----- Original Message -----

From: Larry C Chase

To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM

Sent: Tuesday, November 20, = 2001 01:27 PM

Subject: Newbie = >>>> Intro .. sorry ... LONG

Vanagon List Members,

 

I delighted to announce that I have completed my self

 imposed Newbie initiation.

 

1. Scour the Archives for all areas of interest = and info

 .... minimum 2 mnths.

2. Lurk quietly & Humbly in the = background and absorb

as much of the huge volume of incredible and = knowledgeable

dialog for at least 2 months

3. Test the waters by slipping a toe the knowledge = pool

by submitting a couple of non-controversial = questions

about source etc to knowledgeable members off line.

4. Finally ... the coming out (sort of) by = submitting a 

humble introductory note.

 

Background:

 

Vehicle - 85 Westy GL (as yet unnamed, had a few

ideas, but you guys beat me to it)

Geo - Bay Area, Campbell CA

 

Comments:

 

Purchased my Westy (Salvage Title) approx 3 months = ago

in Sacramento -  Full Camper, Exc = Condition, Low Miles,

Fresh Parts, Brown w/beige interior, 4-speed, = AC, miles (105K)

 

Second VW but first Van. Had a 69 Beetle in the = early 70's.

 

Mechanically incompetent ... or close to = it.

 

Reason for purchase ..... ~ July 2002 I plan to = gently slide

behind the wheel of my properly prepared 85 Westy = and

drive the four points of the compass for many, = many miles.

North when it's hot, south when it's cold etc. = Duration only

limited by desire. Might be a month, might be a = year, might

keep orbiting like one of those = Satellites.

 

Thus the Westy will be home.

 

Found a good local mechanic and told him ..... we = need to

go thru it top to bottom and repair/replace = anything that might

fail within 50,000 of continuous driving. Looked = at me weird,

then I saw these dollar sign kinda of sparkles in = his eyes, he 

began hyperventilating. After I paper bagged him = and he

calmed down we talked about a long term = relationship and

fair honest treatment ........ Have always been = leery of

commitment so at this point I began = hyperventilating.

 

We then put a plan together to space out = what was needed

... chunk it down if you will over the nxt several = mnths.

 

Overall plan:

 

1. Mechanical repairs - Ongoing

    a. Front end

    b. Misc odds & = ends

    c. Rebuild Transaxle = etc

    d. Check and Rebuild trans (4 = sp) if needed

    e. Rebuild 1.9 = Waterboxer

2. New Tires & Shocks - Bridgestone LT = Reinforced

sidewall & KYB Gas Shocks - DONE

3. Rubber, as in hoses replacement - to be = done

4. Awning / Shady Boy (Installed by GoWesty) - DONE

5. Roof rack for very light weight Kayak = .... don't scold me .

.. I know the load limit and stress factors - DONE

6. Rear bike rack ..... Gary Lee's wonderful = creation - Done

7. Replace all interior carpet - On Order from = GoWesty - in process

8. Replace Skylight -  GoWesty = - Done

9. Add more interior lighting - Parts received = most frm West

Marine / Need to install

10. Add 2 interior fans - see lighting = above

11. Redo do electrical system, inverter/converter = ... extra outlets,

Deep Cycle Ax Battery etc. - to be = done

12. Add Vented Furnace (still researching ... = short list is Suburban,

Espar B1LC, Carver) - to be done

13. New 3 window poptop & Install - GoWesty DONE

14. Purchase Honda 1000 watt generator (lots of = dry camping)

- to be done

15. Purchase & Install Black Metal bumpers = (rear on order,

still need front) - to be done

16. Upgrade/rebuild/improve AC .. recent thread on = topic

was very helpful - to be done

17. Install sound system that integrates Laptop = (MP3), Indash

CD/FM/AM, Sat TV - to be done

18. Purchase & Install RV Satellite TV System = (wish internet

version was ready for RV market) - to be done =

19. Purchase & Install all exterior door locks = & rekey to same

(BusDepot & Steve Sandlin) - in = process

20. Purchase and install all exterior window/door = rubber - to be done

21. Replace almost all exterior lighting lenses - Ongoing

22. Purchase & Install 4 headlight grill = (South African etc) - to be done

23. Repaint exterior / Original VW Brown color - = to be done

24. Purchase & Install all exterior decals - = to be done

25. Everything else I forget or don't know yet - = to be done

 

Any comments, suggestions, sources, = feedback etc are

more than welcome.

 

Please forgive the length of this message. This = will be my

one time overly long dialog for 2001.

 

Humbly,

 

Larry = Chase