Hi folks!
I see that most of the people that were on the list six years ago when I sold my '84 Westy are still on the list! Now, after a brief and expensive encounter with EVC ownership and three years of tent camping, I've purchased an '85 Westy. There is no 12 step process for this addiction, I've tried.
This rig is absolutely original with no rust and no dents, which is rare. It ain't from around here. Now I have to fix it up like I did my '84, and then do a Subaru conversion within the next year or so (the Bostig conversion sucks with an automatic I hear from those who know).
I was the second owner of my '84 when I purchased it in 1986 and had it for 20 years and 250,000 miles. I made the following mods:
Installed a sunroof in the luggage rack, and David Beierl still has it on his website (it worked great!): http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/sunroof.htm Put in two 2.1 engines over the years, the second with the oil cooler and filter remotely mounted. (blew first 2.1 up: http://volksweb.relitech.com/21rodbrg.htm ) Installed rear sway bar and Bilstein shocks Added VDO H2O temp and oil pressure gauges (and worried about low oil pressure until the engine blew, fat lot of good the gauge was) Added the Stebro SS exhaust from Frank Condelli Added cruise control-a nice aftermarket unit sold by the dealer at that time Replaced horn with a loud one Installed side door step Installed three sets of rack brackets for using Yakima rack in multiple positions Installed waste water tank from Eurocampers Added second battery Rewired headlights with heavy wire and a relay for higher power lights Added programmable intermittent wiper relay Installed another front table bracket by the door so table could be used outside Added a Shady Boy Awning Added the hitch and tail light adapter Repainted the top and replaced the seal Added captain's chair seats from an '85 Built a center console Added front bra Rewired for sound and added modern receiver and speakers Rebuilt tranny three times, and the last time added Daryl's taller fourth gear (the new one is an automatic, I'm a shiftless bum now) Last but not least, had both the Bentley and CD Bentley version.
It looks like between Eurocampers and GoWesty I can find most of these items now.
That's all I can remember, but there were probably more. It was a nice rig, and I was stupid to sell it, but I was tired of low power, shifting, and lack of power steering, and had the money for the EVC. I do hope it is still on the road somewhere. I think the purchasers took it to Hawaii, anyone seen it?
Here are my first questions:
1. Is the rear-only air conditioning worth fixing, or should I take it out and re-claim the storage?
2. What are the best replacement shocks today for the heavier Westy?
3. I need a complete skylight assembly and all three utility connections. How are GoWesty's? Or should I go with the Skylight Guy and the original Delta Six stuff?
4. Where can I find a stove burner valve? The shaft is broken off on one.
5. Anyone got an extra front table?
I see all of the vendors I purchased from in the past are still around. Are there any new sources?
Last question: Why is the vanagon.com site down?
Thanks, and I'm glad to see so many familiar names are still on the list!
Stuart MacMillan Seattle, '85 Westy (previously a '68 Westy, '84 Vanagon Westy, and '97 EVC) |
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