You're assuming he didn't cuss a lot.  Generally, when working on Vanagons,
mechanics cuss a lot.

Karl Wolz

  over the instructions with my the engine compartment open in front of me,
and it seemed quite straightforward.  Whereas it took Darrel a couple of
hours (at least that's what he charged me for), I would have spent a day,
and would have had to cuss a lot more than he did.