Date:         Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:10:45 -0700
Reply-To:     "Joe T." <vanagon85@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Joe T." <vanagon85@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Friday Philosophy: On Previous Owners
In-Reply-To:  <CAB2RwfhQ-5NWd9beG16xZe6H6p=ph-pBQZRSVLm+vAm_TUFhdQ@mail.gmail.com>
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There have been moments when my wandering eye has seen another Westfalia,
usually a newer model and/or a Syncro, and I've thought about selling my
current one (grass is always greener?)

I've often thought that in addition to the mountain of receipts and notes I
have, I should write a personal owner's manual for this Vanagon.  I think
most of what I've done is obvious, but it wouldn't hurt to include my own
wiring diagrams and lists of parts upgrades and such for a new owner.
I think I'd also point them to my handle on TheSamba and my email address
for searching here so they could see what I've been up to.

Or I could just never sell it.

In keeping with the theme of this thread, I bought this one from an 85
year-old farmer in Kansas.  When I got it, it had Delco plugs and bailing
wire holding things together all over the place.  I guess you use what you
can get way out in Concordia, KS.  It also had steel wool in every possible
crack or crevice.  He took very good care of it and I was honored to buy it
from him.

Joe T.
Denver
'85 Wolfsburg Westy Subie 2.2

On Fri, Jan 25, 2013 at 11:26 AM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:

> I've complained online, and muttered under my breath, references to
> the "PO" or "DPO" about their work. Of course I too may one day have
> that term used on me. There's always learning curves. Electrical is a
> good example. I've labelled most of what I've done on my '81 but with
> a recent dash removal, see more wiring that needs to be documented.
>
> The '88 I purchased had a number of kludges done. Maybe some were road
> side fixes, like the honkin big Robertson screw wedged up against a
> headlight "ring". I see those as a "no harm no foul" thing. But. Some
> were just bad work and/or examples of manhandling. The snapped off
> drain tube on the Dometic fridge could be an example of both.
>
> They all carry a history and have a story.
>
> My '81 looks the worse for wear, had high KM's when I got it, but c/w
> a stack of receipts. It was well loved by all measures. Ironically my
> '88, with purportedly low miles, looks far nicer but has had some
> spotty work done to it. I don't recall seeing any examples of that on
> my '81.
>
> Can't judge a Vanagon by it's cover?
>
> Neil.
>
>