when is the right time for Vanagon Westfalia repairs?

[mkruskusky]

I own an 87 Westie and trying to prioritize repairs and still use the bus for some trips this fall. Now I find transmission issues...

My list of needed repairs is already long: power steering pump/rack leaking (not noisy) , mismatched worn shock absorbers leaking, muffler system loud, CV joints open - boots cracked but nothing is open, and refrigerator. Now I discover my 3rd and 4th synchro are cracked, I can hear slight crunching when going into 4th gear. If I'm careful, I can shift quietly. When is the time to get a transmission rebuilt? If I drove it until it failed, would it cause other problems?

As a new owner of this bus without mechanical skills, except for knowing a good Mechanic$$, I'm trying to get this beauty of a bus humming so I can drive mountain passes and range about 400 miles from home. If I sell it this Spring, is there some obvious things to fix that would speed the sale?

I welcome and appreciate any comments... and ideas.

[mightyart]

Do you want to keep the Van or do you want to sell it?

[bucko]

"When is the right time for Westfalia Vanagon repairs"

When it's broke.

Yikes, how did it get to such a state of dis-repair? That is indeed a long list of troubles. Most would have had them repaired each time the single failure happened.

Running on a tranny that has issues will only get worse, and cost you even more to repair.

As Mightyart points out, decide if you want to bail out and sell it. However, it won't fetch much with that list of troubles, and parting it out will provide you with some grief, as you mention your mechanical skills are slim.

Park it, and save up for the repairs.
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Current VW drives: 1984 Westfalia

Past VW drives: 1967 Beetle, 1973 Beetle, 1977 Bus, 1971 Military Type 181

[mkruskusky]

[ChesterKV]

Only the transmission rebuild is a "big deal" The cv joints may just need to be repacked which is easy and relatively cheap. Worst case, the axle assemblies will need to be replaced which any mechanic can easily do. I had my power steering rack replaced five years ago with a rebuilt unit for around $ 350 (labor and materials) and it's been perfect ever since.

The other stuff is kinda random and an unknown from my point of view.

The selling season is over....wait until Spring.
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1984 Wolfsburg 7-passenger stock sunroof
1992 Subaru Legacy EJ22 boxer motor installed.... van is now sold.... currently playing with a 1987 Toyota MR2 with 1.6 liter twin-cam motor. Better than the Subaru boxers....... I'm impressed. Well, okay, in an "apples and oranges" kind of way.