> -----Original Message-----
> From: Coby Smolens [mailto:cobys@well.com]
> Sent: Saturday, June 26, 1999 5:00 PM
> To: t ob
> Subject: RE: newbies questions...
>
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> On Friday, June 25, 1999 10:28 PM
> T Ob wrote:
>
>
>
> > 1.) Should I have one vanagon or two? ...
>       A. You should have as many as you have parking room for.
>
> > The 81 is trashed inside. The seats nee replacement. The cloth
> all around
> needs replacement. The transaxel is shot. The body is in good shape. The
> fridge int hat one ha no door and looks like an electric one only.
> The 83 is in great shape except for the fact that the DPO rebuilt
> the engine
> and it looks like the Cam/Crank timing is off by a tooth. I plan
> on replacing
> it with the 81's motor which seems to be in great shape.
>       A. Huh? what gives you to believe the cam/crank is off a
> tooth? What do intend to do with the van? It sounds like you want
> a camper, so why would you want to use the 83, unless you're not
> interested in the pop-top?
>
> > 2.) Has anyone replaced the original front seats with other
> bucket seats? If
> so, how do I do it?
>       A. Weld the whole frame/rail assembly onto the swivel assembly.
>
> > 3.) since the westy package I  picked up cheap has the great stove, do I
> rebuild the 81 Westy interior and use the original Westy bed/rear
> seat in the
> 83?
>       A. Go for rebuilding the 81, if you want the poptop. If
> not, put the best of the camper gear in the '83 body - you'll
> have a unique "weekender", or maybe better said,  a "stealth camper"!
>
> > 4.) any hints as to adapting a modern 5 gallon (lb?) tank
> inside to power the
> fridge/stove?
>
>       A. Why? How long are you normally in the wilderness? My
> 83.5 Westy goes nearly four weeks on a three gallon tank, cooking
> two meals a day and running the refrigerator full time (naughty -
> but it works better than running it on 12V.)
>
> > 5.) Has anyone repainted their fiberglass top with epoxy paint?
>       A. I presume you have "hairy top syndrome"? Best bet is to
> head for a marina. Gel coat is what you want, I think. Talk to a
> fiberglass repair specialist. I am sort of shooting in the dark
> here, never having done it, but the Gel coat is what is missing
> if your top has gone all fuzzy. If not, it may just need a good
> scrubbing (we use bleach and a soft scrub brush).