Revival Time

Patience at White Ranch Open Space, Golden CO

2010-09-18T07:10:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-03-23T01:10:00.000-07:00

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^%$^%$!!!!!!

2010-03-04T17:51:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-21T18:10:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-23T21:50:00.000-08:00

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...

2009-08-26T15:47:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-06-11T12:06:00.000-07:00

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.

F#&King "A" Go!

2009-05-20T17:01:00.000-07:00

Thats right! Patience brought us all the way to Yosemite. After an epic repair job in Boulder, Patience has a new radiator, coolant expansion tank(custom mounted) and several other miscellanies repairs. She made it up and over the Sierras and now we are in glorious Yosemite Valley. The climbing is kicking our asses but we're learning the ropes and making progress on the rock.

Stuck on the Front Range

2009-04-29T07:10:00.001-07:00

Well, considering all the possible place to be stuck, the Front Range isn't a bad place. We could be stuck in Kansas! We've been really fortunate though. Several of our friends from college live in the area and have gracefully given us a place to stay while Patience gets a new radiator, coolant expansion tank, and a laundry list of minor repairs. We should be heading west on I-70 by the end of the week, Yosemite here we come!

Climbing in the Front Range is sick! If you want overhanging splitter cracks, pumpy sport routes, exposure, multi pitch, or bouldering...the Front Range has it all. But with all this great climbing comes the bumbly, ego, route hogging dark side of the climbing community. But we're not letting the dark side consume us. We're just psyched to be breathing Rocky Mountain air and pulling down on inspiring lines.

2000 Mile Update

2009-04-21T06:34:00.000-07:00

Well Parker and I are slowly creeping across the country. We needed to make several pit stops to fix some stuff, but otherwise, Patience seems to be running fairly well. I think I may have finally fixed the accelerator cable from sticking by simply using some hose clamps. It's not completely smooth, but thats pretty nice when you're driving long distances. Hardly any pressure is need to keep the pedal down.

So there are two other things. First, my exhaust fell off. Its not as bad as it seems but its kind of disappointing that Noah of Better Bus and Bug won't stand behind his work, since it was his weld that ultimately failed. As I was driving on a back road in Kentucky with my friends packed in the "Man Van", we began to hear something dragging. Basically where the exhaust "cups" over the exhaust manifold(on the Turbo), which looks like a funnel, had to be custom welded to the actual pipe, which then snakes around to the muffler.

Lastly, I think I might need to get my Radiator flushed. The engine seems to heat up easily and has a tough time thermoregulating. The temperature needle fluctuates alot but its hard to tell if that is just the way the engine operates or if I'm having radiator problems. I checked my fan and that works, but I think maybe I should get my radiator flushed, checked for leaks and checked with an infra-red gun to see what temperature the hoses are at.

Note the Temp gauge while driving at 60mph. Kinda hot.

Well thats about it. The next test for Patience will be getting over the Rockies. I'll update from Yosemite!

WTF? Patience has prevailed!

2009-04-07T13:27:00.000-07:00

Well, the van is pretty much done. Little odds and ends left to accomplish but the majority of the restoration is complete. After a refreshing coat of Mellow Yellow, by Maaco in South Burlington, I'm heading out west for the ultimate climbing road trip. Moose's new nicknames include Patience and The BeeHive.

After a weekend trip to the Gunks with my good buddy Parker, we worked out the last minute adjustments on the motor, injection pump, and linkage. However, I'm still dealing with minor oil leaks. I guess diesels are perpetual leakers! On the way back from the Gunks we somehow got on I-90 west towards Buffalo...WTF! I think Patience feels the attraction to the west coast as well....just little premature though. We encountered some very weird things in New York State, which include a town named CoxSackie and a gas station called Betty Beavers...Betty the Beaver was anatomically correct.

Extreme Makeover

2009-01-15T14:09:00.000-08:00

Holy crap its been a long time since my last post. Lets just say I've been ridiculously busy. So updates for my baby are as follows:
-New interior paint job
>light green trim
>dark green panels (plus insulation behind the panels)
-New ceiling made of Luan board that I bolted to the roof (don't worry the screws don't stick through the top.)
-Salvaged interior camper set from an old Westy
>fold out bench/bed
>two storage cabinets, one vertical and one horizontal mounted to the roof.
-Salvaged Bamboo wood floor from Dr. Timothy Link (thanks Tim!), a neurosurgeon at Fletcher Allen Healthcare.
-And finally, a rope rug recycled from my one of my old doubles.

So yes, my van kicks ass! Further considerations include getting a stereo system installed, finding some extra cabinetry for the kitchen, a little body work, a fresh new paint job, and installing an auxilliary battery, with an inverter, hooked up to a solar panel on the roof. If anyone has any extra money they would like to donate to my cause, feel free to make checks payable to MooseNeedsLove Inc. This is my non-profit 501c 3 where your donations are eligible as tax write-offs (I'm totally kidding of course).

There is sad news however. I've decided to sell my Veggie Conversion kit from Greasecar.com. I just decided that it wasn't practical or realistic to think I would even have the time or space to retrieve and filter my own grease. Plus I'm totally broke and need the money. So if anyone is interested there is a complete conversion kit for sale for $1400. (see my craig's list add: https://accounts.craigslist.org/post/shwpst?pii=992637427&db=lv

Otherwise, Moose is doing well. She has been mainly hibernating through this cold Vermont winter in my garage. She takes me for a ride every once in a while, as long as its not to cold out. She's also got a pretty sweet pair of studded snow tires to get me to the mountain when its dumping out. She has trouble starting when its cold, which is normal for a diesel anyway, but I've been contemplating buying a block heater to remedy that situation.

Lastly, I want to have the engine streamlined and to get a larger turbo so I don't die on hills. I'm probably looking at a couple thousand dollars for the turbo.

Thanks for reading!

Moose's first road trip

2008-10-13T16:32:00.000-07:00

Well, we successfully drove down to the Gunks for the weekend. My top speed is still about 60 mph. I think I might have to upgrade the gear ratios that will allow me to go a little faster. A trip that normally takes me 4 hours, took me 5 hours. But no serious mishaps. My only concerns with Moose thus far are that I need to replace the fuel pump, which seems to leak some diesel fuel and when it drips on the road while I'm driving, the aerodynamics of the van cause it to splatter up and on the back of the car. So it looks like someone sprayed Moose's behind with diesel. Any knowledge of fuel pumps that anyone would like to share would be much appreciated. Other than that, I have to iron out the new front grill high beam switch which seemed to die out on me on the return trip. And of course, I just need to make the inside more livable. Also, I clocked my fuel efficiency and got 30 mpg! pretty sweet for an old beast!

Restoration time!

2008-10-01T07:11:00.000-07:00

Alright! The new engine is in. It took nearly two months but Noah at Better Bus & Bug did a great job including welding a custom driver's side engine mount that goes around the Ecodiesel Turbo salvaged from the 91 Jetta. The engine mount is essential for anyone wanting to upgrade a Normally Aspirated Indirect-injection Diesel to a Turbo Diesel. The new mount works aroung the intake/exhaust manifold and turbo mounting directly to the car. Noah didn't know of anyone who actually makes these mounts specifically for this purpose, but contact Noah if you need one..See photo.

Moose makes a variety of noises when she drives now, including a sweet whistling made by the Turbo. The Transmission I swapped in seems to work well too. My top speed on the Highway is only 60 mph, but I can at least maintain speed on hills and accelerate. I'm not sure what ring and pinion I have in there but the transmission came from a 2.0L 81 gas Vanagon. We'll see for now, at least in works.

The next major steps for making Moose look prettier is to put on some new treads and restore the interior. I managed to gut the entire interior, including the sweet circular lounge seat. The toxic gas being emitted from the floor paneling is now gone too. At least I wont have lung cancer in five years now! But before I install the bamboo wood flooring, I need to install my vegetable conversion kit from GreaseCar.com. I better start reading up!

Say goodbye to the fish!

I'm working on a color sceme for the interior as well, but I wont give anything away yet. Stay posted...

Engine Update

2008-08-13T05:07:00.000-07:00

I now own two cars, the Beast and a 91 Turbo Diesel Jetta. Both cars are at Better Bus and Bug in Burlington. Noah, the mechanic, is a super nice guy willing to teach and chat with me about the van. He's not like most other auto mechanics you'd meet where you feel like they are just trying to squeeze any extra cent they can out of you. But now the engine swap is under way. Another update in a week or so will tell us if it actually works. I'm confidant that the turbo will work but I'm worried about the gear ratios on the transmission.

Revival Time

2008-08-03T23:17:00.000-07:00

Well, I have alot of catching up to do. I've been the rightful owner of this Beast for nearly two months now and have finally got it inspected, registered and insured. This baby runs... but just barely. My overall vision is to swap out this existing 1.6 L diesel engine with a 1.9 L Turbo diesel, swap the Tranny, completely restore the vehicle to its full out glory, and then convert the engine to run on grease, Waste Vegetable Oil that is.

I bought The Beast from Ken Oldrid of Green Diesels. He bought it from some crazy kids who drove from Washington state to VT. See photos below. thats really not the half of it.

Apparently, before Ken painted it Primer Grey, its current color, he discovered a six foot tall erected penis with legs. Thanks Ken for all your effort to repaint this baby.

The engine swap is proving to be the current crux. Currently I have a NEW 1.9 L longblock engine with no Turbo parts. It is possible to run it without the Turbo, but my feeling is that if I've come this far, I may as well take the time to find the Turbo parts and get more power and efficiency from my engine. The only problem is that these parts are extremely hard to find.

I may have gotten a break though. Last Friday, Aug 1st, I took my Beast for a really long ride away from its home in Burlington VT. I Drove north to Sheldon, VT to meet with Andy from Bruce King Auto. Andy was certain he would have parts for me, but insisted I take the trek 50 minutes north to check out my rig. I have to say, driving this thing is pure joy, that is when your not dieing up a hill going 35 mph on the highway! But once I reached the back roads and was safely cruising at 40 mph past beautiful VT farm fields, I quickly realized what an amazing adventure I have ahead of me. So I arrive at Bruce King Auto and low and behold... he didn't have the right parts. But as we stood in the gravel parking lot, I looked at Andy and could see the gears turning in his head. He looked at me and said "Hey do you see that Jetta over there?" I looked across the parking lot to the sight of a rotting in the grass 91 TD Jetta. What would this thing have to offer me? Well according to Andy, the car was dropped off by this guy a month earlier and he basically left it there. Andy, of course, didn't want it, he certainly couldn't fix it, but under the hood were the parts I needed bolted onto a dead engine! If all works out, I should hear from Andy today to see if the owner of the Jetta will give me the car.