Date: Tue, 18 May 2010 10:31:53 -0400
Reply-To: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: The story behind the horse skull, the luggage rack, etc.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
So thanks to those of you on the Vanagon List for chiming in and offering
help in my folly. Pittsburgh Vanagon Club, this is the first you're hearing
of this (I kept it quiet locally).
Last week my van went in for inspection from a shop I used to work at and
they gave me a good deal on replacing the ball joints it needed. I simply
didn't have time to do it myself, as I plan to leave for a "Great Eastern
Adventure" later in this week. Anyway, part of their inspection involved
removing the horse skull from the roof. Yes, there was a horse skull on the
roof. I will attach a picture showing the horse skull (featuring Marios
Andretti as well!). The inspection mechanic took it off worrying that it
wasn't attached strongly enough. I guess I can believe that as a reasonable
grounds of removal, so i'll embrace that. Now if only he hadn't told his
superior it was help on by only a bungee chord....
The flaw here is that it was held on by 5 1/8'' nylon lines under tension by
a small bungee chord, and a 1/8'' stainless steel cable crimped in place and
secured through the base of the skull and attached to two bolts which
normally hold the front of the luggage rack down (With big washers on them).
So I guess he failed to note that it was secured by 5 seperate places and
designed not to be stolen, or the fact that it had been up there for 9
months and over 5,000 miles. It's seen both coasts up there.
But again, i'll embrace his reasoning for taking it off as I agree, from his
standpoint it could have looked like a danger. I actually LIKE mandatory
state inspections here in PA for this reason! They point out things I didn't
think about.
Well, in removing the skull, he took off the two front bolts to the luggage
rack as well. The bolts, along with the skull and everything were kindly
placed on the front seat of the van for my potential use later. Well after
passing inspection, I immediately headed up to my school apartment an hour
north in Slippery Rock PA. About 2 miles into my highway trek, I felt a
strong BANG and heard a sound as well. I immediately looked out my back
window to see something large fly safely to the side of the road. My
thoughts were "I hit a box" or something of that nature. It really felt like
whatever I hit, I hit from below. The bus still ran well, so I took note of
where It seemed to happen and continued on my way. An hour later, I get out
of my bus and was in disbelief to find the poptop luggage rack MISSING!!!!!
Strangely, while driving, I found that there was not much additional wind
noise even though the poptop was now working as a funnell to bring air into
the bus. I did notice that the canvas was filling up with air and even
remember reaching back and squeezing this huge pocket of air filled canvas
and remembered how odd that was.
Anyway, immediately after getting up to Slippery Rock, I gave them a call
and they were shocked as well. I said "I think your mechanic took the two
front bolts out and didn't put them back on." I actually overheard the
superior asking the mechanic if this was the case and the mechanic
responding "ya, they're on the front seat". At that point we could both
agree this was a problem they caused. Luckily, they've been as good as they
can to help me solve the problem!!!
I immediately sent them out pictures including images of the two side bolts
still in place on the van with chunks of fiberglass under them. The shop at
this point said "Well you're the expert, where can we get you a new one?"
This is when my heart really fell out and I realized just what a daunting
task that should be! I'm lucky I know great people and have great local
resources, but can't imagine what this would have meant if it was a
non-vanagon-savy person!
This is about the time I sent the first email out to the vanagon list
looking for a used top.
A stroke of luck!
After telling my parents what had just happened, My mother jumps in her car
and starts searching the highway. Within an hour I get an amazing call "I
FOUND IT! And it looks fixable!". SO, my mother drives up to Slippery Rock
to show me the top, scratched with some paint missing and a 9'' long crack
all the way up (and all the way through) in one of the corners. Alas, I do
believe it repairable but a shop looked at it and agreed it would be cheaper
just to get a replacement if one could be found.
I was able to source a top 110 miles away and yesterday drove the 220 miles
round trip to pick it up with a check from the mechanics in hand to cover
the cost of the top. So for $100 I was able to get a replacement top in good
shape. It's UGLY! So i spent last night scrubbing it up before going in
today to see about getting it painted. They won't be capable of doing it in
the time frame I demand ( have to have it installed and ready to leave for
the summer in 2 days), so they've agreed to have it color matched the best
they can when I return in august.
I plan to do my best to repair the "broken" one as well to have as a spare
for the next time this happens to someone!
Immediately after this happened I had a local friend calling me up to say he
has one I could borrow untill I get mine fixed if need be. (I sold him the
top off a van 2 years ago and he's restored the top for a future poptop
install on his Carat. Then last night, another vanagon list member sent out
new gaskets for me to put on! What amazing people we have here!!!!
So I'd like to thank everyone who's given advice!
Here's your closing image.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30402158&l=91005335f5&id=1457880199
-Craig
'85GL turned WESTY
BOSTIG in the back.
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