

| Subject: | Re: Buying a Van - Parts in L.A. |
| From: | Roger Whittaker |
| Date: | Mon, 25 Apr 2011 12:13:21 -0700 |
dear dan an new guy why replace a part known to fail with a part that may fail when passing strait through hose will eliminate possibility of failure that is the point of the R & not R of the firestarter part ... this is not simply remove and replace but remove and use redesign regards On Mon, Apr 25, 2011 at 10:24 AM, Daniel Rotblatt <d.rotblatt@verizon.net>wrote: > Uh Oh! Dissenting opinions! Maybe I should just fabricate my own out of > brass - that way I get the best of both worlds! From the looks of the part > it'll take me about an hour to make... > > > Dan > Los Angeles, CA > '85 Westy Weekender > > On Apr 25, 2011, at 9:28 AM, Roger Whittaker wrote: > > dear dan the van guy >> >> if i may be so bold as to say .... do not get the steel rplacemt piece ... >> why replace a plastic piece with a piece that will degrade with rust >> just run the hose through the fire wall with a grommet or fire hose to >> protect the worry point and secure with zap ties >> see you >> >> On Mon, Apr 25, 2011 at 7:32 AM, Daniel Rotblatt <d.rotblatt@verizon.net >> >wrote: >> >> Roger - >>> >>> Thanks for the heads up - I'll pick up a steel "firestarter" and some >>> extra >>> hose and clamps when I purchase the kit. I was looking at the kits last >>> night, and you're right, they don't allow for errors. >>> >>> Dan >>> Los Angeles, CA >>> '85 Westy Weekender >>> >>> >>> On Apr 25, 2011, at 12:43 AM, Roger Whittaker wrote: >>> >>> dear dan new van >>> >>>> >>>> i saw you said you looked at fuel lines but you made no mention of the >>>> fire >>>> starter piece having been replaced >>>> this replacement is essential to your long term trouble free enjoyment >>>> of >>>> same >>>> this can not be emphasized enough >>>> this part needs to be replaced ASAP >>>> >>>> this is a link to an image of the part located right were the fuel line >>>> passes through the firewall into the engine bay >>>> *http://preview.tinyurl.com/3jp4djn* >>>> >>>> many kits come with a new version of the plastic OEM ...in my opinion it >>>> is >>>> silly to replace a defective idea with a different version of the same >>>> thing >>>> ... simply run fuel supply line right from pressure side of filter all >>>> the >>>> way along gear box as per OEM then through the grommet or piece of 5/8 >>>> heater hose set in the hole in the fire wall ... the hole made by the >>>> removal of the offending OEM part ... continue hose to distribution >>>> feeder >>>> manifold ... >>>> >>>> if you buy the replacement kit from gowesty or another supplier you will >>>> or >>>> may require a few more of those ear clamps --cause you will wreck a >>>> couple >>>> due to squeezing them in place in the wrong place or out of order during >>>> R >>>> & >>>> R ... also i covered my replacement supply line with 5/8 heater hose >>>> with >>>> from the firewall to each injector to give some protection from the heat >>>> of >>>> the engine wearing the integrity of the fuel supply line ... i also used >>>> some extra high pressure supply line... before i started the project i >>>> bought an extra 10 feet in case i errored and i errored twice in the R & >>>> R >>>> ... so had to remove the mistake and replace with new line... the kit >>>> from >>>> gowesty is exactly what is required by a skilled professional and is not >>>> forgiving of mistakes ... the whole thing took me 4 hours on my back in >>>> the >>>> driveway of another vanagon owner who was kind enough to lend me >>>> assistance >>>> when needed and especially his driveway as we were a long way from home >>>> and >>>> in Chico cali (thanks peter) >>>> vancafe or other supplier of this item may supply extra hose for those >>>> of >>>> us >>>> who learn by mistake as they go ...i have no idea >>>> regards >>>> >>>> On Sun, Apr 24, 2011 at 9:51 PM, Daniel Rotblatt < >>>> d.rotblatt@verizon.net >>>> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>> >>>> Bob and others, >>>> >>>>> >>>>> Thanks for the link to roadhaus - I just went over their list of >>>>> local mechanics and found some potentially good ones near me. >>>>> There's also a guy really close to me who, though not a VW >>>>> specialist, is an excellent mechanic (and a true character). I do >>>>> want to bring my Van in to a good mechanic who knows vanagons just to >>>>> get a safety check, and overview on any mechanical work that needs to >>>>> be done by someone who knows the idiosyncrasies of an '85 vanagon. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> A suggestion: change your mind set, or thinking about your "new" >>>>> >>>>> vehicle. You talk about maintaining it as though it's NOT a 20- >>>>>> something y/o vehicle that not many current shops will be willing to >>>>>> work on, and CERTAINLY not any VW dealerships, with only >>>>>> very rare exceptions. There are, for example, no VW dealerships >>>>>> in the city I live in that will consider working on, even an oil >>>>>> change, >>>>>> for a vanagon. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> I hear you all on the dealerships. My other "classic" (a '66 triumph >>>>> spitfire) has no dealerships since triumph is defunct, so I'm used to >>>>> (and prefer) doing it myself. I didn't really expect VW to want to >>>>> deal with it, and I've never liked taking cars to dealerships except >>>>> when on warranty. Just checkin the possibilities. >>>>> >>>>> Thanks again for the responses everyone! >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Dan >>>>> L.A., CA >>>>> '85 Westy Weekender >>>>> >>>>> PS - On a side note: I did check the gas lines - most look good, but >>>>> I will replace since it's obvious they haven't been in the last few >>>>> years. They are scary - sitting right over the exhaust >>>>> pipes.... :^O A little design issue there. I'm surprised they >>>>> aren't metal tubes over the engine with a rubber one going to the gas >>>>> tank to take the vibrations. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> >> >> -- >> roger w >> From Proverbs: >> Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: a >> servant who becomes king ... >> ---------------------------------------------------------- >> Explore printed work at: http://www.prliving.ca/ >> View the growing list of video work at: >> >> http://www.prpeak.com/articles/2010/11/29/multimedia/video/doc4c62e5f80d228504902172.txt >> > > -- roger w From Proverbs: Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: a servant who becomes king ... ---------------------------------------------------------- Explore printed work at: http://www.prliving.ca/ View the growing list of video work at: http://www.prpeak.com/articles/2010/11/29/multimedia/video/doc4c62e5f80d228504902172.txt
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