Date:         Fri, 12 Dec 1997 19:23:10 -0500
Reply-To:     John Olmsted <olmcons@NETINC.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.sdsc.edu>
From:         John Olmsted <olmcons@NETINC.CA>
Organization: Olmsted Consulting
Subject:      Re: Conversion Commotion (rambling)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Jim DiGennaro wrote:

> Hi Volks,
>     I see many posts about converting waterboxer vanagons to other forms
> of power plants and I'd like to put my 2 cents worth in on the subject.
> I'll probably get flamed for this but here goes.--

____________
Hello to all you Vanagoners,

I cannot miss the opportunity to put my own one cent worth in (about half of Jim
DiGennaro's).  I agree whole heartedly with Jim's sentiments.  Although we all
would probably love to have some more power (this is coming from a diesel owner),
there is something to be said for the whole package.  Many Vanagon owners have come
from a previous generation of VW van by some name.  These vans have a sort of
mystique in my mind.  They are quirky but lovable (why else would we put up with
the quirks).  They are under powered but have a road ability all of their own.
What other van can be driven to such an elderly age and still attract attention,
not for being a junker, but for being 'unique' and desirable.  My previous van was
a 1971.  I loved it, and was very upset when it finally succumbed to the salt
disease so common in Ontario.  I thought I would never find anything to replace
it.  When I was fortunate enough to acquire my current Vanagon, I found a vehicle I
grew to love and respect (sounds like my wife) even more than my 1971.  But it is
slow.  Like many Vanagoners, I lusted after more power (remember it is a diesel).
When I decided to keep the van forever, I rebuilt the engine, and did some serious
thinking about a turbo diesel (I admit it, diesel is in my blood; just look at the
signature).  I never once considered a (gasp) non VW engine.  I have a history of
VW type II's; my first memory of a 'car' was my fathers 1953 single cab pick up
(the first in Canada) which was our only 'car' - talk about slow.  It was replaced
by a 1962 single cab, which was replaced by a 1968 passenger van; I am used to
slow.  However much trouble I have had with VW dealers, it has been far outweighed
by good experiences during our extensive travels.  More than once a dealer has gone
out of his way to get me going on a trip where I am thousands of miles from home,
and at his mercy.  Fortunately, these instances have been few and far between.
What other vehicle can attract a dealerships mechanic's attention with tales of
vans he has known and van stories of incredible strangeness.  The only way to have
a reliable and serviceable vehicle to travel in, is to have a close to original
package.  As Jim says, you will not find just anyone who will service a hybrid
vehicle, especially on a trip.  And although I may eventually have a higher
horsepower engine in our beloved van, you can bet it will be one of the VW family
engines.

Diesel John     Southern Ontario, CANADA

'83 Vanagon GL Diesel  "The Smoking Tortoise"
'71 S-Cab Pickup  "Ole Blu"
'83 Audi 5000TD
'84 Audi 5000 Avant
ex '71 Super Beetle
   '71 Type II  "Ole Red"
   '76 Scirocco
   '77 Diesel Rabbit
   '78 Diesel Rabbit

Member LIMBO & VW CLUB