Why not learn to do some wrenching yourself and save some $?  Clutch parts are
just over $100, and the transmission is not that hard to drop.

Wheel bearings...well, you need to get those pressed into the rotors, so
there's some labor involved there.

Hand brake cable runs in plain view under the van; adjustment is at the
distributor nut in the back...should be able to do that yourself.

-Karl

> I am in shock!!!!!
> Just got of the phone with my mechanic:
>
> new clutch @ 400$
> new front wheel bearings @?$
> new hand brake cable @ ? $ (ripped them myself, I have a sloped driveway)
>
> I bought my 87 GL Westy five years ago for 5000$ with 185 000 miles. Now I
> am at 270 000 miles. I have replaced almost everything (except the
> transmission). Don't even know how much I have spent on this vehicle. Will
> it ever end???
> Please tell me that driving an old camper is cheaper than buying a new
> Eurovan Camper!!!!! I need some moral support here guys/and
> ladies!!!!!!!!!!!
> When I put the 2.ol conversion in I swore that nothing would ever separate
> me and my Westy, and that I would be driving the van for the next 20 years.
> Is there such a thing as a Anonymous Westy Owner meeting in the Midwest
> where I can burn my mechanic's bills and chant Westy songs??? Cheers,
> Hermann de Boer 87 Westy GL (the money pit)
>

Karl & Kristina Bloss, Trexlertown, PA
'00 Wannabusser "Julia"
'87 Weekender "Bev" - 201K Miles
'85 Westy Camper "Fred" - 39K Miles
http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw - vanagon@makarov.com
VW Shop List: http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/vwshops
PA/NJ/DE/MD area VW bus "group" http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/pavanagon
LINUX - for IQs higher than 98