Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2012 13:08:56 -0700
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: I'm back . . .
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
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)
