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Subject:Re: Just back from the mechanic, HELP!!
From:Bill Davidson
Date:Tue, 9 May 2000 07:44:57 -0700

You mean to say that you bought an 18 year old van and expected to spend
less that $1,000 to fix it up????

Do we live on the same planet?

Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "David" <david@RENAISSANCE-DESIGN.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, May 08, 2000 3:27 PM
Subject: Just back from the mechanic, HELP!!

> Well the mechanic asked me to sit down and take out a pad of paper....
>
> The news wasn't good.  The 82 I just bought, seems to have quite a few
problems.  So here is the list.
>
> 1. Fuel tank is crushed on top(someone put a  jack under it??) the fuel
lines and filter are filthy.  Mechanic reccomends replacing the tank.  Tank
from the dealer is $500 plus  3 hours labour.  I know places like BusDepot
have tanks but they can't tell me that anyone there personally has known
anyone to install one and that they were identical to the factory tank...
any expierence out there??
>
> 2. Fuel pump, seems straight forward, mechanic only wants to use a Bosch,
However.
>
> 3.  Wheel bering, rear breaks and cylinders.
>
> 4. Shocks all round
>
> 5. Tune-up with all new goodies.(2.5 hours labour, seems reallll long??)
>
> 6. Left axle clicks when making right turns.  Previous mechanic
disassembled, cleaned and repacked (instead of using the new joints I gave
him).  This seems to be quite labour intensive at 2hrs a joint, but I do
have the parts.
>
> 7. Cold start valve leaks??
>
> All told its $1000 for labour and between $500-$1000 for parts.  I am VERY
tempted to use a $170 tank from the far east, but I would like to here from
someone who has had good success.
>
>
> Any thoughts on what I should do??
>
> David
>