Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (September 2008, week 3)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:00:43 -0700
Reply-To:     Jim Cochran <mxsailor@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Cochran <mxsailor@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Tune Up or Not?
Comments: To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <096a01c9175a$fdde2760$6401a8c0@PROSPERITY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

I totally agree. I used to get the job done to just get the job done. Not anymore, and it make a difference. Even with that, I pack all my tools, fluids and a cell phone before I test drive my work any distance. We're all human, and a moment of distraction or forgetfulness can mean a long, drawn out and always expensive, repair down the road (literally!) And, then, the same can be said for the guys that made and QC'd the part! It's a wonder ANYTHING runs at all!

Jim C

On Sep 15, 2008, at 10:46 AM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:

> 1. the tune up parts themselves, in waterboxer vanagons, especially > if real > Bosch ones, last REALLY well, and are not the weak link at at. > 2. it takes about 4 to 6 minutes to look under the distributor cap and > remove one spark plug for inspection. > 3. whenever you touch or work on a car, you introduce > opportunities for > something to be different, or not right, when it might have been > just fine > beforehand. I would not, for example, change the fuel lines and then > hand > the van over to someone to go on a trip. > That is REALLY asking for trouble. You don't truly, truly know your > fuel > line work is good until the thing has worked properly for a few > weeks, and > you've inspected your work a time or two in the meantime. > 4. Really............here is a Scott Foss Turbovans Shazam quote : > > "It's not the parts, it's the workmanship." > > people think 'changing parts' is fixing cars. It's not. The real > repair and > improvement, or restoration back to full health relies about 80 % on > workmanship, and only 20 % on the parts installed. > Example : .......tdi sycnro Vanagon, Symptom : horrible 2nd gear > sycnro > action. A shop changed the pilot bearing, which was toast........The > shop > installs a waterboxer pilot bearing with just *nothing* for a pilot > bearing > dust seal. That pilot bearing will just turn to dust, like the > first one > did, in maybe two and a half years, and then like the first > incorrect pilot > bearing, it'll contribute to tearing up the 1,500 dollar or whatever > it was > sycnro transmission rebuild job. > A proper diesel pilot bearing with built in dust seal is the right > part. > About half the waterboxer clutches I take apart..........the felt > dust ring > seal is missing, because the little metal ring that retains it is > missing, > likely because it was removed by the machine shop to surface the > flywheel. > They of course forget about that tiny part. The shop forgets about > it, It > goes back together with no pilot brg. dust seal..........and a few > years > later, the little rollers are rusty dust. > I see this ALL THE TIME. > > it's the Workmanship, not the parts. > > And when I work on vanagons, I find myself restoring this or that, > treating > rust, replacing things left off, tightening loose stuff , or whatever. > There is far, FAR more to REALLY fixing and restoring back to full > health > than just installing a part or several. > I'll even say this, installing whatever part........is really only > 40 % at > the most, of 'REAL repair and bringing back to full health' is. > do good work, have fun ! > Scott > www.turbovans.com > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Michael Sullivan" <sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > Sent: Monday, September 15, 2008 9:50 AM > Subject: Re: Tune Up or Not? > > >> Well, my kid wants the van for the weekend, so will do the lines on >> Wednesday so I don't regret it. Thanks all. >> >> On Mon, Sep 15, 2008 at 11:43 AM, Stephen Grisanti >> <bike2vcu@yahoo.com>wrote: >> >>> I applaud your intentions, but have always found that doing >>> something >>> uncalled-for generally results in the unintended and unwanted. >>> But that >>> could just be me. >>> >>> Stephen >>> >>> --- On *Sun, 9/14/08, Michael Sullivan <sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM>* >>> wrote: >>> >>> From: Michael Sullivan <sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM> >>> Subject: Tune Up or Not? >>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >>> Date: Sunday, September 14, 2008, 5:01 PM >>> >>> >>> Kinda feeling lazy today and was gonna replace rotor, cap and >>> plugs. I >>> will >>> be doing the fuel lines in a week or so. Van is running great and >>> wonder >>> if >>> I can do another chore and just keep the tune-up parts on hand. Just >>> don't >>> know when last done from PO and don't want to make trouble later >>> on, but >>> if >>> it aint broke.... Opinions? >>> >>> -- >>> Michael in San Antonio >>> 91GL AT 'Gringo' >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> Michael in San Antonio >> 91GL AT 'Gringo'


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.