Managing your Vanagon project

[jkmcrg]

When I first purchased my westy, it appeared to be in pretty good shape. I took it to a reputable vanagon mechanic, and he gave me the: "Good buy!". So I bought it. It had a few things wrong with it, like the passenger door didn't unlock unless you turned the key just so, the gas tank needed resealing, and the sink wasn't working, but it was pretty much good!

Within two weeks of purchasing my "mechanic checked out" "good to go" vanagon, my water pump broke, and my engine developed a knock. Shortly thereafter, my automatic transmission lost 3rd gear.

Once these things happened, I got overwhelmed. Small problems like the seat belt not buckling right or small improvements like new flooring seem completely impossible and even gave me anxiety. Not to mention, semi-important things like re-sealing a gas tank drop way off in priority. It seemed like I had an infinite number of things to do, like I was running in sand, like two things broke for every one I fixed.

So I had to figure out how to quantify these things, or I was going to sell the van for scrap out of frustration. I had used a project management website called Trello in my work, so I decided to see how it worked on my westy. Trello is basically just list making software, so I entered everything I had to do, and to no surprise, it was a lot. Like, probably a hundred things, a dozen of them labeled "critical". But even though it was a lot, I immediately felt liberated. I felt calm and empowered, because 100 things is a lot less than infinite. And I have been making steady, measurable, forward progress ever since.

So I guess I'm a trello evangelist. Or maybe just a list evangelist. Just wanted to tell y'all about it on the off change it might help you out too. Here are some screen caps of my list (there is a "done" column just off screen that has about 12 things in it )

Here's the labels:

_________________
1984 Westfalia Orwell (crispy)
2.2L Digifant
Automatic transmission

[photogdave]

Cool. I just did an Excel spreadsheet to accomplish the same thing but this looks like a pretty neat system too.
_________________
89 Syncro GL Westfalia 2.1 WBX/WBXaustSS

My Westy Movies:
photogdave On Vimeo
photogdave On YouTube

Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Vanagon Nut]

I think that's an excellent idea.
I bet it'd be really helpful for folks doing things like engine conversions.

Were I ever organized enough to make a Trello list, I'd include a "parts stash" list of typical maintenance parts one always needs, parts that typically fail sooner than later. Hard to explain what I mean but put another way, I have zero regrets stocking up on parts before stuff happens, funds withstanding of course.

Neil.
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)

1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[hans j]

I'd go crazy trying to manage that. I make a list on the back of an envelope and check things of as I do them. Then I lose the list, make a new one and add new things to it. It works great for me.
_________________
1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181

[photogdave]

[CdnVWJunkie]

I'm a list maker to. When the vehicle is in the shop I find writing a list directly on the window (cleaned) with a fine Sharpie works best. Check things off as I go and when done, simply a little squirt with windex or similar and razor blade off. Easy peasy. No paper to lose was the clincher for me.

I do like the idea of project management that this software presents.

[Merian]

Load the maintenance items here and at GoWesty into a spreadsheet - columns for mileage (and time - e.g. 2-3 years for brake fluid; 15-20 for rubber brake hoses)

another column has when you did the item

you can use auto formatting to make a cell glow red if time/mileage exceeded

[greebly]

I find just going page by page in the Bently works.

[jimf909]

Neato!

Can it be made to log future routine maintenance such as:
Change engine oil and filter: 6/2016
Replace brake fluid: 3/2017
Replace fuel lines: 4/2018
etc.

Thanks for the tip!
_________________
- Jim

[SCM]

[jkmcrg]

[Tom Powell]

Don't use RTV ($3.66) in your exhaust system. It will ruin your catalytic converter ($131.01 plus shipping).

Aloha
tp

[jkmcrg]

[Ahwahnee]

Interesting tool and very neat & organized - but I'll probably stick to spiral notebooks and a pencil.

[Tom Powell]

[SCM]

[Tom Powell]

[brodyjdavis]

I made a google spreadsheet document to help me keep everything organized. I assign a number rating to indicate how vital each upgrade is, I assign a number for how difficault the job is to accomplish, and I also research the cost and put that in another column. This way I can easily reorganize the list to show me the cheap, easy, or vital jobs ordered out from top to bottom at the click of a button.
Another nice bonus is I can view the spreadsheet any mobile device with an internet connection, and I can share it with someone fairly simply too.

_________________
1984 Westy | www.brodyjdavis.com

[Fracas]

[djkeev]

I am NOT a luddite, but for me, the work involved to make a spread sheet of what I should do just isn't worth it.

Computers are great things but paper and pencil are far better for something like this.

Anyway, one man's opinion.......

Carry on.

Dave
_________________
Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert