Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 02:20:03 -0400
Reply-To: "Joe L." <jliasse@TOAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Joe L." <jliasse@TOAST.NET>
Subject: Re: C-4 for westy
In-Reply-To: <37DEF9FE.157E41EE@win.bright.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Have you considered repairing the top? I dont know about Weaty tops but
WONDERS have been done on fiberglass boat hulls that have had logs driven
through them by dummies not watching where they are going (dont ask how I
know this).
Any large and ugly patching/reinforcing material can be put on the
inside where it can be covered over by a "headliner". The process is sort of
like wallpapering except fiberglass cloth and resins are used. Dosent take
that long either, especially if you have your throughly PO'ed father
standing over you (it was his boat).
Properly done your top will be about a quarter inch thicker and maby a
little stronger than it is now. If the damage is cracks and not holes a coat
of paint will make it invisible from the outside.
Worse case is that you will have a serviceable top that looks like hell
but even this will give you full use of the Westy and all the time you need
to find a replacement.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Bob Berkemer
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 1999 9:45 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: C-4 for westy
Well,
The end is near.... I've tried to find replacement parts for the smashed
top on my 84 westy but none are available in the Wisconsin Minnesota
region. Lots of parts are available on the coasts but not in the center.
Can't get off work to go get em and the truckers want a $1,000 to ship.
Guess I'm gonna part out a mechanically beautiful westy cause the pop
top can't be fixed, or blow it up and have a party!
The worse problem (and a word of advise to newbies) is don't wreck your
westy in the midwest cause they aren't worth spit to bankers or
insurance companies. Same case if you want to buy a new one.
I've looked all over the last two months for a late model (87-91) westy
syncro and have found a good number available around the country (that
translates to east coast and west coast) and the prices have ranged
between $16,000 and $22,000. It appears these are the "real" prices
these things are going for but NOT in the midwest.
I've contacted a dozen banks in Wisconsin. A mint 89 westy syncro is
worth between $5,000 and $7,000 to them. Same thing with the insurance
companies. USAA essentially classified them with Hugos. I've found NO
bank or insurance company that uses Blue book prices period. I've
pointed out the west coast prices but as one banker said they have only
a passing interest in the west coast and thats on whether California
falls into the ocean!
So, unless you got very deep pockets nice late model westies and
particular syncros have to remain a dream cause you have to come up with
the remaining $12,000 to $15,000 cash. Then it's going to be insured for
$7,000
Anybody got a nice westy syncro for around $10,000?????
Bob