe, Michael in San Antonio.

On Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 4:16 PM, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:

> yep, I spent my spring break up on "Fountain Mountain"......it's always a
> good time up there.
>
> -Craig
> '85Gl
>
> On Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 6:15 PM, Walt Spak <b20swalt@city-net.com> wrote:
>
> > Now, it might seem like we, The Pittsburgh Vanagon Club, are Amish given
> > the way we all jumped in on this project, but that is not the case.
> >
> > In fact, since it was Craigs "spring break" activity, we provided loud
> > rock & roll, a full bar, and numerous wet T-shirt contests.
> >
> > Walt
> >
> >
> >
> > craig cowan wrote:
> >
> > >Not to distract from the argument about how much we'd all love to buy
> an
> > >$80K GoWesty vanagon and put no work into it ourselves, but i would
> like
> > to
> > >say that i have a problem. Problems, are what we have this forum for,
> we
> > >post a problem, and those with more experience suggest solutions for
> the
> > >problem. Well i've also been told that "accepting your problem is the
> > first
> > >step to solving it", i'm not sure if that's true, but here goes.
> > >It seems i'm addicted to vanagons, and thoroughly enjoy them.
> > >
> > >I'll give you guys all a second for that to set in....
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Okay. Well as some of you know, I'm amongst the youngest of the vanagon
> > >fanatics on our list, a college student that can safely say "is on a
> > >shoestring budget". Furthermore, my vanagon's been NOTHING but problems
> > >since day one. Just one after another. Between my $500 repair of a
> $2.50
> > >exhaust gasket last summer, and working 10 hour days at minimum wage to
> > fuel
> > >my addiction, it seems i needed a solution. Well when my spring break
> > plans
> > >went sour, i decided "what better time than now". After taking account
> of
> > my
> > >finances, resources, and skills.....i undertook a project slightly too
> > >ambitious for all of them. I decided i would be removing my engine and
> > all
> > >of its peripherals, and replacing it with another engine/peripherals
> from
> > a
> > >'known good' van. So after undertaking the ambitious engine removal
> using
> > >only a bag of mix and match tools, a floor jack, and the basic idea
> that
> > >"well i'll just unplug everything, and disconnect what seems obvious,
> and
> > >all will be well", i pulled the engine in just 4 hours, with help for
> > about
> > >the last hour of actual engine lowering and man-handling of tough
> > >components. There were endless reasons not to reuse this engine, most
> > >noteably that it had signs of heads that would soon be leaking, half a
> > drill
> > >bit stuck and partially "drilled out" in one of the heads (and
> > conveniently
> > >at an angle..), more rusted on components than anyone could expect, and
> > we
> > >knew very little about the engine other than that it was "supposedly a
> > low
> > >mileage Canadian rebuild".
> > >So the engine's out. That was such a wonderful feeling! As the next day
> > came
> > >along and i started removing peripherals, it was obvious that this
> engine
> > >really shouldnt be reused....bolts were breaking left and right, major
> > >systems were MISSING (NO throttle position switch system), and there
> was
> > >just plenty of "retrofitting" throughout the engine. Either way, i kept
> > on
> > >truckin untill i had removed the heads with only little difficulty.
> Upon
> > >inspection of the heads, and further inspection by experts....they
> proved
> > >really really nice. No cracks, only minor pitting, no wear in the valve
> > >systems....
> > >So it was decided that the engine was going to be saved. This, was a
> > >slightly uneasy moment for me, as it occured that this was going to
> cost
> > me
> > >more than just "putting in the other engine". Well the heads were
> rebuilt
> > by
> > >the machinists, the flywheel was cut, and all bolts
> extracted/helicoiled.
> > I
> > >spent an entire week of working 8-10 hour days on my car, getting the
> > engine
> > >"ready", and the car "ready to accept the engine". This included
> > repairing
> > >my steel coolant pipes, resealing the gas tank, replacing the heater
> > valve
> > >under the spare tire, and most importantly, fixing the clutch problems.
> > >These problems were associated with a binding bell housing (which was
> > >replaced with another bellhousing), and the transmission fluid's been
> > >changed. Well this weekend, the reassembly began. My parts arrived from
> > >their various vendors, and i hold Ken Willford in high regard for his
> > >services in providing help and parts, in a timely and organized
> fashion!
> > >Parts in hand and an assembly team established, we went at it. With a
> > group
> > >that we like to call "The PIttsburgh Vanagon Club", we got together and
> > >built an engine/car! The heater valve was replaced and tweaked to
> > >perfection, the odometer repaired, the clutch hydrolics system sorted
> > out,
> > >the engine assembled, and the perifferals bolted on. New fuel lines
> > >throughout, fuel tank resealed and installed, coolant hoses replaced,
> > >transmission filled, and it was all ready to go. Except, while
> > reassembling,
> > >it was discovered that my new water pump was defective, so assembly was
> > >halted. Ken Willford from Vanagain has another in the mail, and all
> will
> > be
> > >well, thanks again Ken! So now after a 48 hour weekend home from
> college,
> > in
> > >which i worked between 24-30 hours on my van (depending on what you
> > count),
> > >eating only 3 meals and getting only 6 hours of sleep, i can now say
> that
> > i
> > >have an addiction, and i'm pretty good at it! The engine is as ready as
> > it
> > >can be with the parts we have, the car is the same, and in another
> > weekend
> > >of work, i'm confident it can drive away without problems for years to
> > come!
> > >
> > >
> > >So it turns out i really enjoy working on vanagons, and i'm pretty good
> > at
> > >it. I"m no longer afraid to "jump under there with a saw-zaw" if thats
> > what
> > >it needs, and i'm happy with what i've learned. Once again, i need to
> > thank
> > >the entire list, Walt Spak, Eric Zeno, David Milo, Brian Honan, Steve
> > >Mancuso, and Ken Willford. There's no way i could have done what i've
> > done
> > >so far without them.
> > >
> > >Yes, the engine's not in yet, theres no need to brag yet, and my
> fingers
> > are
> > >still crossed. But, i'm now confident in my own skills, ready for
> > anything
> > >to come, and hope to enjoy my vanagon for years to come. With body
> work,
> > >this bad boy could be worth saving! So i guess the question is, how do
> i
> > go
> > >about finding a job involving vanagons? I could spend another summer
> > working
> > >for minimum wage to pay for vanagons, or i could spend a summer working
> > with
> > >vanagons......
> > >Who needs to hire some cheap labor?!?     : )
> > >
> > >Thanks again to everyone! Now, you can resume your discussions about
> $90K
> > >syncro Westy's, who's tires are the best (my Hankook RA08's have worked
> > >great for both miles i've driven on them so far!), and what the best
> way
> > to
> > >adjust the valves on hydrolic lifters. That is all, but thanks again!
> > >
> > >-Craig
> > >'85Gl
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>



--
Michael in San Antonio
91GL AT 'Gringo'