Itinerant Air-Cooled Greetings From Los Alamos
Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 7:54 am
The Los Alamos contingent I always enjoy. I enjoy heckling them for working at the government nuclear research and development and application labs. More enjoyable still is heckling them for anything and everything they may know about anything and everything. These folks are a smart bunch, perched as they are on the side of an ancient volcano overlooking the valley below.
First stop was The Bowers, people you're not likely to meet here due to their refusual to get all internet-y. They own a Jtauxe-acquired Westy, Yellowbird, which is now in a high state of reliable motoring prowess:
Over the years, we have de-engineered some add-ons, and lubricated everything else. One de-engineered system was a hack by yours-truly. Last year, I had stuck in this, this, this headrest escutcheon? as a front shift rod bushing. Worked well for the entire year, no appreciable wear except for a slight notch from the baling wire:
It is now in my toolbox for the next front shift rod bushing emergency repair:
I spent the day lubricating everything, and again found a clutch clevis pin almost bisected, even though the clutch action was very nice. With an eye on the mountainous terrain, changed the transaxle oil. Not a bad idea, either. The "anti-foaming agents" had clearly given up some time ago:
Jtauxe has been the Los Alamos Johnny Appleseed of Volkswagens, having seemingly supplied everybody with either a car or needed parts. He churns through old Volkswagens almost as readily as Vdubtech in Syracuse. We briefly looked at his newly-acquired white '74 Westy punched in the nose by a tree or a large vehicle because the previous owner figured he could drive drunk, we worked on his magnificent single cab (El Raton), and we worked on Snickerdoodle the '79 7-passenger bus. They drove well and repaired easily. That is not our picnic on the roof:
Pmaggiore has Yellowbird II, another Jtauxe-supplied Westy, the Westy that has had the whole family involved in its upkeep (last year was the whole family windshield replacement):
I hit Yellowbird II with some 3M Rubbing Compound like rtiller's bus in Arkansas, with the same startling results. I say we get the whole family in on this one, too, Peter (do you think clumped kitty litter could serve as a preparatory clay bar treatment? just askin'):
At the end of our day of electrical issues, tune-up, transaxle oil change, Jtauxe stopped by for a photoshoot:
A heartwarming sight, three devotees with their devoteds and the dog! Everyone, including the dog, has their camera face on:
Then, off the hill on my way to Utah, into the worst headwinds ever . . . :
First stop was The Bowers, people you're not likely to meet here due to their refusual to get all internet-y. They own a Jtauxe-acquired Westy, Yellowbird, which is now in a high state of reliable motoring prowess:
Over the years, we have de-engineered some add-ons, and lubricated everything else. One de-engineered system was a hack by yours-truly. Last year, I had stuck in this, this, this headrest escutcheon? as a front shift rod bushing. Worked well for the entire year, no appreciable wear except for a slight notch from the baling wire:
It is now in my toolbox for the next front shift rod bushing emergency repair:
I spent the day lubricating everything, and again found a clutch clevis pin almost bisected, even though the clutch action was very nice. With an eye on the mountainous terrain, changed the transaxle oil. Not a bad idea, either. The "anti-foaming agents" had clearly given up some time ago:
Jtauxe has been the Los Alamos Johnny Appleseed of Volkswagens, having seemingly supplied everybody with either a car or needed parts. He churns through old Volkswagens almost as readily as Vdubtech in Syracuse. We briefly looked at his newly-acquired white '74 Westy punched in the nose by a tree or a large vehicle because the previous owner figured he could drive drunk, we worked on his magnificent single cab (El Raton), and we worked on Snickerdoodle the '79 7-passenger bus. They drove well and repaired easily. That is not our picnic on the roof:
Pmaggiore has Yellowbird II, another Jtauxe-supplied Westy, the Westy that has had the whole family involved in its upkeep (last year was the whole family windshield replacement):
I hit Yellowbird II with some 3M Rubbing Compound like rtiller's bus in Arkansas, with the same startling results. I say we get the whole family in on this one, too, Peter (do you think clumped kitty litter could serve as a preparatory clay bar treatment? just askin'):
At the end of our day of electrical issues, tune-up, transaxle oil change, Jtauxe stopped by for a photoshoot:
A heartwarming sight, three devotees with their devoteds and the dog! Everyone, including the dog, has their camera face on:
Then, off the hill on my way to Utah, into the worst headwinds ever . . . :