On Thu, 22 Nov 2001 20:12:53 -0500, Data Services
<dataservices@MEDIAONE.NET> wrote:

>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
>

Dave,

Thanks for the great suggestions.

One clarification ... what are "Q-Pads"?