Is your friend an experienced Vanagon owner? If not, your suggesting
this purchase will ruin the friendship.

You don't state the history of other major systems, but basically,
everything in this van is reaching the end of its useful life and
without TLC, failures will be common place.

The engine may go for a number of miles and then again it can throw a
rod tomorrow. Why $2K was spent to replace heads on an engine at the end
of its life is beyond me. I can see a head gasket job or a few new
valves, but new heads doesn't make sense.

The cooling system including the radiators, heater cores, and the
coolant pipes and hoses will surely need service soon. The fuel system
will also need major work if not already done. What about the
transmission and clutch? Front and rear suspension, (all bushings),
wheel bearings etc. Steering rack and pump, brake lines, the list goes
on.

And what would be the cost to do the body work and interior?

This is a project van. It should be purchased cheap, (~$2,500) and
another $5K made available for repairs in the next year. Consider it
will cost ~$.50/mile to drive this thing. It probably should only be
bought by a person capable and desiring to do his own work.

Ranting,
Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of David Wallace
Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2003 6:46 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Advice re. 87 Westy

A friend is interested in buying an '87 Westy, but it has some
problems.   Mileage is 185K, and there's some body damage and rust.
The heads were recently replaced for $2K, but the engine has not been
rebuilt.  There's an auxiliary battery.  The interior is dirty but
otherwise probably OK (I haven't seen it).

So, here's a few questions for the list gurus:

1.  What's a fair price?
2.  How much longer can the engine be expected to last?
3.  Any comments on reliability, expected problems, etc.?

Thanks,

- Dave Wallace
'85 Westy
Logan, Utah
David Wallace