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Subject:Re: so glad to have vw friends....i have a few ?s for the pros........yes you
From:BJ Feddish
Date:Thu, 8 May 2008 14:36:43 -0400

>> i have a 85 vanagon air cooled.....love her to death,but she is my every
day driver. <<

Air cooled Vanagons were made between 1980 and 1983 1/2. You either have a
water cooled van or you have the wrong year.

>> one day her hatch will not open and it used to....not sure how to get her
open? <<

There are little metal rings on both sides of the lid, turn them in the open
direction.

>>  also i had a VERY hard time with her this winter....if we had 2 inc of
snow i could not get her out  much less through it.only one tire would spin
that was at 2- 3 gear.is this normal if so how can i give her bigger
testicals.if not how can i fix her?I know she is not a syncro but man she
should be able to go through 2 inc of snow. <<

A good set of snow tires will make all the difference next winter.

>> ....to bad it is for a 84 i think so i would like to sell it at buses by
the beach for like 7 $ <<

Chris will know the answer to this but a roller from an '84 should fit an
'85.

>> also do u know any one near grandrapids that can pull a motor and give it
a good cleaning and tune up..... <<

If your're going to pull the motor why put the old one back in? ;-) Anyway,
cleaning and tuning can be done with the motor still in. Running rough could
be allot of things from the very simple to the very complicated.

>> she is running kinda rough.any one know a good fix for the frount floor
panals....the black rubber fell off and i have nice rusted out holes....fun
with mud puddles i tell ya. <<

If you have rust there you may have it in allot of other places. Please
check your seatbelt mounts. There are lots of books and websites on auto
body.  If you don't want to replace the panels then Google yourself
information on using fiberglass and POR-15.

Thanks,
Bryan