Date:         Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:55:32 -0800
Reply-To:     Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Junkyard find (long)
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While sauntering in the boneyards last weekend I made a find I did not mention: in the staging area of my second stop (a well-known local big-box junkyard) was a nice late Vanagon hardtop with grey cloth interior and alloys.  I learned that the place takes a few days to process vehicles so I’ve been monitoring the field online to see when it comes up for grabs.  Late yesterday I learned it was placed in the field Thursday.

Arrived this morning about ten and could see that the alloys were gone.  Of course.  Good.  That removes the temptation since I really want 15s when the time comes for new tires.  I suspect the independent VW place a few blocks from there has an inside line on new arrivals because when I got up to the ’88 GL I could see that every good, useful exterior piece was gone.  Lights, grilles, front bumper (rear glass one still there but slightly cracked on the top center), door handles, and also the front buckets.  Relieved about that,  too, since I didn’t want the buzz killed on my Eurovan seat swap.  The rest of the interior is intact (middle bench, folding rear seat and engine cover cushion, carpeting and most interior panels) but filthy, so my seats are likely nicer anyway.

So without the distraction of lust for things I might want I set about removing the stuff I thought I might really need for spares; instrument cluster (working odometer pleasepleaseplease), door map pocket (for the passenger side of mine), and most of the contents of the engine compartment.  I got the coolant bottles, alternator, AFM, throttle body, injectors and fuel rails, coil, distributor and wires, the fuel pump from underneath and a couple of small interior pieces.  I’d love to have the trans just in case.

The sad part is that what remains is an extremely nice and complete shell.  NO RUST, good red paint, good glass, no dents or damage but for a scrape behind the slider.  Doors, slider and hatch just begging for a new home.  A/C tunnel looking complete and usable (one cracked fastener fitting, maybe).  A real shame that it’s headed for the crusher but I’m glad I had the chance to stock up in case my ’87 needs something, and I’ve been desperately wanting to become a Vanagon parts predator.  It feels good.

The interesting part for me was tearing into the engine.  I’ve been very tentative under the hood of mine, not wanting to dislodge something or upset the good-running mojo my van seems to exude.  This gave me a chance to mess with stuff with no consequence (except for the upcoming credit card bill) and really get acquainted with a WBX up close.  I feel much better about that.  I’m thinking about going back tomorrow to tear the dash apart for the heater core and blower motor, and for the practice that would provide.  What else should I get?

Stephen