Scott said this about me:

"[...] there are some people ( not you ) the only care that it works..
they are not actually interested in how to accomplish that technically,
or what actually made something work again . .. they only care that it's
working. But then they are not as well equipped when something does go
wrong either."

While I admire those who practice the manly art of working on cars, my
primary interest is keeping the thing running and from breaking down in
the backcountry. To that end, I do the work I can and give the work I
can't to a shop.

I know, I know, if I want a reliable vehicle for camping I should get
something other than a Vanagon, but it's the camper I have and there is
so much to love about the Westfalia as a camping vehicle.

Murphy's Law says that whatever breaks will require tools or a part that
one didn't bring, but I figure that the more I understand, the better my
odds for diagnosing the problem and knowing /exactly/ which tools or
parts I didn't bring.

--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
Bend, Ore.
1984 Westfalia. A poor but proud people.
1971 "Ladybug"-brand utility trailer ca. 1972 from a defunct company in
San Clemente, Calif., now repurposed as The Westrailia.

On 05/16/2012 04:51 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
> Yes you would.
>
> all right ..enjoy your trip !
>
> understanding and mastering it technically is part of the fun.
>
> and true ...there are some people ( not you ) the only care that it works..
> they are not actually interested in how to accomplish that technically,
> or what actually made something work again . ..
> they only care that it's working.
> But then they are not as well equipped when something does go wrong either.
>
> be careful of course..
> since you are driving a relatively untried whole new set of parts ...
> perhaps a couple hour local shake down run is a good idea.
> It's just amazing how many things ..after they are 'done' ...need more
> yet, quite often.
> I find that all the time..
> I spend as much time fine tuning as I do on the repair job itself, quite
> often.
> it's all in the details.
>
> scott
> www.turbovans.com
>
> On 5/16/2012 3:14 PM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>> If I was working in your shop under your direction I'd have a much
>> better-maintained Mellow Yellow.
>>
>> But I don't /wanna/ have to figure it out. I just want to go camping!
>>
>> Out of here tomorrow until Sunday afternoon. All by myself in BLM land.
>>
>> --
>> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
>> Bend, Ore.
>> "Mellow Yellow," 1984 Westfalia. A poor but proud people.
>> 1971 "Ladybug"-brand utility trailer ca. 1972 from a defunct company in
>> San Clemente, Calif., now repurposed as The Westrailia.
>>
>> On 05/16/2012 02:57 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>>> hi..
>>> if you were here in my shop working under my direction ..
>>> I'd make you figure it out ..
>>> it really is very, very simple.
>>>
>>> tip ..hook the forward upper ends first....... hinge area 2nd.
>>> tip 2 ..one bar is for the left side, one the right.
>>> it's impossible to put them in wrong even, at least that I've ever
>>> found.
>>>
>>> you just wanted an excuse for more attention !
>>>
>>> I don't think there's a picture in Bentley .
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 5/16/2012 10:42 AM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>>>> (I reckon I should be used to asking simple questions.)
>>>>
>>>> I'm doing the final reassembly after installing the radiatior. Last
>>>> thing: spare tire carrier.
>>>>
>>>> It consists of three (3) parts, excluding the bolt. One (1) clamshell,
>>>> and two (2) curvy metal arms. Oh yeah, also two (2) little clippy
>>>> things
>>>> to keep the curvy metal arms from falling out of the hinges.
>>>>
>>>> Trouble is I can't figure out how to orient the two curvy metal arms. I
>>>> know they don't go under the clamshell, but the only other way I can
>>>> fit
>>>> them is up from the hinges, through the notches at the rear of the
>>>> clamshell, and above the tire. But the hooky things at the leading
>>>> edges
>>>> bang into the frame when I lift the clamshell to lock it in.
>>>>
>>>> There's probably a picture in Bentley but I'll be darned if I can
>>>> figure
>>>> out what Repair Group the spare tire holder assembly might belong to.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
>>>> Bend, Ore.
>>>> 1984 Westfalia. A poor but proud people.
>>>> 1971 "Ladybug"-brand utility trailer ca. 1972 from a defunct company in
>>>> San Clemente, Calif., now repurposed as The Westrailia.
>>>>
>>