Wow, great trip notes.  Glad it wnet so smooth.  Nebraska is not as bad as
Kansas, bud. BTW-Kansas Tpike SUCKS!!!
Michael in San Antonio
91GL AT 'Gringo'
73 Beetle

On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 5:26 PM, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:

> Well guys, its time I thank the masses.Over the course of the last few
> months, plenty of people have given me great advice on preparing for the
> vanagon-dream-trip. I cannot possibly thank all of these people
> individually. I would also like to thank list members Peter Osianoski and
> Tom Buses for allowing me a place to park for the night on the way out. I
> also cannot speak highly enough of the gang Peter assembled (some of whom
> are list members but names I forget), my meeting with Bob Stevens in Salt
> Lake City, and a few other vanagon nuts I had a chance to talk with along
> the way.
>
> I just completed my journey from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to Reno Nevada,
> over the course of 5 days, alone. I made the trip using my 1985 (mostly)
> vanagon which I have rebuilt from a piece of junk almost 5 years ago now,
> converted to a full westfalia, and now installed a Bostig Engineering
> engine
> conversion in! Many of you may have noticed I didn't ask any questions
> during the bostig install... because it's that easy! I cannot speak highly
> enough about this product and won't go into a rant about that but will say
> this, I've had my engine conversion running for 3 weeks now. The lettering
> on the Ford Focus engine indicates I purchased it from the junk yard on
> 5-3-09. So the conversion only took about 2 weeks of working on and off,
> alone, and I immediately took it across the country! I don't know how many
> people can say they put 1 tank of gasoline on an engine conversion before
> taking it the next 3000 miles, but I can!
> With that said, the trip was just wonderful! I averaged 21mpg between all
> my
> tanks of gasoline, with my best tank coming in at 26mpg. This was
> maintaining speeds of 70-75mph the entire way! I did run a few tanks of E85
> ethanol as well, paying as low as $1.20/gallon!
>
> All the mechanical systems on the bus performed as expected, and it was
> very
> sure footed throughout the entire journey. I did still have intermittent
> problems with my fridge blowing out while driving (but it appears it only
> blows out above 70mph. If i Keep it to 70mph it will stay lit all day!),
> and
> my aux battery charge circuit frying (Questions will follow about how to
> better set up my charge circuit to accommodate my 88ah of deep cycle power
> under the drivers seat). It's time for an oil change. I never even checked
> the oil, the entire way across the country! The little zetec just keeps on
> running.
>
> Anyway, I am now spending my summer in Reno Nevada, teaching Sailing
> Lessons. If anyone is in the area or the surrounding areas and has
> suggestions for weekend getaways to camp, or would like to meet up with me
> somewhere and do some camping, i'd cherish the opportunity. Furthermore if
> anyone is in this area and needs some wrenching done, consider me a free
> but
> only "pretty good" mechanic.
>
> In August, I will be making a similar trip home. I'm not sure that i'll be
> taking the same route, but may make my way through the mountainous North
> rather than the relentlessly boring "middle". In my mind, Nebraska needs to
> be eliminated.....from everything. Regardless, I look forward to meeting
> more of you guys!
>
> Sincerely,
> Craig Cowan
> '85Gl turned WESTY
> Bostig in the back.
>