The original observations several years ago about the trials and
tribulations I was having with my 83 Westy brought forth the term Paranoid
Maintenance.
It seems I did what many other list members did in about the same order.
1) Bought a Westy and 90 days later blew an engine. Running 85 MPH against a
headwind.
2) Caught the engine on fire. While testing various fuel injectors etc.
3) Blew a tranny. (Lost ability to shift out of 4th gear unless the engine
was off. Drove 300 miles on Interstate 30 and got back home on the
Interstate with only limited red lights.)
Items 4 through about 200 consisted of speedometer replacement, brakes,
tires, brake lines, all wheel bearings, brake rotors and brake drums,
pop-top seal, sink water pump, sink faucet, upgraded radio and speakers,
installed oil temp / cht / oil pres gauges, installed oil cooler and the
list continues.
Along with the replacement of clutch slave and master cylinders and several
wheel cylinders and calipers.
Although I owned and sold lots of Westy I mostly drove my 83 out to camping
excursions.
That little formula I presented years ago is and was always just a tongue in
cheek analysis to let people know what they were in for with their VW Bus /
Westy or Syncro.
Many times it rings true and sometimes a Vanagon escapes from an owner
before it has hit rock bottom.
The Vanagon market varies greatly in the quality of vehicles available on
the East Coast Vs the West Coast and I'll be looking forward to visiting
Portland Oregon and Seattle Area where it's said "You can't swing a dead cat
without hitting a Vanagon, Bus or Syncro".
I'm saving my dead cats for that day and will be the total Vanagon
experience for me.

Stan Wilder
Engine Ceramics
214-352-4931
www.engineceramics.com