Date:         Thu, 24 Jun 1999 16:37:16 EDT
Reply-To:     Sussmn@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Carol Sussman <Sussmn@AOL.COM>
Subject:      89 Westfalia newbie. ?heat xchnger; tires; ventilation; used
              manuals.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I love this van. I hated paying the price (double what any generic V-8 Dodge
would cost.)  Having already confirmed my masochism with past membership in
the MGB and pre-Yuppie Volvo cults, the last thing I need is to own another
obscure, parts-impossible, pissant 4-banger vehicle.  And I HATE aluminum
heads. (Because I fried the heads and the brakes doing "touring" ((yeah,
right)) runs at Lime Rock in the '84 SAAB 900.)   Even though this 90K VW
engine got new heads at 53K and runs well, I can hear the car gods cackling
with anticipatory glee.  Even as I delight in the handling, the clean
functional camper design, the dog-sized space between the front seats which
allows the mutt to comfortably rest her head on the drool-proof dash, I feel
afraid.
     But then I found this list. And knew all was well. Are we having fun yet?
Sooooo, fellow madmen, tell me:
     What good is the heat exchanger under the rear bench?  Is this supposed
to bleed off heat from the engine or is it a token source of comfort when
camping in winter?  I thought I was having hot flashes driving my new
purchase home until my cover-to cover read of the owners' manual revealed
that the valve was in the "on" position.
     I'm getting new tires & shocks.  What are the Yokos I've heard mentioned
and where gotten?
     I can't afford Bilsteins for either van or brick; are OEM Boge the next
best and
which model? Where for what $?
     There is limited outside air in this thing. The absence of a direct vent
 for the driver is driving me nuts.  When I removed the front grille, I found
a long perforated plastic piece between the headlights, in front of  and near
the top of the radiator. Behind it was some extremely dirty/deteriorated
foam.  Is this the filter for air coming into the ventilation system?  I am
going to trash it in favor of a replacement made of pleated bug screen held
in place with the plastic piece.  Anyone?
     I need a shop manual.  Can't find anything by Haynes or Chilton for
watercooled transporters.  Don't want to spend $ for new Bentley.  Any used
ones out there?
Apology for use of bandwidth.  Anyone on the swedishbricks list knows my sig.
Carol S Sussman
Not a mechanic; just a driver with a toolbox.