The last thing I need is another "SLOWPOKE" named Chris
driving an air cooled westy.

Thanks,
(The other) Chris
1980 Air Cooled Westy "Pokey"
Licence Plate: SLOPOKEY

---- Original message ----
>Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2002 10:56:44 -0500
>From: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
>Subject: Re: What's the scoop on early vanagons? (Circa
1981)
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
>Chris:
>I really like your take on this bargain 81 Westy.
>Buy cheap and spend two to ten thousand dollars and still
have an 81
>Westy.
>Good thinking ........... why not just buy a nice 81 Westy
for a few
>hundred more.
>
>Stan Wilder
>83 Air Cooled Westfalia
>
>On Thu, 27 Jun 2002 08:47:23 -0500 Chris Mills
<scmills@TNTECH.EDU>
>writes:
>> If the body and interior is good (think no rust) then the
price is
>okay.  I'd start at $500 and dicker. The aircooled engine is
fine. It
>needs  top end attention at about 100K miles but so does the
wasserboxer
>when  it blows it's gaskets.
>>
>> The only difference between one model and another is
creature
>comforts. A1978 is better than a 1970. A 1990 is better than
a 1981. A
>1981 is better than a 1978 like mine.
>>
>> For a few thousand you can buy a Boston Bob or Jake Raby
engine and
>> probably have a nice rig long term. You could take it one
step  further
>and
>> go with a Porsche 901 or 915 tranny to give you 5 speeds
to make the
>> most  of the power you have. You could go with a Corvair
powerplant
>like
>> me but understand at that point you are on your own with
service. The
>> Corvairs  guys can advise you on service and repairs but I
doubt any
>shop
>> would touch  it unless they dealt with Corvairs and even
that is just a
>maybe.
>> The Corvair is a good stout engine and parts are easy to
get. If you
>pursue
>> this route be sure to join the Corvair list and Corsa the
national
>club -
>> LOTS of great tech info floating about with those guys.
>>
>> If you are rich you could go with a Porsche 911 engine.
>>
>> I mention all of this because I think all of the Westies
are a bit
>anemic
>> for modern highway speeds. I want to travel at the posted
speed  limit
>and
>> 52 mph on an interstate hill won't  cut it with me.
>>
>> I would buy it, make the repairs, and keep it stock or at
least all
>aircooled VW until you are sure you really like this beast
(we love ours)
>and can deal with a 20+ year old vehicle when it requires
>> attention.
>> RUST and COLLISION DAMAGE are the things you have to worry
about the
>> most when you buy an old vehicle. Everything else can be
dealt with
>easily enough.
>>
>> I would seriously consider figuring out a strategy on
bringing this
>puppy back from the grave - safety systems first, cosmetics,
then
>mechanicals.
>>
>> Good luck.
>>
>>
>> Chris M. <"Busbodger" of "TEAM SLOWPOKE">
>> Cookeville, Tennessee
>>
>> ICQ# 5944649
>> scm9985@tntech.edu
>>
>> '78 VW Westfalia (67 HP -> that is...67 Hamster Power)
>> '65 Beetle - Type IV powered
>> '99 CR-V AWD station wagon
>> '81 CB900 Custom moto-chickle
>> 2.5 Corvair engines for my Trans-vair Conversion
>>
>
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