[Vwdiesel] Vwdiesel Digest, Vol 104, Issue 17

Steve Boser greenerwheels at gmail.com
Fri Jun 22 12:29:13 PDT 2012 

How many Prius will still be on the road in 31 years?
And actually I paid significantly less than 1/20th the cost of a Prius. I'm the second owner, my old boss gave up on it after the injector pump blew a seal.
Btw any suggestions on where to post pictures?

Steve

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 22, 2012, at 12:00 PM, vwdiesel-request at vwfans.com wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
> 
>   1. Nice to be back on the road (steve boser)
>   2. Re: Nice to be back on the road (Bryan Belman)
>   3. Re: Nice to be back on the road (Frank G. Pival)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2012 01:03:10 -0700
> From: steve boser <greenerwheels at gmail.com>
> To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> Subject: [Vwdiesel] Nice to be back on the road
> Message-ID:
>    <CAAXGX_LdZJnDVPscF3O3DKdBWA81cutNa-QYQBpFbWHJGqA+ZQ at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> 
> Howdy all
> I thought I'd share an experience that I'm currently going thru that might
> help others considering getting an older car back on the road.
> I've got a 1981 VW Rabbit diesel that about 5 years ago, I took off the
> road because of what I considered more suspension work than I thought was
> worth the time and money to do. I kept the car stored outside but started
> it about once every other month, kept the battery charged and even
> occasionally washed the moss off it.
> Well 3 months ago I decided I was tired of driving my full sized pickup and
> thought I would invest a little money and sweat equality and get her put
> back on the road.
> The cars been licensed and back on the road for a couple of months and has
> offered a few challenges. First off about a year before I parked it, I
> rebuilt the motor and installed a brand new Bosch fuel injection pump so I
> was confident I was starting with solid bones.
> a couple of days on the road I remembered why I parked it, the front end
> sounded like it was going to rattle itself to death. but before I had a
> chance to change the struts, I noticed my turn signals stopped working,
> checked and replaced a couple of bad bulbs that came apart in my hand when
> I went to remove them........ I then changed all the outside bulbs as a
> precautionary measure, still no turn signals, I removed the flasher and it
> looked fine, but when I pulled the cover off it, it was completely rusted,
> replaced that one, next day it rained and the flashers stopped working,
> opened new flasher and blew out about an ounce of water, let it dry
> reinstalled and it was fine. Need to find and fix an abundance of leaky
> seals
> Next bought a set of Gabriel Ultra inserts and top bearing plates, still
> felt and sounded like crap, took it over to a local shop and gave them a
> list of various work I did and asked them to check my work, so for $20
> bucks and 2 hours they found I didn't tighten the passenger side strut nut
> and it had backed out a couple of threads allowing the cartridge to slop
> around inside the strut, now front feels and sounds better. Next while
> under the car I noticed the half shaft boots were torn and decided to
> replace the half shafts, still need to replace the passenger side boot on
> the steering rack, it is also torn, ball joint seals aren't so good those
> will need to be replaced.
> Next I replaced the rear struts.
> I had some over sized 185/70/14" on the car on some American eagle rims,
> they looked wrong on the car and the over sized tires made for a 7mph error
> on my speedo, oh yeah somewhere during the first week or so, the odometer
> stopped working, the gear split, disassembled the speedo, drilling out the
> nylon gear and super glued in back in place, works again.
> I took an old set of Tarantula alloys to the tire shop and had them take
> the old tires off and I brought them home and wire brushed and sandblasted
> them, then I sprayed the rims with Hammertone paint and let them dry for a
> week, brought them to the tire shop and had them mount a set of 175/70/13
> Falken 828's
> Oh but wait, there's more, on my way back from across town, I stopped at an
> estate sale in a pricy neighborhood thinking there might be some goodies to
> be had, nope nada nothing. I go to start the car and all I get is a click
> click, dang here I am in a place where the gardeners helpers are driving
> nicer cars than mine and I'm stuck, well as luck would have it, all I had
> to do was push the car about 25 feet to a really steep decline and by the
> time I was half way down the hill I popped the clutch and drove her
> directly home, checked the battery and charging system, everything was
> good, tried to jump the starter with a screw driver nothing, pulled the
> starter and removed the brush cover to find the brush holders were badly
> corroded and bent, called around for a new starter. While waiting for the
> starter, I decided now would be a good time to check belts and hoses,
> removing the top hose was really easy as the plastic on the radiator
> housing literally came apart in my hands, well good thing this was Friday
> because I now have to drive across town again and buy a new radiator. Other
> than a few misc. parts and pieces I think that's all I have had to do so
> far, I'm figuring an alternator and water pump are soon in my future and a
> new headliner, I'm into the a little less than $900 (and lots of work) to
> get it back on the road at the moment, but the effort is being rewarded
> knowing that the mileage I get in my car is almost as good as the Prius
> that I park next to at work everyday and costs a 20th as much
> Anyway I'm sorry for being so long winded, but I thought this might be
> something for others to consider when trying to bring an old car back from
> a period of long storage.
> 
> Thanks
> Steve
> 
> 1981 Rabbit diesel
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2012 07:14:15 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Bryan Belman <dieselwesty at yahoo.com>
> To: steve boser <greenerwheels at gmail.com>,    "vwdiesel at vwfans.com"
>    <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Nice to be back on the road
> Message-ID:
>    <1340374455.43486.YahooMailNeo at web140302.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
> 
> ?Nice story Steve.? I COMMEND you on your massive efforts.? Be sure to get the leak fixed that allows the water to drip on the fuse panel ASAP or even more work will be in store for you.
> ?
> Maybe post some pictures of the beast, we love pictures no matter how ugly. 
> ?
> 
> ?
> Bryan Belman, Pt. Pleasant, NJ
> 04 Jetta Wagon TDI PD, 100hp, 5sp -- running :<)
> 92 Jetta 1.6 Eco-Turbo Diesel, 5sp -- running :<)
> 82 Diesel Westy 1.9NA -- running :<)
> 70 Type 1 stock Elm Green Beetle -- Under Restoration :-)
> 
> From: steve boser <greenerwheels at gmail.com>
> To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com 
> Sent: Friday, June 22, 2012 4:03 AM
> Subject: [Vwdiesel] Nice to be back on the road
> 
> Howdy all
> I thought I'd share an experience that I'm currently going thru that might
> help others considering getting an older car back on the road.
> I've got a 1981 VW Rabbit diesel that about 5 years ago, I took off the
> road because of what I considered more suspension work than I thought was
> worth the time and money to do. I kept the car stored outside but started
> it about once every other month, kept the battery charged and even
> occasionally washed the moss off it.
> Well 3 months ago I decided I was tired of driving my full sized pickup and
> thought I would invest a little money and sweat equality and get her put
> back on the road.
> The cars been licensed and back on the road for a couple of months and has
> offered a few challenges. First off about a year before I parked it, I
> rebuilt the motor and installed a brand new Bosch fuel injection pump so I
> was confident I was starting with solid bones.
> a couple of days on the road I remembered why I parked it, the front end
> sounded like it was going to rattle itself to death. but before I had a
> chance to change the struts, I noticed my turn signals stopped working,
> checked and replaced a couple of bad bulbs that came apart in my hand when
> I went to remove them........ I then changed all the outside bulbs as a
> precautionary measure, still no turn signals, I removed the flasher and it
> looked fine, but when I pulled the cover off it, it was completely rusted,
> replaced that one, next day it rained and the flashers stopped working,
> opened new flasher and blew out about an ounce of water, let it dry
> reinstalled and it was fine. Need to find and fix an abundance of leaky
> seals
> Next bought a set of Gabriel Ultra inserts and top bearing plates, still
> felt and sounded like crap, took it over to a local shop and gave them a
> list of various work I did and asked them to check my work, so for $20
> bucks and 2 hours they found I didn't tighten the passenger side strut nut
> and it had backed out a couple of threads allowing the cartridge to slop
> around inside the strut, now front feels and sounds better. Next while
> under the car I noticed the half shaft boots were torn and decided to
> replace the half shafts, still need to replace the passenger side boot on
> the steering rack, it is also torn, ball joint seals aren't so good those
> will need to be replaced.
> Next I replaced the rear struts.
> I had some over sized 185/70/14" on the car on some American eagle rims,
> they looked wrong on the car and the over sized tires made for a 7mph error
> on my speedo, oh yeah somewhere during the first week or so, the odometer
> stopped working, the gear split, disassembled the speedo, drilling out the
> nylon gear and super glued in back in place, works again.
> I took an old set of Tarantula alloys to the tire shop and had them take
> the old tires off and I brought them home and wire brushed and sandblasted
> them, then I sprayed the rims with Hammertone paint and let them dry for a
> week, brought them to the tire shop and had them mount a set of 175/70/13
> Falken 828's
> Oh but wait, there's more, on my way back from across town, I stopped at an
> estate sale in a pricy neighborhood thinking there might be some goodies to
> be had, nope nada nothing. I go to start the car and all I get is a click
> click, dang here I am in a place where the gardeners helpers are driving
> nicer cars than mine and I'm stuck, well as luck would have it, all I had
> to do was push the car about 25 feet to a really steep decline and by the
> time I was half way down the hill I popped the clutch and drove her
> directly home, checked the battery and charging system, everything was
> good, tried to jump the starter with a screw driver nothing, pulled the
> starter and removed the brush cover to find the brush holders were badly
> corroded and bent, called around for a new starter. While waiting for the
> starter, I decided now would be a good time to check belts and hoses,
> removing the top hose was really easy as the plastic on the radiator
> housing literally came apart in my hands, well good thing this was Friday
> because I now have to drive across town again and buy a new radiator. Other
> than a few misc. parts and pieces I think that's all I have had to do so
> far, I'm figuring an alternator and water pump are soon in my future and a
> new headliner, I'm into the a little less than $900 (and lots of work) to
> get it back on the road at the moment, but the effort is being rewarded
> knowing that the mileage I get in my car is almost as good as the Prius
> that I park next to at work everyday and costs a 20th as much
> Anyway I'm sorry for being so long winded, but I thought this might be
> something for others to consider when trying to bring an old car back from
> a period of long storage.
> 
> Thanks
> Steve
> 
> 1981 Rabbit diesel
> _______________________________________________
> Vwdiesel mailing list
> Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
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> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2012 09:42:39 -0700
> From: "Frank G. Pival" <hold at drizzle.com>
> To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Nice to be back on the road
> Message-ID: <4FE4A07F.5070704 at drizzle.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> 
> Steve,
> You summed it up perfectly with your statement..
> *"I get in my car is almost as good as the Prius
> that I park next to at work everyday and_costs a 20th as much"_*
> PLUS it is now gaining in value as a collectable to someone in the future..Good job
> I have done this now with 2 Diesel's a 81 caddy and 82 Westy...
> Both are still in service.
> Frank
> 
> On 6/22/2012 1:03 AM, steve boser wrote:
>> I get in my car is almost as good as the Prius
>> that I park next to at work everyday and costs a 20th as much
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
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> Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
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> 
> End of Vwdiesel Digest, Vol 104, Issue 17
> *****************************************

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