>So here's the question: has anyone had experience with ressurecting
>a van which has been sitting? This may get a new 1.9 or perhaps a
>swap of some sort. I'm mostly concerned about what else might need
>attending to. The van has sat in his lot and has been kept shut.
>Interior is in really good shape. Exterior is dirty from sitting and
>appears to have two major rust spots in places where I've never seen
>them -- above the rain gutter on both sides of the front luggage
>rack. No seam rust, however :) Should the coolant lines be suspect?
>Radiator? Brakes? I've ressurected a couple air-cooleds and usually
>they needed new brakes (but they sat much longer).

I've owned vehicles which sat for a year or more outside. There's
nothing in particular to look out for that you wouldn't normally
anyway. Check the tires are OK. Put in an engine, battery, new wiper
rubbers,bleed the brakes (new fluid), check the front brake pads and
you're away.

Roofracks are a great cause of rust; they wear the paint away and
trap water where they clamp to the gutter. You won't find any on my
vehicles... though I bought one or two which HAD them fitted...
ripped 'em off first thing.
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
64 (3) 473-8863
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut