>>I think it is an interesting subject.. what kind of risk are we willing to
>>take????

An interesting question indeed Ben. I do a lot of preventative maintenance
and have replaced most of the major components in my van. When I say major,
I mean engine/clutch/CV's, tranny has been reworked but not rebuilt, rad and
all hoses. I still worry about the gas tank (probably rusty and leaky) and
the brake lines (stainless steel and if you think it lasts forever without
rusting -- it ain't so). But I'll still take the longest trip I can manage
(work permitting) and deal with what happens when it happens. I've got a
raft of 'broken down on the road' stories some attributable to the age of
the relevant part and some not. I lost an alternator belt last year in PA
(on Friday night at 5 pm). I knew the belt was only a year old and had
checked it for tightness and condition before I left. We camped free in a
motel parking lot and I'd bought and changed a new belt by 10:30 the next
morning. We've never missed a return date from a trip --- spent some money
sure, but you're gonna spend it sooner or later. Had a few adventures that
we can laugh about now. If you take any vehicle regardless of age that is
used to running for an hour or so a day and run it at high speed for a
couple of 12 hour days; the strain is new and could well cause problems to
surface. My buddies with newer vehicles who laugh at my 'on the road'
stories, never do the roadtrips that I and other Westy owners do. If someone
thinks that 4 hours is a long drive --- don't talk to me about vehicle
reliability - they just don't know. We're near Toronto and we're going to
Florida in March and BC in July --- I know we'll make it there and back ---
and if some ugly minivan wants to do the same trip I'll be the guy you can't
get by going up the Malahat Pass :-)

Cheers,
Doug

On 2/9/07, Benny boy <huotb@videotron.ca> wrote:
>
> Almost funny... so, to all who have followed and help on the radiator
> thread, he is a new one... (not that i need any advices but just for the
> fun
> of it)
>
> Same poor lady in Mexico!
> Ok, now, she call me back today... for another problem! (the rad was the
> problem!!! van is running fine now with perfect temperature - 400miles
> later
> and by the way, i spoke to his friend also, he told me how NICE, polite,
> helpfull an professional were the 2 young Mexican mechanic, they didn't
> tell
> me the price but they yold me it was a joke...)
> So, she as now double the fuel consumption! yea (with some small fuel
> smell
> once in a wile)!
>
> Short story on her engine, wile i was putting the engine back in, after
> the
> initial break-in, i found out that the screw at the "T" junction:
> http://www.benplace.com/fi_hoses/100_0028.jpg
> was loose, so i closed it back and open it up a bit (after engine shut
> down)
> to see if she was thight and i had NO pressure, so after a proper fuel
> pressure test, the #3 injector was leaking bad, so i replace this one and
> tested all the other, still a leak in the system, the fuel pressure sender
> was also... tired, but i had many good tested use one and a few new one,
> of
> course, she choose the used one! Everything was fine (for now!), the
> injector was also a used one... (don't ask, i give the customer the
> choice,
> i explain the risk, they make the decision) Stangly, all injectors pass
> the
> test on the bench! (i have a new fuel injector tester)
>
> Anyway, so now, she as something failing... again! (OS and temp sender are
> new), even with that problem, the van run smooth and with plenty of
> power...
> (i ask her to carefully check for a leak, tank, engine area)
>
> Conclusion, they are getting old (the van, not the lady.. he he he)...
> anything can happen! so if you choose to do a 10,000-13,000mile trip,
> better
> bring some spare parts or change most part on your van!
>
> I think it is an interesting subject.. what kind of risk are we willing to
> take????
>
> Cheers, Ben
>

--
http://www.dougalcock.com