1980 Volkswagon Vanagon Westfalia Camper
over 100K miles.  Odometer shows 85K (PO broke the odometer)

I got the bad news last Thursday.  My trusted mechanic said that =
cylinder number three's compression is low. I knew it was coming but =
just didn't want to face the music.   Here are the readings:  (1) 120, =
(2) 120, (3) 90, (4) 120.  He said it might be a burned valve and would =
eventually cause major problems.  I just took the bus out camping and =
had a really great time at the coast of NC.  I want to keep it around =
for awhile and would love to take some more trips to the beach and then =
in the fall to the mountains of NC.  However I am concerned about being =
stranded far away from home with a lame engine.....

What I'm asking the collective mind and experience of this group is what =
are my options.  I'm not rich but can come up with some money.  I also =
have worked on my bus before with the last effort a repacking of the CV =
joints and replacing the boots. (Thanks again Stefan for the assist) =
I've also done some work on a 1979 Mercedes 280 CE, 1971 Opal GT and =
1974 Fiat 128.  Have I dropped an engine?  Nope.  I have the Bentley, =
Haynes, Muir and other manuals.  Muir seems to think than anyone can =
rebuild a VW engine.  However his instructions appear to lean away from =
the engine *I* have to work on.  I don't have a garage to work in. But I =
do have a yard and a storage shed for storing parts. I believe I  have a =
decent set of tools (or can get access to some) Can I do anything to =
stave off the inevitable fate the mechanic talked about?  What's the =
deal on a valve job, a rebuild, a used engine or a remanfactured engine? =
 Anyone who has faced this situation, I would love to hear from you.  =
Thank in advance for the advice.

David B. Rankin, Certified Novell Engineer
Manager of Data Communications
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Administrative Information Services (AIS)
Office Phone  919.962.2435
FAX Phone     919.962.0900
DaVinci Mail Address   DBR@SYSTEMS
Internet Mail Address   DBR@EMAIL.ADP.UNC.EDU