Congratulations!� Yeah, it's hard to describe the feeling you get when you hopefully make your way over to a Vanagon hulk in a junkyard and start looking, and then you simply can't believe that no one already got the stuff you've found to drool over.� The '86 I found had much more I wish I could have grabbed but lack of storage space and a sense of marital restraint (She'll never know she didn't have to say, "Why does our camper need a spare transmission?") kept things reasonable.� Next big challenge is having all the correct tools and then getting stuff loose without damaging it .� Luck was with you that day. 

Stephen

--- On Fri, 9/23/11, J Stewart <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET> wrote:

From: J Stewart <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Junkyard Wars
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Friday, September 23, 2011, 4:20 PM

I won today. I have in my possession what may the last brown padded dash that is isn't cracked. Seriously, every brown padded dash I've ever seen has been cracked, including the one currently in my '85 Weekender. Two years ago at the Manassas Bug Out I talked to a guy with one of the most perfect Westys I've ever seen. Beautiful two tone brown paint that looked like a mirror, perfect interior, engine conversion, 16 inch wheels, etc. He told me he had 35K invested in his Westy-and I don't doubt it. His brown dash looked the surface of the moon! He even envied the dash in my '85 which is only slightly cracked. But even so, this one will be going in mine. I was surprised at how easily the dash came out, took only about an hour, not including those two bizarre "safety" bolts that hold the steering column in place (is there any way to get those off besides vice grips?) In total, I got the brown dash, a brown rear view mirror (also perfect) two visors,
 complete gauge/instrument panel, assorted bulbs, relays, and other small items for $90.00, not a bad deal IMHO! Jeff 

Jeff Stewart