Doug,

I would find a place that you can make a mess and replace the pump
yourself; you can get one with a WARRANTY from a FLAPS (Friendly Local
Auto Parts Store) for roughly $60- still steep for a water pump, but
the best deal I have found so far. See if you can get a coolant temp
gauge sender while you're at it. :)

The Vanagon was my first water pump replacement job and it really
wasn't too hard. $45-$100/hr for labor is simply not worth it. Wear
work gloves if you play guitar, though...

Best of luck,
Sam

---CWD986 <CWD986@AOL.COM> wrote:
>
> Hey, Folks:  I'm new to the list, so have a bunch of questions.  I'm
in the
> process of purchasing a '85 Vanagon with 129K on the odo from the
original
> owner, who bought it in Germany while stationed there and had it
shipped
> stateside when he got out.  Seems to be in good shape, other than
needing
> tires and a water pump.  My questions: 1) Is the fact that this was
a van
> built for the German market going to make it a hassle to buy parts
here? (2)
> What should the water pump replacement cost?  Local VW guru wants
$240 parts
> and labor, VW dlr. wants $405 (not!), and a "foreign car" mech says
he'll
> install it for $175 if I'l get the pump.  Sounds like the latter wins,
> prompting question (3) CarQuest will sell me a life-time warrantied
pump for
> $58...any reason NOT to go for it?  (4), regarding tires:
> what does 185R14 convert to so as not to mess up the speedometer?
70 series?
> Do I need "reinforced" tires?  My '96 Nissan Quest weighs 4K pounds
and runs
> on regular old 205/75/15's. Finally, where do I get mail-order
parts?  Has
> anyone had any luck with J.C. Whitney?  Sorry this is so long.  Any
input
> appreciated.
> Doug Dewitt
> Hendersonville, NC
> "Newby"
>

==
"Punk's not dead (it just sucks right now)"

|                     "I'm not Punk, I'm New-Wave!"

...quit whining...
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Backstage/6507

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