Date:         Wed, 1 Sep 1999 07:16:21 -0600
Reply-To:     "Groff, Montgomery" <Montgomery.Groff@ECHOSTAR.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Groff, Montgomery" <Montgomery.Groff@ECHOSTAR.COM>
Subject:      Re: Front end body repair for '83 and 1/2 Westy
Content-Type: text/plain

<snip>
The van has been sitting for a year now - I finally feel flush$ enough to
consider any repairs.  Does anyone have any advice concerning getting the
front nose replaced?
<snip>

FYI

My previous westy ('74) was "front-swiped" by an SUV running a red light.
The spare was mounted on the front of the van as was pushed back, then
ripped off by the impact. This forced the entire nose back about 4 inches.
My shifter was now hitting the dash, and the headlights were pointing inward
making my bus cross-eyed. My soulution, since the westy was a beater anyway,
was to put the insurance money in the bank and fix the damage myself.

What I did was drill two 1/2 in. holes in the nose above (one close to each
headlight). Then, thread a good sized rope throught the holes from the
inside. Tie the rope around a telephone pole. Put the bus in reverse and gas
it. It popped out rather nice. I spent a few buck on a good bra, remounted
the spare, and you couldn't tell it had bee hit.

Monty
'89 Westy
'62 Sunroof Bug