Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 16:26:08 -0600
Reply-To: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Cross Country trip- SUCCESS!
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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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