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Subject:'85 Westie Restore(?)
From:Scott Semyan
Date:Mon, 17 Aug 1998 17:23:06 -0700

I am thinking of doing a full restore of my '85 Westie.

I love the vehicle and got it a year ago for $5K. It has 112K miles on the
second engine but absolutely no power (valves?, exhaust?). It is an
automatic but I am experiencing torque converter slip type problems when I
am on the highway at high speeds (which for me is over 60). Also it needs
tires (the PO put automobile tires on it), and could really use a paint job
to get it looking spiffy. After looking briefly at new Eurovans (too much
$$), I am thinking of restoring my Westie to almost new condition by doing
the following:

New Engine
New Transmission
Paint Job Including Pop Top
New Canvas
Window Moldings replaced
New Tires
New Curtains & Interior carpet
Perhaps new bumpers
Front end alignment/parts replaced
Brake Job

I am hoping I can do all of this for under $10K. My question to the list is
Is it worth it? Is there some major part I am missing? Should I install a
different engine (or a Manual Transmission) while I am at it?

Any words of wisdom would be appreciated. I have thought about buying a '92
Westie if I can find one but even then I will have a vehicle with (probably
90K miles on it).

Scott Semyan
Seattle

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