Budd Premack wrote:
>
> It dawned (actually, it was past 8:30 when I first looked outside) as a
> glorious fall day, way too nice to be cooped up doing taxes, even taxes with
> a deadline two days away, so my son Ben and I went out to view and pay the
> balance due on the 81 Westy that I had purchased most reasonably a few days
> prior.  The seller had previously agreed to give me 30 days free storage
> until I could determine where to park it.  This had seemed important to me
> as the lack of power on the initial test drive was quite substantial,
> suggesting that the 30 mile journey back home would be best accomplished in
> some other mode than the normal innaugural drive of a newly purchased
> vehicle.
>
> However, upon arrival today, I noted with significance that I could not
> engage 1st or 2nd gear unless I pretended to be going into reverse, at which
> time they worked just fine.  So, it seemed that my test drive had been in
> 3rd and 4th, with an engine that was spewing and leaking oil quite
> noticeably.  No wonder I had sensed a distinct lack of power.
>
> With the sweet feeling of new ownership, and somewhat blinded by the
> brilliance of the maple foliage, and still wanting to play hookey from my
> work, it seemed eminently sensible to drive home today, rather than waiting
> until the dark days of mid-November.
>
> The drive home went quite well, at least it did after we filled up the 15/20
> psi tires to a respectable 35 psi and put in a new 20 amp fuse in a vain
> attempt to resusitate the gas guage and other dashboard functions.  Failing
> that, I put in some gas to assure an ample supply to reach the friendly
> confines of my driveway.  I just computed speed and distance through the
> seat-of-the-pants method, as we all know that VW never even dreamed of
> electronic speedometers back in 1981.
>
> With my son following in the chase car, we drove merrily off into the autumn
> afternoon, trailing a fine plume of smoke, and a cacophony of sounds.  (Did
> I neglect to mention that the exhaust system was notable for its structural
> integrity?  It seemed to me to be a minor miracle that it actually retained
> its original shape with so little solid metal remaining.)
>
> We puttered along quite well for about 20 miles, although I did have to
> downshift more frequently than normal when the grade became a bit
> pronounced.  After an obligatory stop at a garage sale (where we both added
> some treasures to our cache of possessions), just as I was becoming a tad
> too complacent, I smelled the slight warning sign of more oil in the
> exhaust, accompanied with a noticeable hesitation in the engine.  I hastily
> exited the highway, which in my by-now blissful state, I had selected as the
> most direct route home.
>
> I drove another two miles along the back roads, with heightened coughing and
> chugging until the oil light began to flicker.  Prudence suggested a pit
> stop was now in order.  The dipstick was starting to look pretty dry, which
> was understandable considering the amount of petroleum I had watched wafting
> away in my rear view mirror.  (I had already suspected that this van was not
> quite ready for the CA smog test.)  After adding an appropriate measure of
> oil, I started up again, this time with substantially more noise, and a
> disturbing metallic vibration.  In a last ditch effort to save any remaining
> portion of the engine, I determined that immediate shutdown was the best
> course.
>
> Experience had suggested to me, just prior to the pit stop, that picking an
> appropriate location might prove advantageous if this turned into something
> a bit more expansive than anticipated.  So, there we were, parked by the
> side of a private lane, my new (old) Westy, my son in his SUV, me, and our
> cell phone.  A cordial conversation with AAA resulted in their promise to
> have a tow truck visit in somewhat over an hour.  Sensing a bit of futility
> in a "Waiting for Godot" scenario, Ben and I drove home, promising to return
> later to tow the Westy to a mechanical inspection.  Before we left, I
> informed the neighboring homeowner of the status of the new view out their
> front window.  It had occured to me that an abandoned older vehicle might
> attract a bit of attention by the locals, which seemed prudent to deflect,
> especially since the license tabs had expired 6 months ago.
>
> So, we have a slightly less than perfect end to a glorious day.  I do now
> own a Westy, or at least it looks like one.  Actually, considering my past
> experience with a $300  purchase of a 72 Westy, this one drives and looks
> like a champion.  In fact, it gladdens my heart to be back in the land of
> the air cooled, away from the incessant maintenance burdens of the
> waterboxer.  Time will tell, as it always does, but I am beginning to
> suspect that this van may need more than a coat of wax before it is
> roadworthy.  Until then, I can still pop the top, pull a cool beverage from
> the fridge, listen to the sweet sounds eminating from the 8 track, and at
> least envision the joys of Westy ownership.
>
> Budd Premack
> 86 Syncro, 73 Super
> Minneapolis, MN (Land of Sky-Blue Waters)

Hi Bud,

I wouldn't think of working on a Wasserboxer as "incessant maintenance
burdens of WBX" compared to what, based on your discription, your new
'81 Westy is going to require of you. Anyway congradulations, if I find
any 8 track tapes in the attic I'll send them along.

Regards,        John

P.S. Did you really roadtest the Westy in only 3rd & 4th and still buy
it?