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Date:         Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:23:30 -0700
Reply-To:     Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: front end reassembly: strut bar
Comments: To: Bill MacLachlan <billmacla@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <u2r333c10e1004202207k863b7c4ctd23494d251c12f4e@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Nice work Bill!

At least you know that your present van will carry you safely toward the next one. =)

Seeya, Jake

On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 10:07 PM, Bill MacLachlan <billmacla@gmail.com>wrote:

> Well it all went together well. I gently tapped the rod on over the bolts, > tightened it up with the old nuts, then realised I couldn't get the > stabiliser bar link in. Dropped the two bushings that attach the stabiliser > to the body and it was an easy to set the link in- tons of slop that > allowed > moving it all over the place. > Refitting the bushings on the radius rod, found I couldn't get the nut on. > No projecting thread. Turned the steering wheel, and the movement of the > wheel pushed the rod through the bushing gave me plenty to play with. I was > working on the right side of the van, turned the wheels to the left. Bolted > it up, tightened it to exactly 72 ft lb ( ie on the really darn tight side > of pretty darn tight), cleaned up, did a quick test drive, called it > quits. > I'll do the other side another night, armed with a little experience!!! > > Looking under there, and generally thinking of the van, it really is time > for a new one, despite the new parts I see all over the underside of my > van. > A late model westy this time. lowish miles, no rust, power mirrors, manual > windows, grey interior, nice wheels, standard........a good subie or zetec > conversion would be nice.......... let me know if you see anything!!!!! > > Bill M > 82 GL I4 with new bushings!!!!!! > vancouver > > On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 6:10 PM, Bill MacLachlan <billmacla@gmail.com > >wrote: > > > I'll keep you posted. I'm going to have a look at it after supper..... > > > > > > On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 5:28 PM, Shawn Wright <vwdiesels@gmail.com> > wrote: > > > >> Oh great. I have all 4 off the ground, so I guess that means I should > >> leave it alone! > >> > >> > >> On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 3:47 PM, Bill MacLachlan <billmacla@gmail.com > >wrote: > >> > >>> well interesting.......I just took the rod off with the van on the > >>> ground. > >>> All four wheels. On the ground. Came apart relatively easily. Just a > >>> few > >>> rust loosening hammer bangs after the nuts were off. Wouldn't have > >>> started > >>> if I couldn't've turned the nuts. > >>> > >>> Just goes to show what a little ignorance will do. > >>> > >>> Maybe being 4 wheels on the ground'll make it hard to get the rod back > >>> on. > >>> I'll clean out the holes, grease it up and I will not move the wheel > >>> until > >>> it's all back together. > >>> > >>> > >>> keeping my fingers crossed .... :) > >>> > >>> Bill M > >>> > >>> On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 3:01 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans < > >>> scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote: > >>> > >>> > One thing to consider on those metal tubes that go through the strut > >>> rod > >>> > bushings is that they may be hardened metal, not just 'any' ole metal > >>> tube. > >>> > In my case I just found not trashed good used ones. They can wear > >>> badly > >>> > enough to start wearing out the strut rod shaft too. > >>> > Fortunately I had a good used one of those too. > >>> > > >>> > about 'do it all at once' > >>> > please don't anyone read past here unless you want to - > >>> > > >>> > there are two sides to that 'do it all at once' thing...or more sides > >>> than > >>> > only two. > >>> > > >>> > On the one hand ...if you do it all at once you will gain more for > the > >>> time > >>> > invested, namely only have to work on it only once. Granted, more > >>> efficient > >>> > that way .. > >>> > and is why most of my projects 'get big' since if I am going to touch > >>> this > >>> > part, then I should address that thing right next to it, and if I'm > >>> going > >>> > to > >>> > do that one ..then I should to this one too ....etc. etc. And since > >>> it's > >>> > got surface rust right there....well, got to treat that too. > >>> > > >>> > I'm saying that since projects grow so much in size anyway, I try to > >>> keep > >>> > them more finite, and will work on just one part of something > here,and > >>> some > >>> > more there, lest they turn into just monster projects that take > forever > >>> to > >>> > get done. > >>> > > >>> > and cost ...doing it 'all at once' involves more outlay of cash at > >>> once. ( > >>> > or you can gradually accumulate the parts over time in advance ) > >>> > > >>> > And ....'replacing everything at once' .......exposes you to the > danger > >>> of > >>> > new parts these days may not be as well made and durable as the > >>> original > >>> > ones. . > >>> > > >>> > another 'negative factor' about Doing it All at Once is > .........often > >>> the > >>> > project gets put off for a long, long time and things are worse when > >>> > someone > >>> > finally gets in there, as opposed to if someone did part of it here > and > >>> > there is smaller steps. > >>> > > >>> > Personally, I replace worn parts, and keep good parts in service. > >>> > But then it's fun and rewarding for me to work on it, and I don't > mind > >>> if I > >>> > do part of it now, and part of it in 6 months. > >>> > > >>> > there is the time factor too relative to badly rusted or stuck things > >>> > ........if things are stuck, or rusted, corroded etc...the sooner you > >>> find > >>> > out about it, the better off you are. > >>> > So I would vote for some careful inspection, and repair what is shot, > >>> and > >>> > keep the rest in service. > >>> > I find so many things badly stuck and rusted together, that I can't > >>> help > >>> > but > >>> > think that the disassembly and reassembly is, *in itself* good for > >>> the > >>> > van -you know things are not terminally stuck together. In other > >>> words, > >>> > working on the van is good for it, in general. > >>> > > >>> > If we are going to operate these wonderful vans at 25+ years of age > ... > >>> > it's good to keep all of it well-treated against rust and corrosion, > >>> and > >>> > making sure things are not stuck together horribly, because if they > >>> are, > >>> > it > >>> > only gets worse with time. And applying 'just the right amount of > >>> energy' > >>> > to 'just the right place at the right time'.... > >>> > I find that fun, rewarding, and efficient. And not too costly either. > >>> > > >>> > maybe the Vanagon Gods smile upon your Van ..and all the parts > >>> contained > >>> > within. > >>> > Sure would like to have a 'drive through' WD-40 Trough .......about > 20 > >>> feet > >>> > long and 18 inches deep. These vans would love that ! > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > ----- Original Message ----- > >>> > From: "Shawn Wright" <vwdiesels@GMAIL.COM> > >>> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > >>> > Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:18 PM > >>> > Subject: Re: front end reassembly: strut bar > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > Neil, > >>> >> > >>> >> Since you're in BC, where'd you get the parts? Looks like BD and > >>> Van-Cafe > >>> >> have them, but anyone else? If they can be had locally, I might > >>> consider > >>> >> diving in and doing mine while I'm doing the shocks. On the other > >>> hand, I > >>> >> should probably wait until I can replace everything affecting > >>> alignment > >>> >> all > >>> >> at once I guess... > >>> >> > >>> >> On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 12:15 PM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> > wrote: > >>> >> > >>> >> Good to know. > >>> >>> > >>> >>> In hindsight, one could measure new rubber bushing and strut arm > >>> >>> diameters. Measuring length of old part should suffice. > >>> >>> > >>> >>> Neil. > >>> >>> > >>> >>> > >>> >>> > >>> >>> On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 10:37 AM, mark drillock <mdrillock@cox.net > > > >>> >>> wrote: > >>> >>> > I think they are available again somewhere. I made some from > >>> stainless > >>> >>> pipe > >>> >>> > that are not quite the right outer diameter, though they do > barely > >>> >>> squeeze > >>> >>> > into the rubbers. > >>> >>> > > >>> >>> > Mark > >>> >>> > > >>> >>> > neil n wrote: > >>> >>> >> > >>> >>> >> On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 9:16 AM, neil n<musomuso@gmail.com> > >>> wrote: > >>> >>> > >>> >>> >> Beware that the metal sleeves are likely NLA. > >>> >>> > >>> >>> > >>> >>> -- > >>> >>> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco" > >>> >>> > >>> >>> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/ > >>> >>> > >>> >>> > >>> >>> > >>> >>> > >>> > http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines > >>> >>> > >>> >>> > >>> >> > >>> >> > >>> >> -- > >>> >> Shawn Wright > >>> >> > >>> > > >>> > >> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> Shawn Wright > >> > >> > > >

-- Jake

1984 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX 'The Grey Van' 1986 Westy Weekender/2.5 SOHC Suby 'Dixie'

Crescent Beach, BC

www.thebassspa.com www.crescentbeachguitar.com http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27


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