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Date:         Wed, 3 Jun 2009 18:01:48 -0500
Reply-To:     Michael Sullivan <sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Sullivan <sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Cross Country trip- SUCCESS!
Comments: To: craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <d1ea9acf0906031526v2b18d630s522583db82b96ee2@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Wow, great trip notes. Glad it wnet so smooth. Nebraska is not as bad as Kansas, bud. BTW-Kansas Tpike SUCKS!!! Michael in San Antonio 91GL AT 'Gringo' 73 Beetle

On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 5:26 PM, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:

> Well guys, its time I thank the masses.Over the course of the last few > months, plenty of people have given me great advice on preparing for the > vanagon-dream-trip. I cannot possibly thank all of these people > individually. I would also like to thank list members Peter Osianoski and > Tom Buses for allowing me a place to park for the night on the way out. I > also cannot speak highly enough of the gang Peter assembled (some of whom > are list members but names I forget), my meeting with Bob Stevens in Salt > Lake City, and a few other vanagon nuts I had a chance to talk with along > the way. > > I just completed my journey from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to Reno Nevada, > over the course of 5 days, alone. I made the trip using my 1985 (mostly) > vanagon which I have rebuilt from a piece of junk almost 5 years ago now, > converted to a full westfalia, and now installed a Bostig Engineering > engine > conversion in! Many of you may have noticed I didn't ask any questions > during the bostig install... because it's that easy! I cannot speak highly > enough about this product and won't go into a rant about that but will say > this, I've had my engine conversion running for 3 weeks now. The lettering > on the Ford Focus engine indicates I purchased it from the junk yard on > 5-3-09. So the conversion only took about 2 weeks of working on and off, > alone, and I immediately took it across the country! I don't know how many > people can say they put 1 tank of gasoline on an engine conversion before > taking it the next 3000 miles, but I can! > With that said, the trip was just wonderful! I averaged 21mpg between all > my > tanks of gasoline, with my best tank coming in at 26mpg. This was > maintaining speeds of 70-75mph the entire way! I did run a few tanks of E85 > ethanol as well, paying as low as $1.20/gallon! > > All the mechanical systems on the bus performed as expected, and it was > very > sure footed throughout the entire journey. I did still have intermittent > problems with my fridge blowing out while driving (but it appears it only > blows out above 70mph. If i Keep it to 70mph it will stay lit all day!), > and > my aux battery charge circuit frying (Questions will follow about how to > better set up my charge circuit to accommodate my 88ah of deep cycle power > under the drivers seat). It's time for an oil change. I never even checked > the oil, the entire way across the country! The little zetec just keeps on > running. > > Anyway, I am now spending my summer in Reno Nevada, teaching Sailing > Lessons. If anyone is in the area or the surrounding areas and has > suggestions for weekend getaways to camp, or would like to meet up with me > somewhere and do some camping, i'd cherish the opportunity. Furthermore if > anyone is in this area and needs some wrenching done, consider me a free > but > only "pretty good" mechanic. > > In August, I will be making a similar trip home. I'm not sure that i'll be > taking the same route, but may make my way through the mountainous North > rather than the relentlessly boring "middle". In my mind, Nebraska needs to > be eliminated.....from everything. Regardless, I look forward to meeting > more of you guys! > > Sincerely, > Craig Cowan > '85Gl turned WESTY > Bostig in the back. >


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