--snip--
>Ridgecrest or wherever. Yikes!

Ridgecrest is 'wherever', or where-in-the-hell-ever, somewhat to the south
of nowhere; you know, near the um, hole.

>Can you imagine the towing charges to get Westy to the nearest Vanagon
>mechanic?

To the north that would be the guy in Bishop, I don't remember the name of
the shop, but there are a buttload of Vgons at the place. I think most of
them must be his, I can't imagine where else they'd come from- I plan to
stop in next time I'm up there.
To the south that would be about 5 miles east of here- either way a long way
from the valley. In all seriousness I wonder if wouldn't be simpler to take
an engine to the van and swap 'em out. Get a ride to one place or the other,
rent a truck, buy an engine and go back. It'd be cheaper.

Cya,
Robert