Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 14:29:25 -0400
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Minimal vanagon support kit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=no
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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