Depends on your intentions.  If he wants something that is uniquely his (and
money is no object), then a ground up restoration is appropriate.  On the
other hand, if all he's looking for is a cherry Vanagon, then I agree with
you.  Buy a pristine Vanagon and have the engine conversion done.

Cheers,

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of George Goff
Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2003 4:54 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Restoring an '84 7-passenger

In a message dated 2/26/03 11:13:26 PM, lauterba@BELLSOUTH.NET writes:

<< 2) If so, what is the best project flow to avoid rework? >>

John, my man, simplify.  Take the 10 -15 yards all that work is going to
cost
and spend it on a mint van from the Left Coast.  I mentioned this before on
this list: after restoring an early T-Bird, a fellow I knew who worked in a
restoration shop told me he would never do that again.  He said it would
have
been cheaper to go to Carlisle and buy one already done.  He also said that
during all that time he had spent busting his knuckles he could have been
with his honey cruising the highways and the byways in a shiny T-Bird.

George