Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 21:57:28 PST
Reply-To: Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Long Distance Purchasing - Part II
Content-Type: text/plain
Volks -
Earlier this week I mentioned that I was looking into purchasing an '87
Westy in North Carolina, flying back, and driving it home to Moscow
Idaho.
Those of you who were kind enough to tell me how crazy I am also
suggested Village Motorwerks in Raleigh as a good place to check it out.
To make a long story short, I have spent a lot of time e-mailing Ted,
the owner, and he is taking it in for a checkup on Monday. If the shop
gives the OK, Ted will be driving it down to Atlanta on Saturday, where
my sister will hand him a check. I will fly out in March to drive it
back over Spring Break.
I got so much interesting advice last time that I figured I would
through out a couple more qustions, assuming I but it.
You can see the van at - http://members.xoom.com/tedbogart/fs87.html
Ted says he has used Mobile 1 while he has owned it. It uses little or
no oil. I like to change every 3000 miles. Now that the engine is used
to Mobile 1, should I switch?
He has 185x14 Michelins on the front and 205 70x14 Goodyear Aquatreds on
the back. I have always run 6-ply or reinforced sidewalls on the rear.
Is that necessary?
I am going to put snow tires on it to drive back. Crossing the Rockies
in March without them seems like a bad idea. What's the best reasonably
priced snow tire that I could likely get for the van in Atlanta. Would
I be better off having some mail order place ship a set?
Ted has never used the propane system. I won't have a chance to check
it out before getting there, but I would like to be able to use it on
the trip back. Other than fill the bottle, fire it up and pray, and
good suggestions for lighting a fridge that has only been used on
electricity for many years? Mine is a bit of a pain to light at times,
so I hope this one will be better!
I'll let you know what happens when the list comes back up.
Thanks for the advice and encouragement. If this works out, come spring
I'll have an 83.5 Westy for sale in Moscow!
Mike Finkbiner
83.5 Westy (and maybe an '87)
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