Itinerant Air-Cooled

What a Saturday! This being my first time with Colin I was not sure what to expected but I can say it was better than I expected. I have a new confidence on the VW's we managed to get to and in myself. Below is a photo of "The Herd" as it waited to be worked on. I thought I'd be taking a bunch of pictures during the day but once I got wrapped up into working on the vans the pictures didn't happen.
We started with the Red, White and Blue van. Last year the engine went out in it and I had installed an engine I bought many years ago that was to suppose to have been just rebuilt. It was running hot and popping through the dual Webers. Took the valve covers off to find the pushrod tube retaining wires improperly installed and the driver's side valve cover and push rod tubes covered with RTV sealent. Fixed the wires, adjusted the the valves, did a compression test and found a weak #4, adjusted and synced up the carbs. Took it for a test drive and it was awesome. It will even be better once I replace the Drag Link.
Next was the Brown van. I thought I only had a timing issue with this one. Well Colin is very thorough so we found several leaks in the FI system, fixed a couple but have parts on order to fix others. Test drove it and am pleased but can't wait to fix the leaks.
Time was running out and we hadn't gotten to my wife's Green Westy and I knew it needed the most work. Here again I had picked up an engine that was supposed to have been rebuilt. I had done a compression test before I have installed it and all were close to each other. (Don't think I told you that Colin) We bought this van several years ago with a bad engine and my wife is patiently waiting for it to be on the road. When I had it running last year it was running pretty bad and backfiring alot. Colin's knowledge of the FI system is amazing. It's got leaks also but by the time he was dione is was running pretty good. The list of things this vans needs is long but we'll get there.
Didn't have time to get to the Blue van but fortunately is it running pretty good and needs the less amount of work. I ordered most of the parts I need and have the list of things I need to do. Poptop Tom stopped by to a quick visit, it was nice to see you again Tom and your Westy. All in all a great day and my wife even mentioned about doing this again next year

nice herd =D>

too many busses to get to - that's a nice problem to have.

cool fleet, and nice writeup.

I hear ya on the picture thing. Before I ever did a session I always thought id take a bunch of pics and have fun stories to go along with them, but ive always gotten so into the zone that I never wanted to step away from what were doing long enough to mess with pictures.

this year ive got too many things planned, once again, to actually get to them all. pictures will be a second thought once the ball starts rolling...

Nice garage, too. Nice and tall...could put a lift in there.

...sigh...

So yeah, I have had Colin out a number of times and although I'm not a terrible mechanic, I get better each time somehow. I always learn stuff and that is priceless.

Thanks for posting.

It was great to see you, Kevin! Glad Colin was a big help! You guys had plenty to do with your big 'ol stash of VDubs!!

airkooledchris wrote:too many busses to get to - that's a nice problem to have.

cool fleet, and nice writeup.

I hear ya on the picture thing. Before I ever did a session I always thought id take a bunch of pics and have fun stories to go along with them, but ive always gotten so into the zone that I never wanted to step away from what were doing long enough to mess with pictures.

this year ive got too many things planned, once again, to actually get to them all. pictures will be a second thought once the ball starts rolling...

Is that not the truth! I had my camera all charged and ready. Never took a picture all day!! haha

Nice garage, too. Nice and tall...could put a lift in there.

Thats his small garage.........!!

There is a room above the garage so a lift is out of the question.

My other garage/barn isn't much bigger. If you'd like to read about the construction of it (hard to believe I built it 9 years ago) then go to http://www.vwtopia.com/barn.htm

I read your site, man what a task. When I built a 16x20 work-shed years ago in Alabama, I thought that was something.