Date:         Sat, 8 May 1999 18:44:59 -0700
Reply-To:     A & C Grobey <alien1@JPS.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         A & C Grobey <alien1@JPS.NET>
Subject:      Trip to VW Factory and engine swaps
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

Hello fellow Vanagoneers!

Now that I have been back for a week and I'm a little more rested and caught up, I thought I would let everyone know about my trip to Germany and my visit to the VW Factory.

We went on a tour of the Hannover plant where they manufacture the Transporters.  The tour guide was kinda lame but I have to give him some credit - he had to do the tour in Norwegian and English.  Fortunately, we were on the tour with my friend who used to work in the factory.  He filled in the gaps where the tour guide was skimpy.

It was fun to see the way they put together the "Eurovan."  The best part is the "marriage" where the drive train meets the body.  The paint factory is also very cool.  Before going on the tour, I was a Vanagon (or T3) purist with no interest in the Eurovan (T4).  But after the tour I wouldn't mind having a new T4 Multivan.  

It was like a spiritual trip to reach this Mecca of VW lovers!  It was really cool to see the first sketch of a Transporter.  It was supposedly drawn on a napkin by a dealer in Holland who was asking VW bigwigs to give him a car to transport things.  The sketch on the drawing looks just like a T1!

After the tour we got the chance to ask the big question - what is VW's current position on Wasserleakers?  They were of course noncommittal to anything but they did say it was a known problem that they have worked to resolve.  My intuition told me that it is worth it to pursue their financial help if you have a bad head gasket leak.  I was also able to talk to a VW mechanic who confirmed the problem.  He said they don't have the problem as much as the US because Germans mostly buy the diesel.  He also told me he has done and seen a lot of conversions.

I also bought a couple of German VW magazines.  There are some really cool pictures of different VW's including a new Beetle with an Oval window in back.  When I get the chance I will post some pics on my brothers web page so everyone can see.

Sorry this is so long.  I had a great time in Germany and wanted to share.  However, I am still trying to decide what to do with my head fried Wasserleaker.  My sister is also looking to convert her T3 in the near future so she is waiting to see what I do.  My current thinking is to stay with a VW engine and use the Eurospec, the Fastforward, or the 5-cyl.

Has anyone done a conversion lately?  I'd love any input I can get.  Before I left for my trip, I had a few people tell me their conversion was in process.  What is the status?

Anyway, it is nice to be back on the list and home.  I will keep you posted on what I decide to do.  I have to finish it before summer so we can go camping!  With all the talk about the Alcan HWY I think we'll have to head north!  

Alan
'91 Carat
Sherwood, OR


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