You asked ... WWUD (what would U do).

I have an '84 7 pass that I've had for 15 years and an '85 Westy that
I've only had for 4 years.

What do U think I did?

Mike

William Alexander wrote:
> 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
>