I took the inside out of mine to check/repair any defects, installed Q-pads to quiet things, put in new pink fiberglass insulation (not to thick), and vapor sealed the thing with heavy mil plastic (what a pita around the utility ports). I decided on a Tiico replacement (a new engine), to take care of waterboxer problems for the next 2 to 3 K miles .  Add some or all of these to your list and 

Happy Motoring!!!

Dave
83 Tiico Westy
83 WBX Westy
59 SO4 Westy (Mostly)
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Larry C Chase 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2001 2:27 PM
  Subject: Newbie >>>> Intro .. sorry ... LONG

  Vanagon List Members,

  I delighted to announce that I have completed my self
   imposed Newbie initiation.

  1. Scour the Archives for all areas of interest and info
   .... minimum 2 mnths.
  2. Lurk quietly & Humbly in the background and absorb 
  as much of the huge volume of incredible and knowledgeable 
  dialog for at least 2 months
  3. Test the waters by slipping a toe the knowledge pool 
  by submitting a couple of non-controversial questions 
  about source etc to knowledgeable members off line.
  4. Finally ... the coming out (sort of) by submitting a 
  humble introductory note.

  Background:

  Vehicle - 85 Westy GL (as yet unnamed, had a few 
  ideas, but you guys beat me to it)
  Geo - Bay Area, Campbell CA

  Comments:

  Purchased my Westy (Salvage Title) approx 3 months ago 
  in Sacramento -  Full Camper, Exc Condition, Low Miles, 
  Fresh Parts, Brown w/beige interior, 4-speed, AC, miles (105K) 

  Second VW but first Van. Had a 69 Beetle in the early 70's.

  Mechanically incompetent ... or close to it.

  Reason for purchase ..... ~ July 2002 I plan to gently slide 
  behind the wheel of my properly prepared 85 Westy and 
  drive the four points of the compass for many, many miles. 
  North when it's hot, south when it's cold etc. Duration only 
  limited by desire. Might be a month, might be a year, might 
  keep orbiting like one of those Satellites.

  Thus the Westy will be home. 

  Found a good local mechanic and told him ..... we need to 
  go thru it top to bottom and repair/replace anything that might 
  fail within 50,000 of continuous driving. Looked at me weird, 
  then I saw these dollar sign kinda of sparkles in his eyes, he 
  began hyperventilating. After I paper bagged him and he 
  calmed down we talked about a long term relationship and 
  fair honest treatment ........ Have always been leery of 
  commitment so at this point I began hyperventilating. 

  We then put a plan together to space out what was needed 
  ... chunk it down if you will over the nxt several mnths.

  Overall plan:

  1. Mechanical repairs - Ongoing
      a. Front end
      b. Misc odds & ends
      c. Rebuild Transaxle etc
      d. Check and Rebuild trans (4 sp) if needed
      e. Rebuild 1.9 Waterboxer
  2. New Tires & Shocks - Bridgestone LT Reinforced 
  sidewall & KYB Gas Shocks - DONE
  3. Rubber, as in hoses replacement - to be done
  4. Awning / Shady Boy (Installed by GoWesty) - DONE
  5. Roof rack for very light weight Kayak .... don't scold me .
  .. I know the load limit and stress factors - DONE
  6. Rear bike rack ..... Gary Lee's wonderful creation - Done
  7. Replace all interior carpet - On Order from GoWesty - in process
  8. Replace Skylight -  GoWesty - Done
  9. Add more interior lighting - Parts received most frm West 
  Marine / Need to install
  10. Add 2 interior fans - see lighting above
  11. Redo do electrical system, inverter/converter ... extra outlets, 
  Deep Cycle Ax Battery etc. - to be done
  12. Add Vented Furnace (still researching ... short list is Suburban, 
  Espar B1LC, Carver) - to be done
  13. New 3 window poptop & Install - GoWesty DONE
  14. Purchase Honda 1000 watt generator (lots of dry camping) 
  - to be done
  15. Purchase & Install Black Metal bumpers (rear on order, 
  still need front) - to be done
  16. Upgrade/rebuild/improve AC .. recent thread on topic 
  was very helpful - to be done
  17. Install sound system that integrates Laptop (MP3), Indash 
  CD/FM/AM, Sat TV - to be done
  18. Purchase & Install RV Satellite TV System (wish internet 
  version was ready for RV market) - to be done 
  19. Purchase & Install all exterior door locks & rekey to same 
  (BusDepot & Steve Sandlin) - in process
  20. Purchase and install all exterior window/door rubber - to be done
  21. Replace almost all exterior lighting lenses - Ongoing
  22. Purchase & Install 4 headlight grill (South African etc) - to be done
  23. Repaint exterior / Original VW Brown color - to be done
  24. Purchase & Install all exterior decals - to be done
  25. Everything else I forget or don't know yet - to be done

  Any comments, suggestions, sources, feedback etc are 
  more than welcome.

  Please forgive the length of this message. This will be my 
  one time overly long dialog for 2001.

  Humbly, 

  Larry Chase

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