Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 19:04:54 -0700
Reply-To: Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Minimal vanagon support kit
In-Reply-To: <FD0AA337D75D4329B49DF4AE93F83869@daryl01>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Minus ten points for Off Topic posts....:)
On Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 5:59 PM, aatransaxle <daryl@aatransaxle.com> wrote:
> I put a Zetec engine in mine..Carry waaay less shtuff....
> Now just a small tool bag and a serp belt and a gal of water...
> Daryl of AA Transaxle
> (425) 788-4070
> aatransaxle.com
> 86 Syncro Westy
> Zetec in the trunk
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dave Mcneely" <mcneely4@COX.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, September 07, 2009 11:29 AM
> Subject: Re: Minimal vanagon support kit
>
>
> Wow, look at all the stuff some of you guys find necessary to carry to
>> make sure your vanagons get you wherever and back!
>>
>> GoWesty has another idea, of course. Spend 40 or 50k with them to make
>> a vanagon equivalent to new (or better, they claim).
>>
>> Not difficult vehicles? Reliable?
>>
>> Sure, they're old. And they're difficult. But, oh well. So am I.
>>
>> Dave Mc
>>
>> Oh, my van is a '91 Vanagon GL Campmobile.
>>
>> Oh, I guess what I need is a list of all the do-overs that I need to do
>> to make sure my vanagon mechanical systems are all sound. Let's see --
>>
>> I've got a nearly new rebuilt engine (22k miles. chassis has 145k
>> miles).
>> Transmission drained and refilled (manual transmission).
>> I've redone all the ignition parts -- plugs, points, rotor, cap, wires.
>> New air filter.
>> New fuel injection lines (they were part of the engine rebuild). New
>> fuel filter and new fuel lines from tank to filter and filter on. New
>> fuel pump.
>> New AFM.
>> five New heavy duty tires, Kumho 857s: 195R14C. More than meet specs
>> for weight capacity (load level D, spec is for C), 8 ply rating. tires
>> come with lifetime rotate and balance, including spare. I'm a nut about
>> keeping this up on all my vehicles. Van drives well with these tires.
>> Run these at 53 psi rear, 43 psi front per VW spec. Tire spec allows up
>> to 65 psi, which I will go with if I think I may be carrying the maximum
>> weight.
>> Brakes inspected, fluid flushed and refilled, and good to go.
>> Alignment (but, was unaware that one needs (according to some of you
>> guys) to load the vehicle before doing the alignment, do the alignment,
>> drive it, do the alignment again). Wow. Of course, that's not
>> DIFFICULT. Fortunately, mine drives with the steering wheel dead on
>> center, and will track absolutely on a straight, level road, whether
>> loaded or not. Good enough? It is considered so on most vehicles.
>> New cv joints. New ball joints, upper and lower. Shocks check as
>> excellent (fairly new). No steering play, no vibration or bounce.
>> Wheel bearings good, newly greased.
>> New radiator, new radiator temperature switch. Complete flush. New
>> phosphate free coolant with distilled water (the expensive VW stuff,
>> probably not necessary, but ............ ). New temperature sender.
>> Fan motor hot post repaired where broken during radiator replacement.
>> New coolant distribution manifold (the one that reportedly fails
>> catastrophically. Mine broke during another repair, so not so
>> catastrophic).
>> Plan to redo all coolant hoses, and plastic pipe ends, pending new
>> funds.
>> New water pump (twice, due to failure of first new one). New
>> thermostat.
>> New oil pump (not needed, mistake).
>> New motor mounts.
>> New drive belts.
>> Oil pressure monitoring system redone, including new sensors, new wire
>> to gauge and instrument cluster. Idiot light and gauge both working
>> properly (gauge reads about 5 lbs lower than actual according to
>> independent mechanical check). BTW, pressure senders set up on a single
>> tube (with a T) from the engine case for both high and low pressure,
>> eliminating the difficult to access high pressure sender location.
>> Senders and tube secured with a bracket to engine case to minimize
>> vibration.
>> Currently running Valvoline 50W due to extreme summer temps in some
>> areas I've been driving. Will change to multi-vis (15W-50 if I can get
>> it, otherwise 20W-50 Castrol) next month or so with cooler weather. If
>> I decide to drive during winter, and can't get the 15W-50, I may go with
>> 10W-40, or with 30W.
>> Clutch engages and disengages well. No idea when it was redone, if
>> ever. Evidently not with engine replacement, as paperwork does not
>> reflect it.
>> New wiper blades and rear hatch struts.
>> Very slight leak from oil cooler, will replace o-ring at next oil change
>> (not leaking enough to spot under the vehicle, and not enough to require
>> adding oil between changes).
>> I carry spare fuses and bulbs, and spare drive belts. Guess I'll get
>> some of that "Rescue Tape."
>>
>> I keep my AAA card and cell phone handy.
>>
>> What have I missed?
>>
>> Dave Mc
>>
>
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