Had a surprize phone call this morning from Tyler Trottman and Jeanne Malay.  
They said to say Hello to the List and that they were doing well.  Called to
order some parts that they need to keep their vans rolling.  In case you are
new these are the folks that are way down in the tip of South America right
now.  Their exploits are recorded in emails at www.vanagon.com (check them
out).

Jeanne says that her van has been doing well except for a couple of small
problems.  One was with her custom Bilstein shocks that she bought through a
list purchase a little while back.  They totally blew out on her and were
making driving an ordeal since the roads aren't that great to start out with
where they are.  They went to a town in Argentina and the local mechs there
(after some searching) came up with a pair of Monroe shocks that fit.  She
says that now she can drive comfortably again.  She is ordering some CV boots
and joints since the gravel roads are apparantely murder on syncro CV boots
and are killing joints too.  She says is has become religious about checking
her boots (thereby avoiding destroyed joints in case of boot rips).  

Tyler is doing well.  I asked him how he likes the Winkler 22 gallon gas tank
he bought from me right before his trip.  He had it installed at a local shop
and then went right on the trip so I never got to see how he liked it.  He
said that the extra gas capacity was great and no real problems with the tank
itself.  When the guys installed it they left some rough metal near one of
the expansion lines and with all the bumping it cut the line.  The line then
became clogged with dirt causing the tank to build up pressure or suction
depending on temperature and how full it was.  Got it repaired in South
America at a local shop and it has been fine ever since.

Both Tyler and Jeanne have been enjoying their trip and I have been enjoying
reading about it on the vanagon.com site.  Other list members who are also on
this trip are Larry Calhoun and Kai Fremgen (I sent Larry some stuff a month
ago and from his emails to me, they are also having the time of their lives).
 Just thought I would share.

Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
Phone: (856)-765-1583
Fax: (856)-327-2242