When Colin left earlier this summer, we talked about the nature of my engine; you can see those comments in the itinerary, but they amount to this: I need to become "one" with my engine's running system. I need to know it. The proximate cause of this is that the operation of the engine drifts, and in order to keep it running smoothly, Hard starts and rough running are mostly features that can be ameliorated through an understanding of the function of the AFM and its attendant features ~ idle adjustment, un-metered air valve, etc.
I promised a blow-by-blow of my trip to Oregon in the van, but didn't do it. Here's why; an hour and a half after I left, the van died in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the freeway, stranding me amidst angry, shouting drivers. It eventually restarted, and I discovered that my van will, if the engine/engine compartment gets hot enough, shut off for about 10 minutes.
This created an enormous amount of stress during my trip, and undercut much of the good feeling I had regarding it. I was able to run in the heat of the San Fernando Valley during the day, but I did it by maintaining 60+ mph (air vents supplying 100 degree air to the engine compartment) and running the front and rear heaters on full. I can't take my family on a trip like that. 100+ degrees and the heater on?! I had to decide if it was time to let it go, or time to dig in.
I've opted, thus far, for dig in. This thread is going to be the place where I keep track of what I'm doing as I ask for help with different elements that I need to work on. Here's my list of things to do, and what is on-deck for that:
Clean top, replace seal
* have new seal, need to find space to do it
Leaking oil plug
*have new filter and crush washer for plug
*may need to use a slightly larger drain bolt to rethread the bottom and seal the leak (see earlier post about the drain threads)
(to be continued...)
Turning a Rat into a Thing of Beauty
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Turning a Rat into a Thing of Beauty
Pictures!Lanval wrote:When Colin left earlier this summer, we talked about the nature of my engine; you can see those comments in the itinerary, but they amount to this: I need to become "one" with my engine's running system. I need to know it. The proximate cause of this is that the operation of the engine drifts, and in order to keep it running smoothly, Hard starts and rough running are mostly features that can be ameliorated through an understanding of the function of the AFM and its attendant features ~ idle adjustment, un-metered air valve, etc.
I promised a blow-by-blow of my trip to Oregon in the van, but didn't do it. Here's why; an hour and a half after I left, the van died in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the freeway, stranding me amidst angry, shouting drivers. It eventually restarted, and I discovered that my van will, if the engine/engine compartment gets hot enough, shut off for about 10 minutes.
This created an enormous amount of stress during my trip, and undercut much of the good feeling I had regarding it. I was able to run in the heat of the San Fernando Valley during the day, but I did it by maintaining 60+ mph (air vents supplying 100 degree air to the engine compartment) and running the front and rear heaters on full. I can't take my family on a trip like that. 100+ degrees and the heater on?! I had to decide if it was time to let it go, or time to dig in.
I've opted, thus far, for dig in. This thread is going to be the place where I keep track of what I'm doing as I ask for help with different elements that I need to work on. Here's my list of things to do, and what is on-deck for that:
Clean top, replace seal
* have new seal, need to find space to do it
Leaking oil plug
*have new filter and crush washer for plug
*may need to use a slightly larger drain bolt to rethread the bottom and seal the leak (see earlier post about the drain threads)
(to be continued...)
Glad you had a splendid adventure to Oregon with exciting challenges!
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- Mike Boell
- Old School!
- Status: Offline
Re: Turning a Rat into a Thing of Beauty
Curious what vehicle you are driving?
Mike Boell
1975 FI Westy
Oregon City
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN THEY'RE PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.
1975 FI Westy
Oregon City
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN THEY'RE PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Turning a Rat into a Thing of Beauty
I know, I know, without pictures, we are all in the dark, except that it is a beige-y 1985 Vanagon GL Westy.Mike Boell wrote:Curious what vehicle you are driving?
viewtopic.php?f=67&t=11556#p201707
His pictures are all DEAD, mine still WORK . . .
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- airkooledchris
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Eureka, California
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Turning a Rat into a Thing of Beauty
Amskeptic wrote:I know, I know, without pictures, we are all in the dark, except that it is a beige-y 1985 Vanagon GL Westy.Mike Boell wrote:Curious what vehicle you are driving?
viewtopic.php?f=67&t=11556#p201707
His pictures are all DEAD, mine still WORK . . .
Colin
Love those wheels. 16 inch steelies from Van Cafe or GoWesty or?
1979 California Transporter