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Date:         Mon, 17 Jun 1996 08:56:04 -0700 (PDT)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         eugp@uclink3.berkeley.edu (Eugene C. Palmer)
Subject:      71 air/ Jumping back into the fray

Volks,

Perhaps some of you may remember my saga, I was whacked hit & run in my very good condition '71 westy. For the past nine months I've looked in for a replacement, only to find that the '71 westy is becoming a rare find.

A few days ago I found what I thought was 'the one', a scissors-top '71 in very good condition, but with an engine that had 50K on it and the owner wanted what might be considered the full market $2500. I offered $1750, downgrading his engine, front-end and body a bit. He wouldn't take it. I have been hoping to pick up a scissors-top, both for the upstairs sleeping space, and to have the roof storage forward so the back end doesn't end up so heavily loaded on big trips.

The day before yesterday I went for a swim at Lake Anza, first time this year. I pulled into a parking space next to a guy in flashy swim trunks. His first comment as I got out was "Still running eh?," noticing the tremendously smashed in left rear corner. I said "yep" and we talked a bit. He mentioned that he has, yo, a '71 westy with a blown motor that he's been sitting on, wondering what to do. I expessed my interest and we set a date to check it out. His friend had just been cited by the police for nudity because he was changing his swim trunks behind his car in the parking lot!

Next evening I see the bus. Dirty white, cracked windshield, but this guy had put as much liquid money into this thing as I had into mine. When I looked at the engine I couldn't believe it, the full on 48 IDA webers, steel braided oil lines, he didn't build it, but it has to be big, and blown of course. The dash has full instrumentation, big tach, oil temp & pressure right where I have mine. Gas shocks, Michelin XZX's less then a year old. Even has a stereo with big speakers in the doors! More rust than mine, front floor shot, lot's of blistering aroung the windshield, etc.

How much? This is a nice guy went through too much with someone else trying to put a trick engine in, must've spent $4000+. "Any offer," I say, "You mean like $300?" "Sure." Sold. I guess he figured it was going to a nice home. He's right.

So I'm back to VW project land, maybe not right away, but certainly over the summer. As long as I don't spend too much time reading and writing on this list I should have it running and roadworthy more sooner than later.

I'm planning on taking the whacked bus up to the Vallejo swap meet on June 23rd and sell it 'as is' after stripping the best for the white bus. I'll fill it with any VW paraphenalia I have left over, including those 48 IDA's, and sell as much as possible. Maybe see some of ya'all there?

So, Joel, change the stats. Eugene has returned to the list with two '71 westies. Later it'll go back to one.

Gee, which engine should I put in? I have new thoughts about VW valve trains which I'll babble about later. First I have to pass smog with both buses so......

Eug,

PS anybody know how to import a Eudora address book into MS Exchange?


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