Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 20:57:06 -0400
Reply-To: Vincent Dow <ianvincentdow@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Vincent Dow <ianvincentdow@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Do you ever pat your Vanagon on the head and say thanks?
In-Reply-To: <CAAj276wuyaQrTSQJzcb532SHpkr90VuW+VoFVdOiEGjjFT8XrA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Yeah. I sure do show love to my vanagon.
Because of a sliding door issue, I had to shove a bunch of stuff into the
van last weekend... and a 3/4 gallon of white latex primer spilled in the
back. Oh man. it was mess. I have my original brown carpets and I just
winced when I saw all this paint - it had four days to set up.
I worked it. Water, detergent, scrubbing. I felt so bad. Like when you
punish your dog and then it gets lost. I was like - we're going to take
care of this. There's no trace of it anymore, maybe a speckle or two on the
lower sliding door weatherproofing.
Then I drove down to Montreal, and she FLEW. She just wanted to run. I was
passing cars, driving in the left lane, temp gauge was at 12 o clock, fuel
gauge didn't seem to move the whole drive.
Sitting back, arm on the window. Montreal on the horizon, summer night.
Subaru engine growlin'
I love my vanagon. I always see people stopping to check it out when its
parked out front my place.
My project list is BIG.
Rebuild tranny
Diagnose stereo
Recover headliners
Fix fridge
Investigate gasoline smell
Sand and stain redwood back bumper
Get a south african grill
Replace wiper switch - get rid of improvised toggle on dash
Clean IAC valve
Elaborate/enlarge heatshields between exhaust and engine *front*
Replace leaking front heater valve
Take off poptop, get stainless steel bolt kit and *re-gel* white (new
westfalia decals too)
Replace driver/passenger window weatherstripping
1982 westy, originally air-cooled, converted to subaru ej22.
NOT FOR SALE
(vinnie)
On Thu, Jul 31, 2014 at 8:16 PM, Ralph Meyermann <ralphmeyermann@gmail.com>
wrote:
> Yup! On the return home from our very first trip, was a ballsy move that
> early in the inspections/repairs needed. Needed new spindle upon return
>
> Velma 82 1.9L AAZ TD Westy
> On Jul 31, 2014 7:06 PM, "Roland" <syncronicity1@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Last week we went to Big Bear for a few days from San Diego. It isn't
> all
> > that far, typically only 2.5-3 hours, but with stops and traffic it was
> > about 5 hours. This time we had our grandson with us, and going through
> > the Inland Empire (Riverside, San Bernardino, etc.) was at over 100
> degrees
> > in evening rush hour. The climb to Big Bear is to straight up to 6,000
> ft,
> > with some steep grades. I was able to keep at about 50-55 mph in 3rd;
> > many people waved or flashed "thank you" when I used the pull-outs to let
> > them by.
> >
> > We hadn't been on a trip with the Vanagon for some time, and I only did a
> > few basic checks. So I was a bit worried, always planning how I would
> > handle a breakdown. High temps, no air conditioning, very heavy
> > stop-and-go traffic for dozens of miles. But it was all smooth
> sailing,
> > not even an oil buzzer!
> >
> > Back at home, I patted her on the dashboard and said thank you! I
> thought
> > for a moment that she replied with a front suspension creak but ......
> >
> > Roland
> > '89 Syncro
> >
>
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