--snip--

>P.S. every time I work on this thing I think "What a POS I'm going to sell
it as soon as it's fixed" then I drive it and think "this little rolling
apartment is really comfy & fun to drive I think I'll hang on to it" Is this
normal? It's becoming more of a puzzle than a vehicle it seems, and I'm
becoming obsessed with "solving" it.
--snip--

I have the same mixed feelings. I intend to solve mine with an engine
conversion, thereby keeping what I like about the van and getting rid of
what I don't. I'm actually not having many serious problems out of my
engine, I'm just tired of the paranoia, constantly putting out little fires
(figuratively) on a system that has so many weak points, and having barely
enough power to not be a hazard in traffic (most of the time) with no
reserve power for emergencies.

--snip--

>(I'm off grid in the Sierra's) Sorry if I'm repeating other posts.

Whereabouts, if you don't mind my asking?

>PPS: I called the CA bureau of automotive repair. They claim these engines
simply run dirty, are very difficult and sometimes just simply impossible to
bring them to spec. They would prefer I scrap it or put a turbo diesel in
it.

Interesting that BAR would give you that advice; last time I looked into it
Cali would not allow you to put a diesel into a gas vehicle unless it was a
stock option (meaning you had to use the stock diesel engine), but that may
have changed as it has been years since I checked it out. I don't believe
that the engines 'simply run dirty'; mine has passed just fine each of the
three times I've had to smog it so far. In no way is it 'impossible to bring
them to spec', and when they are in spec they pass, in my experience.

--snip--

>One more thing, thankfully I found a smog place that will exempt the evap
test.

--snip--

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my local Gold Shield guy told me Vanagons
were exempt from this test (due to the difficulty in getting to the
components, iirc). Next time I'm down there I'll try to get chapter and
verse so I can post it to the list and clear this up. At any rate, the first
two times I smogged my van the evap system was open to the air for all
practical purposes. I finally replaced everything from stem to stern just to
be told I didn't need it to pass smog, but obviously I needed to do it
anyway; believe me I feel much better about it.

You might look through the archives for posts from Dennis Haynes in reply to
folks posting their smog test results; there are some good explanations for
the causes of different failures. Perhaps if he gets a chance he'll reply to
this thread directly. It might help if you posted the full smog results.

Cya,
Robert