VW STORY PAGES 3

SEND ALONG A MEMORY - A REQUEST - WHATEVER

OIL LEAK ..... Bill Burkhart, Sonora CA had an annoying oil leak in his 1977 camper van 2000 air cooled engine. it was bad only after a hard run. All seals were new except the oil cooler seal. Oil would come down the block, not from the seals. Finally, a mechanic found the problem: blow by engine #1 cylinder causes crankcase pressure forcing oil up dip stick, fan catches it and sucks it back to the engine, but down low and forces way back in, when a lot gets there it starts coming out like a cup full of coffee. But when you check oil there is not a trace on the ring at top of dipstick where your finger goes, so you're left without a clue. Here's hoping this'll help someone with a similar problem. Bil has had 4 vans, and has a nice 70 converted to 71 in running gear w/ 1641 .....it runs great! In fact, he has 3 VWs up and running right now. You can reach him at acehi@cal-tech.net

ANOTHER E-MAIL FROM A VW VAN LOVER: Hey, how's it goin? I was surfin the net and stmbled upon your page.. Well, it was kinda freaky when I saw it because first of all my name is Clark (my first name). I came on a vw bus site and saw my name, and about died. (from amazination). I too own a VW bus. I completely love them and my whole room is based upon them. I thought I would e-mail you even though I have no memories from my bus. You see, I just bought it and I'm only 15 and I'm getting my permit. I can't wait....I did want to let you know that I think you've got a great thing going on here. from "Clark"

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HELP NEEDED: Christy has a great little '75 type 2...his engine is strong and healthy...the only thing is, he has a little bit of an asthma problem...once he warms up and his idle settles in properly, he starts puffing...just little puff, puffs every now and again...what do you suppose can be done for her little buddy, whose name is, by the way, Ed. Send any ideas to her at adelizzi.davis@gateway.net

WANTED: DID A VW TRAVELER SHOW UP FOR THIS FOR APRIL TRIP? Robert Dalton was tentatively planning an April trip either to Florida or New Orleans, and he was seeking out other VW owners/travelers who might want to hook up for a safer and more fun trip. E-mail rpdalton@onebox.com or leave a message at his voicemail/fax number (703) 234-3969 x1020 .....we're wondering if they made this trip?

REMEMBERING GOOD TIMES WITH VW VANS AND CHILDREN Mario (Chicho) Pachano wrote in from Arcadia CA, about the pleasure of owning several VW Vans during the years their kids, Dina and Sandi, were growing up. His only Volkswagens now are a '64 square back and a '67 bug, which he says he needs to work on, but will soon enjoy driving. Reasons for going back to a van can be sent to pachano@earthlink.net ;-)

DANGEROUS AND EXTREMELY ANNOYING
Tom Edwards says he has a problem with an 89 Vanagon Westfalia which he’s been struggling with for a long time. They bought the van in Germany in 1989, toured Europe in it and then shipped it home to the USA. Since 1991, however, they’ve been plagued with a malfunctioning engine. When driving on the interstate, especially during moist conditions, the motor shuts off and slowly winds down. Then it starts puttering and picking up speed again and goes to full speed. Sometimes this happens every couple of minutes.....then finally the problem is gone and the van is running. Tom has had no luck getting any help on this problem, since his VW won’t perform these dangerous and annoying actions for troubleshooters. He’d like some suggestions on what to do, and of similar experiences. E-mail him at consul-tech@worldnet.att.net

RESURRECTION....AFTER 3 YEARS IN STORAGE....’76 WESTY IN CHICAGO .....He' s had it for 6 years, and now
Timothy Regan needs any tips/contacts/links...whatever, to help him get his 1976 Westfalia back into great running shape after 3 years in storage. Contact him at regantt@earthlink.net

VW NEEDED FOR EUROPEAN TRAVELS.....Steve who lives in the UK needs some advice on buying a VW Van for a trip he’d like to make around Europe. Since he’s never had one, he’d like some idea of what problems to look for, preferable models etc. His budget is about $1500, maybe $2000. Send him your ideas, appropriate web sites, and any information about Volkswagen van traveling and camping. E-mail steven@collinsons.freeserve.co.uk

IRISH EYES ARE SMILING.....

Conal Watterson (Clare, Ireland) remembers a big red VW van from his childhood, and guesses that's why he’s still a bit nostalgic about them. The one they had in the 80's, however, was not the legendary one, and thus, he wrote, some people find it a bit strange that he has a soft spot for Volkswagen vans. (He emphasizes he most definitely has to have one, if even just for awhile!) He has a a lot of memories, especially that it was BIG ! He and his family went off camping all over the place. It had a gas cooker and everything, but the amazing thing was that it was a converted commercial vehicle (no side windows!). His Dad installed seats, stove, cooker and other necessities himself. Conal finds it hard to describe what attraction the van held, and thinks perhaps it was its reassuring solidness in looks and operations.

Unfortunately their van got to the stage where problem after problem started to appear, and it often would arrive home with a black line of oil on the road behind. One would imagine that if lit, it would ignite all the way back to the city, where the petrol station would explode, like in one of those pop videos. He still bemoans the big loss going from that vehicle to a Fiat 127 whose doors flew open going around bends....and usually had little/no brakes. Colan writes that the second-hand people carrier situation in his area is grim, and the best they can do right now is a Nissan Prairie import from Japan.

BUT he says that for himself, there will never be anything like a Volkswagen...and he really likes them all, old and new. “There’s just something about them,” he added . Visit his web site < www.csn.ul.ie/~zoney >, or send him some VW news by e-mail zoney@csn.ul.ie

‘79 WESTY TRAVELS ACROSS AMERICA & CANADA Sidney Clarke drove his ‘79 Westy from Washington state to New York, traveling through the northern states. From NY, he went north going to all the provinces on the way back home to the Pacific coast of Canada. He loved living in the van and sometimes drove for 13 hours a day, his only companion a young Airedale Terrier. “His personal sensory deprivation tank,” is what Sidney’s brother calls the van! The only mechanical problems on the trip consisted of a malfunctioning turn signal in Buffalo, and a tire separation in the Canadian Rockies. (A good testimony to what he’d accomplished when he rebuilt the van for his daughter.) The whole trip was completed in 33 days, including stops in Canada. Sid’s current project: looking for a newer vintage VW (water cooled), and for any advice as to what to watch out for when buying, and what years are better and why. Drop him a line at sclarke@sd68.bc.ca.

E-mail your VW story to naclark2005@earthlink.net