Well.. I bought another one.

[coke]

Couldn't hack it with the Bronco. 10 mpg vs 45mpg. Tough choice. Bought a 1990 VW Jetta diesel today. Needs a little exhaust work for inspection but other than that, a very solid investment.

[82vdub]

We knew you'd wise up and get another one

[Fatmobile]

Sounds like you know what to look for.
The '90 Jetta has big bumpers and big doors (no small triangle window on the front door) right?
Just finding one is hard enough,.. but what color did you end up with?
Tornado red, hahaha.

[TylerDurden]

Jetta FTW.

Considering the VW MK2 diesels are some of the easiest/cheapest to operate and maintain (IMO)... they're hard to part with, for very long.

[coke]

It was too good a deal to pass up. I sent my father up to inspect and check for obvious problems, oil in coolant, pressure in cooling tank, rusty brake lines, dipstick blown out of the tube, etc. It all passed. It needs a couple small things but the price was right.

[steevz]

Awesome! Nice grab.

[coke]

Indeed. Will be bringing it home Saturday. There is no power steering belt on it, which leads me to believe someone disconnected it to replace the alternator belt and thought it was too hard to get off so they never put it on. The pump is free and rotating, so I can't imagine why it doesn't have one unless it broke and was never noticed.

[TylerDurden]

Maybe just convenience.

When I drove the '89 up from Florida last month, I took the PS belt off... If I threw the alternator belt while on the road, I could then do the job from the top, without getting underneath the car for the PS belt.

(I hit the bad ice-storm on the way up too, but fortunately the alternator belt lasted.)

[bbob203]

who needs power steering

[coke]

Its useful.

[Dakotakid]

Parking the bronco probably sparked, yet another, OPEC camel-jockey riot somewhere!!!!

[coke]

Oh I'm not parking it. I'm selling it. LOL.

[TylerDurden]

I would like to try that loop fitting for the PS rack. Steering while the fluid is in the PS rack is lame when the pump is unpowered..

[coke]

Tyler, what is that you speak of? I wasn't aware of such a thing. Did I miss something? I steered my first 90 with no power steering with fluid in the rack for a long time, and it was rough.

[bbob203]

I have a thread posted on it here with links to the vortex thread on it. its a great thing and the guy selling em makes them then all himself out of stainless steel.