Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 03:34:16 -0300
Reply-To: Sean O'Neil <soneil@NS.SYMPATICO.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Sean O'Neil <soneil@NS.SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject: 84 Westy Angst - keep or sell?
Content-Type: multipart/mixed;
Here's the straight goods:
84 Westy, 1.9L, automatic, 165,000 km., Assuan Brown
Screen in poptop is rotted to replacement stage.
Needs two new outside mirrors.
Poptop has a 3.5" crack on the flat surface just behind the driver, Now
covered with with duct tape - but that sure won't hold for winter in
this part of the world.
Poptop skylight lift mechanism is shot but I'm willing to fix this
myself per archive instuctions.
Allmost all of the interior panels have punctures, or Mactac covering
the punctures.I would like to replace these with a nice light plywood
paneling. Any suggestions?
Will be replacing the two front Continental Conti's with Michelin MXL's
(load range D) to match the back for the winter,
The damn front blower motor for defrosting the windshield is seized. I
may try this myself a la Bently.
Brown enamel paint on the stove front is coming off in big flakes.
Again, no big deal, I'll try to fix this myself. The fridge runs well on
all three modes.
No problems from engine & transmission (including heads). It actually
runs very strong but I do have the coolant flushed every 2nd year and
replace the oil (20W50) every 3000K.
Although I bought it at a good price about 5 years ago (approx $4500
Can) and could sell it locally, where these vans are very scarce, for
about $7000 Can. I find I am loathe to part with it. It represents
freedom. However, my wife and I are heavily involved in the craft
business (specifically making period shoe and boots for locally produced
television, movie, theatre, and historical recreationist markets) and
can't find the time to do any camping during the peak season.
Here's the real rub: I don't have a driveway to work on the van. I am
disabled, which means that I can do some things but not all, Dropping
the engine or transmission for work is a pipe drean. So I end up
spending approx. $1000 Can. a year on repairs.
Am I a rube? I spend a thousand dollars per year because I can't do a
lot of my own work ( not the fault of the disability. I Want Jackstands
and a hard surface to roll around on under the van.)
This beast is a daily driver now due to financial hard times but I am a
little worried that it's going to let us down
in the middle of winter.
If you were me, and I'm glad you're not, would you keep on driving the
beast ot trade it in on some nameless and faceless beast that alows for
no wanderlust, no satisfaction regarding self sufficiency, no character?
Sorry to be so long-winded. It's very late where I am and I just felt
the need to talk to fellow vanagoneers
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