Rod,

What the owner is doing is tweaking the timing to get the engine to start.
While this in itself doesn't indicate any serious engine problems it does
show that the current owner is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.  If you
are in love with the van (we usually are) get a competent mechanic to look it
over, do a compression check, inspect hoses etc., to make sure the caveman
hasn't done any permanent damage or at least give you a good idea of where
the problem areas are.  If the engine is in good shape the van may be worth
his asking price (you still may have a lot of past maintenance items to catch
up on).  If it's not and you intend to buy it and swap engines you should be
aware of the costs involved.  Take a trip to Boston Bob's web site to check
the cost of a good rebuilt wasserboxer (around $1700 and up) and visit Tico's
site for a good conversion cost ($3700 and up).

Good luck.

Chuck
'85 Wolfsburg Westy -- 'Roland'

In a message dated Wed, 27 Dec 2000  8:05:28 PM Eastern Standard Time, Rod
Smith <rodwreck@SE-TEL.COM> writes:

<< but the one thing that troubled me was that it was very hard starting.
It seemed to run fine once it was running but to get it going was another
matter.  I understand that that many things could cause this, not the least
of that the owner would go back into the engine compartment and turn the
distributer by hand a little  this way and then that way between cranks until
it was running.  As I know nothing about waterboxers other than what I have
read here I'm not sure if this is something easily corrected, or a sign of a
more serious problem.

BTW - The owner is asking $3,500 (U.S.)   I'm thinking it may be worth this,
or near to it  even if it does call for engine work. (comments)...

Rod             >>