I know the feeling.....this past year my son and I rebuilt a 78 Champagne
Edition bus. We had a new engine put in it....new brakes....shocks...center
link, etc..etc..
The bus was supposed to last him while he was in college. When he was home
for Thanksgiving break, a fuel line let go, spayed the engine with fuel,
and the rest as they say was history....or rather the bus was toast!
(litteraly and figuratively).

It was a total loss, the insurance company eventually paid off after
bombarding them with receipts, etc. They only wanted to give book value to
it. Lessons learned:

1. make sure all fuel lines are tight...even if you put new lines in (which
was done with this bus) check them periodically

2. get a stated value policy if your van is "out of the ordinary". It takes
much less arguing with the insurance company when the value is set up front

3. keep all your receipts...

Fortunately we found an 84 Vanagon GL which was in super shape...and at a
decent price.

Ric