Patience at White Ranch Open Space, Golden CO

Those of you reading this blog have most likely seen my ads to sell Patience. In this blog you will find more information about the restoration work I've done throughout my adventures across the US. Owning her has been a very satisfying experience, but the time has come where I have to let her go. If you are interested in buying Patience, please start at the beginning with my first blog post. Compare what she looked like then to what she looks like now. The transformation is incredible. I've done so much work to restore her and it seems crazy that I would sell her now. I've come so far! But now that I'm in grad school, I can't afford to have two cars anymore.
For those of you wondering why I call her Patience, it has to do with how slow she drove (55 mpg) before I had the transmission rebuilt. Yes, I'll admit... there were some times when she broke down and patience was required... But I've practically worked out all the kinks and brought her back to life. She runs great and she's a solid ride. When you factor in everything I've done you'll realize what a steal and opportunity it is to own this van. If you have an interest, come take her from a ride. I'm sure she'll blow your mind.

Patience Lives!

After a crap load of customizations, Patience now has a heart transplant and cardiac cavity! In real terms, that means that Patience has a new 1.9 TD injector pump with a fuel enrichment diaphragm, and a spiffy steal box welded around the top of the pump. Johnny, the owner of Performance Plus on Golden, CO pretty much just gave me free reign to his shop and let me design, cut, and weld all the custom parts. Wow! I had such a good time welding, now I want my own kit! Anyway, the results from the new pump were immediate. She hauls way more ass uphill, as well as accelerating much better. I fixed up the choke cable too and now is starts much easier in the morning! Also, I cut and welded in a new swivel seat. so sick!





The trip to Indian Creek was also amazing, although I forgot to tighten the bolt that fastens the pump bracket to the engine block. Because the bolt was slightly loose, it cause the pump to vibrate really violently and it ended up breaking one of the high-pressure fuel lines. My stupid mistake left Patience and me stranded out in the desert on a 4x4 road. I tried to fix it with spare parts, but to no avail. Afterwards I drove into Moab in a friends car and miraculously found some spare parts at TomTom's garage on the south side of Town. Anyone traveling through Moab who might need some help should definitely stop to visit Tom. Super nice guy and extremely helpful. Although, he's only in the shop on the weekend.

Well Sadly, I think I'm going to sell Patience. i just need a van with more utility, maybe some more room too. I love Patience but I think its time to move on.... Any buyers?

Almost Finished and Then..... F^%$^%$!!!!!!

Okay, Heater core Fixed. Patience has heat again thank f-ing God!

New Injector Pump.... doesn't fit right. See photos!

Patience gets a face lift

I've decided to keep Patience. Colorado has plagued us with constant problems. Since I moved here, I've had nothing but trouble. I almost had the last straw when I was rear-ended by this stupid girl who had the audacity to say it was my fault. Her Mom even called me to bitch me out saying how terrible of person I was for hitting her daughter... lol! How does the back of my car hit someone else when I'm moving forward? Well, I got the last laugh when her insurance company paid me for a Total Loss. I was able to pay off my outstanding credit card bill from the summer repairs and have just enough to get the mechanical issues taken care of. Unfortunately the the body damage will just have to wait.



I bought a new injector pump (the old one started leaking on the way to Indian Creek, UT) and shortly thereafter the heater core sprung a leak... F--king A! A little but of Antifreeze leaked onto the rubber floor matt... no big deal, but I bet the heater core is going to be a pain to replace! Next update will be after the pump, choke cable, backing plate for timing belt cover, new heater core, and dashboard (without the graffiti) and instrument cluster with Tach have been installed.

I am cursed by Colorado

For some f-ing reason, something always seems to go wrong in this state. just when everything finally seems to be running just fine, I get rear ended by a stupid girl speeding up Loveland pass... I guess I shouldn't be pissed. I did get myself into this restoration job for a reason. I just have to keep driving and living the dream!

I'm one Lucky SOB! sorry Mom...

My long road trip with Patience is over. See took Parker and me over 8,000 miles across the United States, making it one of the most memorable, learned, humbling, and amazing climbing adventures of my life. We encountered some minor mishaps along the way, none without learning at least something about how this darn contraption works. We passed over the Rocky Mountains, the Utah desert, desolate Nevada, Yosemite Valley, and through Oregon. After German Transaxle fixed up the tranny, I drove all the way back to Vermont, hung out with my friends, worked, climbed a little (weather sucked) and then packed my baby up to move to Golden CO for graduate school.




Well, I was about 8 miles away from Golden on route 93 coming from Boulder when all of a sudden I heard a POP! The gas pedal fell to the floor and I slowly came to stop on the side of the road. After getting under the car and looking at the pedal assembly, I found the culprit. My accelerator cable snapped! "oh man, how am I going to Jerry-Rig this one?" Lucky for me about 10 minutes after being stranded another yellow 1982 Diesel Vanagon with big purple flowers painted on the side pulls up. Someone observing this would have probably seen a scruffy lookin' hippie with a beard and kid in the passenger seat. "you need some help?" ... He looked more like an angel to me! Jason and his son Ely were just on their way to Boulder to do some errands. He was kind enough to drive me all the way to North Boulder to Wolfburg Autowerks to buy a new diesel specific accelerator cable and then back to Patience's location on 93. What a welcome to the Front Range!

However, now I'm experiencing some difficulties starting the car. I turn the key and after about 20 seconds the engine starts to turn over. Anyone standing behind will most certainly be covered in diesel exhaust. Ugh... I'm not quite sure what the problem is. Maybe the altitude? Maybe it was the biodiesel blend that I accidently put in? Could it be that I ran her too low on fuel and the next morning when I tried to start her these problems started to happen? I had to prime the injection pump which was a pain. Maybe there's something wrong with the pump from the biodiesel?

Well as Mark from Wolfburg Autowerks said "Don't waste my time trying to diagnose your vehicle problems" Well don't worry Mark. I won't waste your time. I'll just go to another mechanic. How does that sound you arrogant asshole? (we got into a little argument...no worries) But I gotta say, he IS a great mechanic and knows his stuff. We just got off on the wrong foot... or should I say wrong wheel?

Also, one last thing... Shittier Bus and Bug Strikes again!!! The exhaust ventilation filter, which i asked about several times if it was okay that it just hung over the top of the head, Fell OFF!!!! Good thing it didn't catch a belt which should also have been covered up when the conversion was done!!! Geeze!

Alright, well take care everyone! Stay in touch.

German Transaxle of America to the Rescue!

Well once again, thanks to the poor shitty workmanship of Better Bus and Bug(or should I say Shittier Bus and Bug, or SB&B) in Burlington, VT, I was forced to have my tranny removed for a completely destroyed Pilot bearing and input shaft. Basically this: When SB&B did my conversion to the 1.9L, he forgot to grease the pilot bearing(a part that stabilizes the input shaft. Not greasing it caused wear on the transmission bearings, oil leaks, and essentially chewed up the end of the input shaft making shifting impossible.) and therefore I couldn't get the van to go in gear. Fixing the problem wasn't all that expensive however. But the Tow from Smith Rock to Bend was wicked expensive(I'm a dumbass and should have gotten AAA) and the labor out here isn't exactly cheap, $80/hr. Also, SB&B also forgot to grease my CV joints...F%&king A!

Frustration with the Van. Me tucking in to the Can. Thanks Josh!


But, if SB&B had done what any intelligent car mechanic would do by greasing the pilot bearing, I wouldn't have had any good reason to have my tranny removed... but, as a 1982 VW Turbo Diesel Vanagon owner would know, you must be able to see the light in any situation. So... da da daaaahhhh! I had German Transaxle of America come to the rescue! GTA is the world expert in German gear boxes right here in Bend!! Ken, the owner, actually gave me advice when I first dove into this project last summer. So, Ken took my entire tranny apart, power washed every piece, cleaned and painted the gear box, and installed new, beefier, 3rd and 4th gears with lower gear ratios. I can actually drive the speed limit on the interstate now!!!!!! He replaced all the worn parts, and had it back to me in a day.

GTA to the Rescue! Also Jerry of Young's Ol' Volks Home helped too.


Ken, the man of Knowledge.





Old Tranny Parts(note the end of the input shaft...completely F'ed)




Look at that baby!








What I've realized is this, I've had ALOT of good luck on this trip. GW certainly has our back (see link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbRom1Rz8OA ) and so does WH (Warren Harding) since we continued on without water after the Harding slot on Astroman. I couldn't have gotten broken down in a better place or time. Thanks fellas!

Alex Hannold soloing Astroman, He's on the Enduro Corner, Harding Slot above.