Now we understand the skull, but not why Marios Andretti is leaning on your
van.   Do tell.

Ryan
'89 Westy with EJ22

On Tue, May 18, 2010 at 8:31 AM, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:

> So thanks to those of you on the Vanagon List for chiming in and offering
> help in my folly. Pittsburgh Vanagon Club, this is the first you're hearing
> of this (I kept it quiet locally).
>
> Last week my van went in for inspection from a shop I used to work at and
> they gave me a good deal on replacing the ball joints it needed. I simply
> didn't have time to do it myself, as I plan to leave for a "Great Eastern
> Adventure" later in this week. Anyway, part of their inspection involved
> removing the horse skull from the roof. Yes, there was a horse skull on the
> roof. I will attach a picture showing the horse skull (featuring Marios
> Andretti as well!). The inspection mechanic took it off worrying that it
> wasn't attached strongly enough. I guess I can believe that as a reasonable
> grounds of removal, so i'll embrace that. Now if only he hadn't told his
> superior it was help on by only a bungee chord....
> The flaw here is that it was held on by 5 1/8'' nylon lines under tension
> by
> a small bungee chord, and a 1/8'' stainless steel cable crimped in place
> and
> secured through the base of the skull and attached to two bolts which
> normally hold the front of the luggage rack down (With big washers on
> them).
> So I guess he failed to note that it was secured by 5 seperate places and
> designed not to be stolen, or the fact that it had been up there for 9
> months and over 5,000 miles. It's seen both coasts up there.
> But again, i'll embrace his reasoning for taking it off as I agree, from
> his
> standpoint it could have looked like a danger. I actually LIKE mandatory
> state inspections here in PA for this reason! They point out things I
> didn't
> think about.
>
> Well, in removing the skull, he took off the two front bolts to the luggage
> rack as well. The bolts, along with the skull and everything were kindly
> placed on the front seat of the van for my potential use later. Well after
> passing inspection, I immediately headed up to my school apartment an hour
> north in Slippery Rock PA. About 2 miles into my highway trek, I felt a
> strong BANG and heard a sound as well. I immediately looked out my back
> window to see something large fly safely to the side of the road. My
> thoughts were "I hit a box" or something of that nature. It really felt
> like
> whatever I hit, I hit from below. The bus still ran well, so I took note of
> where It seemed to happen and  continued on my way. An hour later, I get
> out
> of my bus and was in disbelief to find the poptop luggage rack MISSING!!!!!
>
> Strangely, while driving, I found that there was not much additional wind
> noise even though the poptop was now working as a funnell to bring air into
> the bus. I did notice that the canvas was filling up with air and even
> remember reaching back and squeezing this huge pocket of air filled canvas
> and remembered how odd that was.
>
> Anyway, immediately after getting up to Slippery Rock, I gave them a call
> and they were shocked as well. I said "I think your mechanic took the two
> front bolts out and didn't put them back on." I actually overheard the
> superior asking the mechanic if this was the case and the mechanic
> responding "ya, they're on the front seat". At that point we could both
> agree this was a problem they caused. Luckily, they've been as good as they
> can to help me solve the problem!!!
> I immediately sent them out pictures including images of the two side bolts
> still in place on the van with chunks of fiberglass under them. The shop at
> this point said "Well you're the expert, where can we get you a new one?"
> This is when my heart really fell out and I realized just what a daunting
> task that should be! I'm lucky I know great people and have great local
> resources, but can't imagine what this would have meant if it was a
> non-vanagon-savy person!
> This is about the time I sent the first email out to the vanagon list
> looking for a used top.
>
> A stroke of luck!
> After telling my parents what had just happened, My mother jumps in her car
> and starts searching the highway. Within an hour I get an amazing call "I
> FOUND IT! And it looks fixable!". SO, my mother drives up to Slippery Rock
> to show me the top, scratched with some paint missing and a 9'' long crack
> all the way up (and all the way through) in one of the corners. Alas, I do
> believe it repairable but a shop looked at it and agreed it would be
> cheaper
> just to get a replacement if one could be found.
>
> I was able to source a top 110 miles away and yesterday drove the 220 miles
> round trip to pick it up with a check from the mechanics in hand to cover
> the cost of the top. So for $100 I was able to get a replacement top in
> good
> shape. It's UGLY! So i spent last night scrubbing it up before going in
> today to see about getting it painted. They won't be capable of doing it in
> the time frame I demand ( have to have it installed and ready to leave for
> the summer in 2 days), so they've agreed to have it color matched the best
> they can when I return in august.
>
> I plan to do my best to repair the "broken" one as well to have as a spare
> for the next time this happens to someone!
> Immediately after this happened I had a local friend calling me up to say
> he
> has one I could borrow untill I get mine fixed if need be. (I sold him the
> top off a van 2 years ago and he's restored the top for a future poptop
> install on his Carat. Then last night, another vanagon list member sent out
> new gaskets for me to put on! What amazing people we have here!!!!
>
> So I'd like to thank everyone who's given advice!
>
> Here's your closing image.
> http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30402158&l=91005335f5&id=1457880199
>
> -Craig
> '85GL turned WESTY
> BOSTIG in the back.
>