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Subject:Re: Decision Time
From:Joe Romas
Date:Wed, 4 Jul 2001 11:33:40 -0400
Michael,

Your prices sound high! Expecially the $300 front shocks. How about a Stebro stainless steel exhaust? Also could you do any of the work yourself, like the defroster? You didn't say heater so I'm not sure if it's the blower or heater core. You should be able to get the two high items for less. Then you might be able to keep your Merc. 

Joe

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Michael Garrett 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2001 9:05 PM
  Subject: Decision Time

  I have been and avid reader/seldom contributor to the list since 1998 and now need an objective opinion....
   
  It's decision time.  My westy has 101,000 miles, an exhaust system that resembles swiss cheese, a dead front defroster fan, surface seam rust below the water/electrical connections, bad ball joints, bad front shocks, dry rotted tires, stained pushrod tubes (ie leaking is around the next corner) and  I need belts and a tune up.  Did I mention the scratches down the driver side and the flattened fender flair?  That is another story but needless to say the parking garage pillar won......

  My question is this, I estimate the costs to get back into great shape at:   (with my mechanic's help and he is very good) 
   
  ball joints            $200
  front shocks        $300
  Tune Up              $100              All OEM
  Exhaust              $1200/1500    OEM
  Tires                   $500              Mich MX4'S
  Belts                  $100
  defroster             $600              pull out replace with OEM  
  AC conversion     $130
   
     This ends up being $3000 to $3500, I figure a decent paint job/rust clean up to be $3000 and now I have a "new" westy with an engine that has over a hundo on it.  Do I do it?  It might mean selling my 1965 fire engine red Mercury Monterey convertible.  We are talking about a convertible as big as a Suburban (with 2 count'em 2 doors.)  This thing has more chrome than I know what to do with.  Seats six ( good for a guy with 4 kids) and is the perfect summer toy.  
   
  Any and all help is appreciated...
   
  Mike
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

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