Walt Spak
Pittsburgh,  Pa.
wnsopc3@3rdm.net
----- Original Message -----
From: walt spak <wnsopc3@3rdm.net>
To: <vanagon@vanagon.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2000 2:16 PM
Subject: Vendor reports

> Hey list,
>
> I wanted to pass on my experiences with 2 vendors for everyone's benefit.
>
> I had a set of locks from a 1957 Lancia that we are restoring that needed
> cleaned, lubed, and adjusted prior to being sent to the chrome plate shop.
> I have had trouble in the past finding a lock smith that would under take
> such a job.  After reading some posts from Steve Sandlin in Texas about
his
> Vanagon lock service offerings, I decided to give him a try.  I ask him
via
> e-mail if he would try the job.  He responded very quickly and told me
that
> he had no experience, but felt sure that he could help.  Now these locks
> would be very difficult to replace, but I took the chance, insured them,
and
> mailed them off.  Steve e-mailed me as soon as they arrived, worked on
them
> right away, informed me when there was a slight delay while he was waiting
> for shim stock, e-mailed me when he shipped them and charged me a very
> reasonable price.  I think the whole process only took a couple of weeks.
I
> very highly recommend using Steve for all your lock needs.
>
> My regular Vanagon is a 91 that is in pretty good condition with only
99,000
> miles.  This winter I developed pretty bad coolant leaks from the heads
and
> a bad oil leak from the cooler.  I decide that I wanted to install a
rebuilt
> engine and replace anything that might leave me stranded on a trip.  I do
> not trust a factory to rebuild an engine and in fact have a side business
of
> rebuilding exotic old Italian car engines.  I did price out all of the
parts
> that I would want to put into a rebuild and found that they totaled about
> $1800.00.  I then compared that to Bob Donald's price for a rebuild and
the
> difference wasn't very much more.  Now, I mentioned that I don't trust a
> factory to rebuild an engine, but Bob Donald's is far from a factory.  Bob
> rebuilds VW engines all the time.  He does most of the work himself and it
> is obvious from talking to him and visiting his web site that he takes
pride
> in his work (see Karl Bloss's pictures).  I finally broke down and sent
him
> a check.  He was very good in communicating with me.  I knew where I stood
> through out the whole endeavor.  He recommended other related parts that
> should be changed, only some of which I was already prepared for.  He
> arranged the shipping and had the engine delivered in a nice crate so all
I
> had to do was put the core engine back in the box and call the trucking
> company.  I haven't installed the engine yet, but I am very pleased with
> what I got from Bob and highly recommend him for engines.  I might add
that
> he does have some very good prices on other parts as well.  You can be
sure
> that when you order from him, you will be getting top quality parts.
>
> I also recently bought a "digitool" from Darrell and have had a chance to
> use it yet.  I will report on the engine and digitool after installation.
>
> Walt Spak
> Pittsburgh,  Pa.
> wnsopc3@3rdm.net
>