Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2018 20:05:08 -0500
Reply-To: Eric Caron <eric.caron@ICLOUD.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Caron <eric.caron@ICLOUD.COM>
Subject: Re: On a flat bed
In-Reply-To: <A087019C-2ADC-40B5-B2D3-29F53F5776DB@EricWunrow.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Hi folks,
At the risk of bringing up bad memories do you have a good breakdown story to tell?
Some time around 1992 I had a 1976 auto weekender I bought from a German Mechanic outside of Ithaca New York. He was the go to guy for older VW work and had a field of bugs and buses. I decided to purchase a bus from him because the mechanics would be good and I could work on the body stuff.
I took my savings and purchased it and with a friend headed out on a summer trip out west.
About 500 miles away we started to notice white smoke at start up. About 1,500 miles away it was much worse.
I ended up being towed to a VW dealer after hours. I think maybe in Minnesota or Michigan.
Dozens of people stopped to talked to me as I cooked dinner and set up for the night on the dealer lot. I heard so many VW stories.
The next day the dealer said they couldn’t help, my van was too old.
Somehow I got towed to a local shop and stayed there part of the time and with a rental car went to a hotel a few nights. The shop was really for working on race cars. they took out my engine and rebuilt it and put it back in. It was a challenge for them but I never had trouble with that motor right up until I sold the van a few years later.
The original Mechanic I purchased the van from was not interested in my call from the road asking for help. he also was not interested in paying any of the repair costs.
I think eventually he did split the cost with me, but I had to hear a lot of yelling.
The Transmission on that bus will be a different break down story.
So though I’d rather not break down, Other then the original mechanic so many people were supportive and willing to give time and energy to work on the bus or at least offer a story and good advice. I had so much time to kill that I listened to music at a used CD store for hours. I could only afford a few CD’s but those new artists and albums I found are still some of my favorites!
I wish you all either no breakdowns or ones that add to the joy of VW living.
I had lots of great trips but I remember the breakdown adventures the most and they worked out ok.
Got a good break down story?
Mark Drillock’s story of repair on his frozen 85 comes to mind.
Eric Caron
Vanagon currently getting a breakdown prevention spa treatment
On Jan 25, 2018, at 01:33, Eric Wunrow <VW@ERICWUNROW.COM> wrote:
If you find out, we're near Parker if anyone needs a hand.
Eric
Eric Wunrow Pictures
303. 988. 8717
VW@EricWunrow.com (for this list's emails)
EW@EricWunrow.com (for private messages)
On Jan 24, 2018, at 10:35 AM, Rob <vwrobb@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm in Quartzsite AZ just sitting here.
>
> Out the window I just saw a brown Westy on the back of a flat bed heading
> towards town down Dome Rock Rd E.
>
> If you see this I feel for you!
>
> Rob
> vwrobb@gmail.com
> Not in a vw today....
>
