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Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:58 pm

I was just adding up a few receipts to try and track down how much money I have spent since I got my 87 Westy in May. Seems now I know one can get into a sprial downward in cash flow. So far I have spent as much on repairs and fixups equal to what I paid for it. Granted some fixups where not necessary for the van to run but they sure do look nice (15" wheels, new tires, bra, etc).

Now if I could only get it out of the driveway long enought for a trip.

Thu Jul 28, 2005 4:58 pm

OK. $2500 for one beat up 1985 automatic Westy. http://walaroo.com/van $300 to tow home. $1200 for one round of misc replacement parts, $600 for another round of stuff. $500 in weekend body work. $580 for Maaco paint. $50 parts van. $100 parts van. $60 tow home of $100 parts van. $210 for front bumper shipped. $70 for new front windshield seal. (new front window was in $50 parts van) $300 bux for Pick-A-Part trips. $100 supplies. $50 for Propane tank $50 for insulation from Lowes. That is $6750 so far.

I want new tires sometime. Conti Vanco 8 195/14 are $82 each at Discount Tire. I spent $220 on a set of used alloys, recently too. I still need to fix a few drivablitly issues. Brakes out of round (new drums are $50 each) I have an idle issue - New controller? I'd like a trans oil cooler. A new engine is in the budget too (wife knows)

So I got $7K in a van I have had just about 3 months. BUT, I know what I have and not some ones headache. Every used van has problems. I looked at really nice "looking" ones that needed an engine. I looked at ratty ones for cheaper too. But, my van is driven daily now until I get the bugs worked out.

It is CHEAP therapy!

Thu Jul 28, 2005 5:25 pm

All prices in $CDN

$8300 for '81 Westy in pretty good shape 5 years ago. PO had just dropped $3000 on new CV joints and "valve job". The work had been done so recently that it hadn't been taken back to the shop to get the valves adjusted, so I went to the same shop a couple of weeks later to get them to do that. I took it as a bad sign when they couldn't seem to figure out how to adjust the valves, and then took them about an hour to discover that the engine had solid lifters. Mental note to never use Rudy & Peter again.

~$500 for Yokohama light truck tires.

~$3000 to replace the engine when it dropped a valve seat six months after I bought the van.

A few hundred here and there for various sundry bits and pieces.

At the moment I'm rebuilding the original engine to replace the replacement. I'm deliberately avoiding totting up how much this rebuild is costing me; partly from fear and partly because I don't want real-world issues like cost intruding on my enjoyment of the process. I'll add it all up once the van is running and I've gotten some smile-miles on it. Or maybe I won't...:)

Thu Jul 28, 2005 9:47 pm

-$3300 for 82 Westy.
-$150 for post-purchase inspection/miscellaneous doohickeys and nicknacks
-$38 and change for hardwood floor

(coming soon $350 or whatever it is for Amskeptic visit)

Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:00 pm

$2000 for a slightly rusty 80 Westy with a fairly fresh $1800 top end rebuild, plus another $400 for starter, battery and misc parts. She aint real pretty but she runs great.

Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:08 pm

In May I bought the best Vanagon I could find with the hopes that it would not require any initial work and would be ready to go camping. I own and race a vintage Porsche 356 and most of my time for working on cars gets used up keeping the racecar running. Although I realize some of my wrenching time will get used on the Vanagon. The car had is very roadworthy and dependable. was and my wife, 5 year old son and 3 year old daughter had a great time on our maiden voyage.

$13,000 - Very nice 2-owner Burgundy '90 Westy, 4-Speed, with most all options.
$95.00 - Go Westy rear shoulder belt kit
$70.00 - Workshop manual
$190 - Complete L and R rear CV joint assemblies. (the existing ones are starting to get audible)
$85 - High Output Headlight Upgrade kit

I better stop there as I am eyeing the larger alloy wheels, short shift kit, 2nd battery, Extra Fog/Driving lights, luggage rack storage Bag, upgraded speakers, etc. etc.

Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:36 pm

$1500.00 for 87 syncro new engine with under 5000 miles on it
15.00 for front seat swivel plates (junk yard)
20.00 for a set of decent tires and extra rims (local VW show)
100.00 for a drive line in need of ujoints
40.00 for new ujoints
6.00 for cool KC fog lights (junk yard)'
26.00 axle assembly (junk yard and when I got it home and apart saw it was trash)
0.00 for power steering pump and rack and pinion
0.00 for middle seat

Coming expenses
$200.00 for new CVs inner, outer both sides rear, I,ll do the work myself
400.00ish for new tires 28x7.5x14 6plys

Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:07 pm

on my remaining westy, an 85 1.9 weekender, 3200$ paid four years ago. Since then 100$ on a new fuel pump. Thats all, although right now it needs new tires. Nothing like being lucky!

Fri Jul 29, 2005 3:15 am

My expenses keep increasing before I have time to add them up. If I didn't do my own labor it would be up there.
3 months ago purchashed '87 syncro west conversion for $2600.
Headlights adjusters $50
tuneup oil, air fuel filters, plugs and wires $100
exhaust, cat, muffller, o2 sensor, gaskets, studs, timeserts $400?
Coolant pipe, hoses, flanges, gaskets, o-rings, thermo cover, thermostat $300
Headlight switch and relays, retaining ring, $80
Oil pressure gauge, new senders, mount $120
Oem Jack $40, taillight bulbs, wire connectors,
At moment dong rear wheel bearings, brakes, drums, backng plates rusted. The brake lines are probaly rusted so add some more. $300?

Roughly half of what I paid so far. I get to drive it to work every couple of weeks before I find another problem. This week I drove it 4 days!

Fri Jul 29, 2005 5:23 am

Lost track.

MY guess is 3K in parts... all labor done by me.

Keep in mind, I fixed up just about everything on the van, even some cosmetic stuff. :wink:

Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:20 am

since we are airing our laundry :) let's see .uuummm
700.00 for the purchase of westy
90.00 for the tow home
2 1/2 years saving money
3100 in a boston bob engine
2000 in ken at vanagain to do install .with various parts ( clutch,seals ect.)
300.00 in a side tent
200.00 approx in cleaning supplies
150.00 in front end parts i do my own work when i have the time
180.00 for 2 front tires mounted
125.00 stereo
80.00 for the pop top seals
o yea today 220.00 for a reciever hitch. \:D/
a life time of retirement with my westy priceless :D :D

Fri Jul 29, 2005 7:13 am

Approximately twice as much as I could sell it for!
But thats OK cuz I know its safe, fun & reliable.

Fri Jul 29, 2005 7:15 am

I've got all my receipts, and could figure it out, but I really don't want to.
I would guestimate about 10 grand.
The reason I have spent so much is as follows.
Since we had a baby, the second car sits and gathers dust (dads old car)
After year of research find someone that trades me outright for our second car, at the time the other guy got the better deal. (not anymore :D)
Dad goes slow fixing up the old Westy.
Three months later mom comes home and say's "some girl in an SUV just ran into me"
The "good car" is totaled by the insurance company. Since we paid more sometimes on our car payments and we had a car that held it's resale somewhat we get about $3500 back.
The big decision take the money and put it down on a new car, or sink it in the Westy and make that our one car?
The Westy won hands down. so I decided to get it as new as possible.
I've bought some toys, but I have spent a lot on replacing questionable parts, not just things that are broken.
This was a few weekends ago, I had a caliper that was dragging a bit, so I replaced that and a few other things just to make sure I didn’t have to mess with it for a few years.

Fri Jul 29, 2005 7:15 am

I don't know, I don't want to know and I really don't want my wife to know :shock:

Fri Jul 29, 2005 8:21 am

More dirty laundry! This is the list of stuff i can remember...
$1000 for van, may 2004
$30 new mirrors
$600 SA 15" wheels
$250ish for tyres
$5 carpet shampoo (well worth it!)
$160 black bumpers
$40 smoked front indicators
$70 SA wraparound lower grille
$120 6 matching headrests on eBay
$160 Set of interior panels
$3000 GoWesty 2.2 motor
$40 rear side markers
$20 front airdam from JY
$250 front brakes, pads, bearings
$360ish SA Quad-light grille
$160 Hella Vision plus headlights and bulbs
$60 headling relay doohickey from GoWesty
$40 smolked rear lenses off eBay
$80 new instrumnet panel
$300 new stereo setup
$40 sound deadening material
$100 new battery 2 days ago

$7000+ approx total. YIKES! Plus "however many" hundreds or maybe thousands in installation and maintainance costs ive saved by doing all my own work :D

Thats about all i can (choose to?) remember... theres another wad of cash there for miscellaneous things :oops: I think it been worth it, i really love my van!

Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:01 am

2750 for the an 83 aircooled in good shape
50 for tune-up kit
100 to replace cv joint and service the others
200 for clutch
100 for captains seats out of a 90 westy
50 for all new hoses
100 for mercedes alloys
100 for 2 studded snow tires
30 for sound proofing so far
50 for all stainless pop-top and luggage rack bolts
100 for misc goodies from GoWesty
150 Optima aux battery
80 for used stereo

Soon to spend:
400 on Conti Tires for my alloys
200 on a windshield (maybe do it myself)
paint job down the road
new engine down the road (sub conversion)
new pop-top fabric

Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:59 am

supplicationjam wrote: I don't know, I don't want to know and I really don't want my wife to know :shock:

I'll second that last part :wink:

Fri Jul 29, 2005 12:11 pm

It seems we are all crazy or just love vw's!

Fri Jul 29, 2005 12:15 pm

I admit it, I am brand loyal. Stupid, but loyal. I sure wish I could buy a new Vanagon. But, they even stopped making them in South Africa. Now what?

Fri Jul 29, 2005 12:50 pm

r39o wrote: I admit it, I am brand loyal. Stupid, but loyal. I sure wish I could buy a new Vanagon. But, they even stopped making them in South Africa. Now what?

The Police said it best in that old 80's song
"When the world is running down, you make the best of what's still around"