Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 16:41:14 -0600
Reply-To: Stan Wilder <wilden1-1@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stan Wilder <wilden1-1@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Vngns ARE junk! Wilder's Law
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If you buy a wheel bearing that has package markings of "Made In Germany" it
could have the roller bearings made in Germany and both races made in
Poland. As long as the roller bearing was 51% of the value it could legally
marked Made In Germany.
There are lots of rules involving Customs and Imports that allow for as
little as 35% of the value to qualify for "Made In" XX marking.
Even though several Asian car companies produce cars in America they just
have to take, Lights, Gas, Water, Rent, Labor, Insurance, Depreciation,
Warranty Replacement Costs, Advertising, Legal Expense, Employee Benefits,
Administration and Management along with a few other items and in reality
not have a single hard part made in the US if these cost are equal to 51% of
the cost in building a car and still qualify as Made in America tag on their
car.
The made in Mexico VWs were about like that ............ Just assembled
there with parts coming mostly from the South American and Eastern Block
countries.
I noticed today that my neighbor was throwing away what looked like a full
bedroom suit with a computer work station, a couple of book cases and
several small chests.
Turns out that the stuff was all particle board with basic contact paper
covering and as such was in reality "Disposable Furniture" since it had no
value after it was used for a short time.
I find lots of BMWs, Jags, Audi in wrecking yards that have great bodies but
the transmissions fail, a $4000.00 repair job just totals the car and they
then become disposable.
We're living in a world that has more disposables each cycle of the
industrial / technological revolution. TVs are now disposable even if they
work good because a new 19" Remote can be bought for as little as $79.00
with a no name decal made in China.
Consider the Sony Walk man ......... Classic antique when next to the i-Pod.
Yours may work great but it's disposable.
Stan Wilder
Engine Ceramics
214-352-4931
www.engineceramics.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Chase" <roadguy@ROADHAUS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 9:19 AM
Subject: Re: Vngns ARE junk! Wilder's Law
Benny, Mark & Greg;
I found a lot to agree with on all three perspectives.
But volks ... Remember these three amigos are some of the most
mechanically knowledgeable people in our community.
Perhaps not everyone has the ability to fashion a Alternator
Bracket out of scrap metal and bubble gum like Ben did for me
In Florida :)
For a point of view from a "Vanagon Maintence for Dummies" persepctive,
Here'a my comments;
1) Original Engine ... Ran OK but was a little tired (160K miles).
In retrospect I should have replaced it with a stock 2.1 Boston
Engine or North West Connecting Rod engine.
* Benny Boy you are right on.
- Ticco, Subie, TDI fans ... Please "No Flames". I still feel that
a trip of such proportions, where you are often in the middle of
no-where .. is best served by a stock 2.1L Waterboxer engine that
is easier to get serviced.
- If I wasn't headed off on such an extended trip I would have run
the stock engine to the end or upgraded to a Tiico, Subie, or TDI.
Footnote .....
I've spent most of my career working in High Tech Manufacturing.
In those environments if a machine goes done it can cost you hundreds
of thousands of dollars, or more in revenue loss. One of the keys to
minimizing "unplanned down time" is "preventative maintence".
You try and understand the "Mean time to Fail" on all critical
components. You then put a plan in place to replace those critical
components just before the fail.
2) Wheel Bearings ... Went thru several sets of bearings on the right
rear wheel. Turned out to be a "out of round" Situation with the stub
axle. Took and old air-cooled VW mechanic to finally diagnosis it.
3) Quality of spare parts ... I remember many ago Nader used to rant
about this. His claim was exactly the same ... He felt parts manufactures
sorted parts into three quality categories.
- Best , new car build
- Middle, Dealer spare parts
- Lowest, third party parts houses.
Can't prove it, but over the years it sure seems to be that way to me.
So depending on whether a person is planning on heading out for a 60k
driveabout or staying closer to home base ... I think all these points
of view are worth considering.
As I have said many times ... If I factor engine issues out the analysis
of my trip ... There were really very few breakdowns.
I firmly believe "Preventive Maintenance" was the right approach for
such a long trip by someone with very limited mechanical ability and with
a goal not to carry large numbers of spare parts.
But then ... I'm an idiot ... What do I know :)
larry chase
Roadhaus.com
- - -
From: Greg Potts <Greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Hi Mark,
What your email is telling me is that the original parts are much
higher quality than most of what's available in the aftermarket.
<<<<< Clipped
Mark drillock wrote:
I'm not sure he needed a new engine in the first place. Why was it
done? There were other breakdowns that occurred all too soon after he had
replaced parts. Wheel bearings come to mind.
<<< Clipped
Benny boy wrote:
He did one thing wrong, and he knows about it! Wrong choice of
engine....but look now, he as an broken AVP after 9k miles...
<<<< Clipped
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