1987 Westy, beautiful (see it here:
http://www.homepage.mac.com/william_idzyn/vanagon ) condition -
exhibiting a shifting problem. It doesn't seem to be the infamous
sudden death - according to the local stealer (VW dealer) they think
the shifting forks are bent, and now that I drive it since they've
said that, it does feel a bit like that - shifting into third is
slightly difficult, shifting into fourth at first seems impossible,
but with patience and pressure fourth does happen - no grinding or
weird noises - just tough shifting and the nagging "I'll be stuck any
minute" feeling.

I love the westy, have had a ton of fun in her in the last two years
since I bought her, and haven't been shy about spending a couple
thousand dollars every year on little things here and there, but this
is the first couple grand big thing I've encountered, and I'm having
trouble pulling the trigger on a Go Westy or similar rebuilt tranny
for the van, especially when rust is strating to make holes in the
body, and based solely on a visual inspection - the kind of lift the
hood holding a beer and say "yep" visual inspection - the engine will
be wanting some major attention some day in the not too distants..

The dilemma is this: dropping the $$ for the tranny switch this summer
feels like commiting to more $$ for body work and paint next summer
and an engine swap down the road - along with lots of other little
goodies I see it more as the first installment on a $8000 fix rather
than just this one job.. should I submit to this kind of commitment on
the vanagon? Or should I take the $2000 and make it a downpaymnent on
a Class C RV? I sure would enjoy all f those extra ameneties.. shower,
bathroom, master bedroom... all in a similarly parkable package... and
it's not my daily driver, it's just for liiving large while
vacationing...  but would I be selling my soul?

Discuss... I need help here..

William in Roanoke