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jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 8206
Location: WA/ID
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 Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2023 3:34 am Post subject: Re: The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread! |
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Yowza. Broken fingers seem minor compared to what people imagine happens on front end collisions with Vanagons. I'm sure the trauma is something to work through.
Do you have a photo of the passenger side? This should be saved with the other Vanagon front end collisions.
It looks like the passenger door has the same kink as @PDXWesty's door:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
| ThomasC wrote: |
End of the road for my carat.  Not sure if I should part out or sell as is, 60mph impact only broke some fingers. Olney md 20832
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_________________
- Jim
| Butcher wrote: |
| This is the main fault with DIY'ers, they get together on these forums and pat themselves on their backs spreading bad information. |
Guilty as charged.
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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elizer
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2016
Posts: 1501
Location: Northern Virginia
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ThomasC
Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2018
Posts: 53
Location: Olney, MD
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2023 11:05 am Post subject: Re: The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread! |
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Was stuck forward before collision, it actually unhooked the positive terminal due to impact and popped the battery cover open
_________________
'91 Vanagon Carat Auto
'89 Vanagon White Star Auto SOLD
'89 Cabby SOLD
1970 Standard Beetle
2004 Golf |
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RawUmber
Samba Member
Joined: June 23, 2019
Posts: 316
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| Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2023 1:48 pm Post subject: Re: The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread! |
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From the ongoing saga in the Middle East...
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Gnarlodious 
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2013
Posts: 2405
Location: Bonners Ferry Idaho
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markswagen
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2018
Posts: 1555
Location: san diego
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| Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2024 5:42 pm Post subject: Re: The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread! |
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this one is to close to my home.
this was the wifes 1990 carat.
fuel lines were good, although she said she could smell gas, l couldn't when ever l drove it, on a 280 mile round trip to LAX last week, there were no signs of a fuel smell, this morning l starter her up, and couldn't find a fuel smell.
3 hours later l got a call, leading me to this 
what l'm most annoyed by, is the fire dept looking for an engine in the front, the two year old radiator is now useless.
the blazecut was a waste of $, l've recommended them to many many customers and friends, l certainly won't be doing that again.
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markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.
619 201 0310 |
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jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 8206
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2024 5:51 pm Post subject: Re: The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread! |
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Ugh. Sorry to hear of this mess. Here's hoping everyone is safe.
_________________
- Jim
| Butcher wrote: |
| This is the main fault with DIY'ers, they get together on these forums and pat themselves on their backs spreading bad information. |
Guilty as charged.
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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vanagonjr
Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2010
Posts: 3645
Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6933
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2024 6:13 pm Post subject: Re: The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread! |
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| markswagen wrote: |
the blazecut was a waste of $, l've recommended them to many many customers and friends, l certainly won't be doing that again. |
Glad your family is okay... even if your wife has "nagging rights"!
I've maintained that the Blazecut would not work on the Vanagon. It works on the Bus's.
The reason is the Bus engine compartment being air-cooled is basically a sealed compartment - except for the air vents on the rear sides. When the Blazecut activates the gas for the most part stays in the engine compart. Yeah, some does go up, but not really much.
The water cooled Vanagon does not have that sealed engine compartment. When the Blazecut activates I think it goes out the bottom or probably out the two side air vents because heat rises as the fires sucks air in through the open bottom.
Hopefully it will work on the air-cooled Vanagons.
The best you can do for the Vanagon is get the metal engine hatch that does not burn through like the fiberglass hatch and replace the hatch gasket with "Firesleeve" tubing. to slow the fire burning through/around the gasket.
If your lucky that is!
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them. |
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6344
Location: Portland OR
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campism
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007
Posts: 4694
Location: Richmond VA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 1:49 pm Post subject: Re: The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread! |
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My driveway this morning. Anyone need a slightly used hickory tree?
_________________
'87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic, tragically crushed by a falling hickory tree in my own driveway and now gone, leaving me Vanagonless and with no plans to replace it, alas. |
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jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 8206
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 1:58 pm Post subject: Re: The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread! |
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^^^ Ugh. So sorry to see that happen to your van. I guess you won't be using the van to haul the firewood away.
_________________
- Jim
| Butcher wrote: |
| This is the main fault with DIY'ers, they get together on these forums and pat themselves on their backs spreading bad information. |
Guilty as charged.
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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vanis13
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 4515
Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 2:25 pm Post subject: Re: The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread! |
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| jimf909 wrote: |
| ^^^ Ugh. So sorry to see that happen to your van. I guess you won't be using the van to haul the firewood away. |
Humor in tragedy.... It's half way on it's way to being a flat bed which is perfect for hauling firewood.
... Sorry about your van
_________________
83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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RoryGirl
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2016
Posts: 1011
Location: WestWorld Nanaimo BC
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 2:25 pm Post subject: Re: The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread! |
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Oof! Did you hear that happen?
Edit for humor - That Hickory just smoked your van |
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MsTaboo
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 4586
Location: East Kootenay, British Columbia
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 3:10 pm Post subject: Re: The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread! |
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Ah geez, that's awful, such a nice camper. (edit, added photo)
It was able to dodge a falling Nissan Murano, but not a falling tree, bummer.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8215051&highlight=#8215051
But as they say - That'll buff out.
_________________
Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec
The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
When you stir up shit you're bound to get some on yourself.
Resist Kleptocratic Oligarchy (and Idiocracy)!
Last edited by MsTaboo on Mon Feb 17, 2025 3:28 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 24178
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 3:16 pm Post subject: Re: The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread! |
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| campism wrote: |
My driveway this morning. Anyone need a slightly used hickory tree?
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Ouch, thatโs painful
_________________
๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐ ๐ ๐ |
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Icebox500
Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2021
Posts: 228
Location: Louisiana
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 3:59 pm Post subject: Re: The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread! |
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| campism wrote: |
My driveway this morning. Anyone need a slightly used hickory tree?
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Thatโll buff out.
But in all seriousness, thatโs awful. So sorry.
_________________
87 Westy 2WD โVan Geauxโ
FAS 2.0 Gas GENV (10/2025)
AZ Transaxle + Peloquin Manual Transmission
GW lift springs, solar, Burley front & rear disc, etc...
New Orleans, LA (previously CO, WA, and CA)
Past
87, 90 Westys
64, 65 splittys + various air cooled |
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campism
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007
Posts: 4694
Location: Richmond VA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 5:25 pm Post subject: Re: The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread! |
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| RoryGirl wrote: |
Oof! Did you hear that happen?
Edit for humor - That Hickory just smoked your van |
Yeah, we'd just gotten a tornado alert on the phones and stepped out onto the rear deck to experience the suddenly-warmer winds kicking up sharply and heard a loud CRACK out front, and this is what I saw from the kitchen window.
_________________
'87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic, tragically crushed by a falling hickory tree in my own driveway and now gone, leaving me Vanagonless and with no plans to replace it, alas. |
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mtnhome
Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2010
Posts: 621
Location: Summit County, CO
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 7:22 pm Post subject: Re: The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread! |
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| campism wrote: |
| RoryGirl wrote: |
Oof! Did you hear that happen?
Edit for humor - That Hickory just smoked your van |
Yeah, we'd just gotten a tornado alert on the phones and stepped out onto the rear deck to experience the suddenly-warmer winds kicking up sharply and heard a loud CRACK out front, and this is what I saw from the kitchen window.
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Makes me want to cut down all the tree s anywhere near my van. So Sorry to see this.
_________________
'84 Westy, '93 Subaru ej22 and Subarugears 5speed
Build thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=763098&highlight= |
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jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 8206
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 7:28 pm Post subject: Re: The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread! |
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I've always enjoyed your posts of that pretty van doing work. Here's hoping that you find the right replacement if one is needed.
Sadly, it looks a lot like Ron's (from Bus Depot) van.
_________________
- Jim
| Butcher wrote: |
| This is the main fault with DIY'ers, they get together on these forums and pat themselves on their backs spreading bad information. |
Guilty as charged.
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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