TheSamba.com :: View topic - The "other" VW in your life:T3 owners perspective

Sat Nov 07, 2009 3:22 pm

Ill trade you a couple of T34s for it! And yes Im serious and yes Im living up to your tag line. :roll:

Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:06 pm

:? Jeez, I don't know George. A nicely done, stock, dove blue '57 SC...owning that would suck...............................................NOT.

What's your plan with it?

Nice score Jimmy. DCs rock; the best of both worlds. Room for two up front AND in back...no matter bay or splittie.

Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:06 pm

That is impressive detail. Cool treadplate! SLAM IT ON EARLIES AND ROLL IT!

Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:08 pm

66311 wrote: SLAM IT ON EARLIES AND ROLL IT!

NO!!!!! Gray commercial hubcaps. 8)

Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:11 pm

localboy wrote: 66311 wrote: SLAM IT ON EARLIES AND ROLL IT!

NO!!!!! Gray commercial hubcaps. 8)
It is very nice.

Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:15 pm

notchboy wrote: Ill trade you a couple of T34s for it! And yes Im serious and yes Im living up to your tag line. :roll:

Yeah, I know you're serious. Jason, I'm so seriously upside- down in this thing my head is still spinning. The market on these is in the crapper right now. Eighteen months ago, I could have made the deal I made, sold it, and I would have come out ahead. In this market, no way in hell. I'll probably drive it a little and sit on it awhile.

The good news is this: By no means give up on your OG T34 plan. The dream is now getting very close to a reality. I'm finishing up a huge job on a Mercedes 280SL this weekend, then back on my "prototype". The good news is that once I get this all worked out to my liking, the second one isn't going to be nearly as labor intensive as I'd feared. Winds up that I overthought and overcomplicated things quite a bit in my original work proposal, and in my initial drafts/ drawings. The M-B W107 top frame design and the T34 body almost seemed to be designed for each other once I worked through about six major hurdles on the top frame mechanism. A lot of trial and error, but it's starting to bear real fruit. Someone in Deutschland posted a pic of a "Lorenz" conversion in the Gallery and I'll be damned if it ain't a W107 top. :lol: So the old eye was pretty right on with guessing that this was the frame, after all. What was really cool is that the 1969 280SL "Pagoda" top frame is a slightly different design, being a W113 chassis. Part of what I'm doing with this for the customer is "ripping" and re- stitching the slightly shrunken OG soft top so it's still useable. In studying the somewhat simpler W113 top frame mechanism and comparing it to the similar but "second gen" W107 frame, what I needed to do to accommodate the T34 body suddenly became clear. Things just started working out and falling into place. It was meant to be.

All that top secret code ought to get 'em popping out there. Neener neener- No info or pics will be released till I'm damn good and ready. :lol:

Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:42 pm

Tram wrote: notchboy wrote: Ill trade you a couple of T34s for it! And yes Im serious and yes Im living up to your tag line. :roll:

Yeah, I know you're serious. Jason, I'm so seriously upside- down in this thing my head is still spinning. The market on these is in the crapper right now. Eighteen months ago, I could have made the deal I made, sold it, and I would have come out ahead. In this market, no way in hell. I'll probably drive it a little and sit on it awhile.

The good news is this: By no means give up on your OG T34 plan. The dream is now getting very close to a reality. I'm finishing up a huge job on a Mercedes 280SL this weekend, then back on my "prototype". The good news is that once I get this all worked out to my liking, the second one isn't going to be nearly as labor intensive as I'd feared. Winds up that I overthought and overcomplicated things quite a bit in my original work proposal, and in my initial drafts/ drawings. The M-B W107 top frame design and the T34 body almost seemed to be designed for each other once I worked through about six major hurdles on the top frame mechanism. A lot of trial and error, but it's starting to bear real fruit. Someone in Deutschland posted a pic of a "Lorenz" conversion in the Gallery and I'll be damned if it ain't a W107 top. :lol: So the old eye was pretty right on with guessing that this was the frame, after all. What was really cool is that the 1969 280SL "Pagoda" top frame is a slightly different design, being a W113 chassis. Part of what I'm doing with this for the customer is "ripping" and re- stitching the slightly shrunken OG soft top so it's still useable. In studying the somewhat simpler W113 top frame mechanism and comparing it to the similar but "second gen" W107 frame, what I needed to do to accommodate the T34 body suddenly became clear. Things just started working out and falling into place. It was meant to be.

All that top secret code ought to get 'em popping out there. Neener neener- No info or pics will be released till I'm damn good and ready. :lol: :wink:

Wed Nov 11, 2009 10:18 pm

Well, when it rains, it pours. After all, this is Oregon.

Was just informed by the executor of the estate of a customer/ friend who passed some months ago that I've inherited her 1976 Marino Yellow Westfalia- all original (except where I repaired a rear- end "ouchie" for her a few years back). :shock:

It's a beauty. And, I know the mechanic who has maintained it since 1998.

Wish I could attract early T3s like this.

The wife and I are already debating: Do we finish and sell the Mercedes o309D "Executive" Motel Berlin? OR do we restore and sell the Westfalia?

We're leaning towards selling the Mercedes since the Westy is faster and quieter, and it is easy to add A/C. Since we're down to one doggie (RIP, Mattie O'Puppy), we could fit in a Westy with an add-a-room.

JASON!!! get your damn '62 back and let's make a deal. :D

Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:01 am

Not for a 76! Im not desperiate ........... yet :lol:

I say sell the hotel and get into it yourself. We may be onto something here :-k Besides the 62 is all but sold to Mr.Gizmo. No turning back on it. As soon as we finalize our dealings-Im getting two Westys, hopefuly a 71 and a 68 with a corvair conversion :shock:

Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:11 am

notchboy wrote: Im getting two Westys, hopefuly a 71 and a 68 with a corvair conversion :shock:
I thought you were just shitting me about the Corvair conversion. If you sober up and still think you want to go in that direction, I'll hook you up with my buddy Joel on the west coast. He's the man when it comes to those things.

Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:11 am

notchboy wrote: As soon as we finalize our dealings-Im getting two Westys, hopefuly a 71 and a 68 with a corvair conversion :shock:

Damn, he is really gone to the darkside.
:twisted:

Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:23 am

Tram, you are too lucky, I'd keep the Westy.
I have done three, 67, 70 and 76 loved them all, sold them all, my wife says I'm a lousy camper. Somthing about being to anal retentive.

My personal favorite to drive is the 914. It turns heads and is way fun to drive. It's got that "feeling of power" and steers well.

Also enjoy the 57 beetle, but anything over 65 MPH is work. And I can't drive 55.

Matters not, everything is up on blocks and covered for the winter. Ya, way jelous of you folks that drive AC year round. In the day I daily drove many a AC VW into rust buckets. Ah the good old days, salted roads and 15 below zero.

Bezzer, AKA Alan

Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:13 am

notchboy wrote: Not for a 76! Im not desperiate ........... yet :lol:

I say sell the hotel and get into it yourself. We may be onto something here :-k Besides the 62 is all but sold to Mr.Gizmo. No turning back on it. As soon as we finalize our dealings-Im getting two Westys, hopefuly a 71 and a 68 with a corvair conversion :shock:

You're right. There's a definite difference between "desperate" and 'dummer Arsche" :lol:

The '71 sounds cool. but a '68 first year Bay? With a G.M. powerplant? That's like stuffing a Corvair into a '62 Type 3! :roll:

Besides, who says I wasn't talking about trading you for the Berlin? It's got the same imposing presence as its future owner! :lol:

And, "all "but" sold" ... what does that mean? Tell Mr. Big Stuff to shit or get off the pot. :roll: :D

Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:32 am

Bezzer wrote: Tram, you are too lucky, I'd keep the Westy.
I have done three, 67, 70 and 76 loved them all, sold them all, my wife says I'm a lousy camper. Somthing about being to anal retentive.

My personal favorite to drive is the 914. It turns heads and is way fun to drive. It's got that "feeling of power" and steers well.

Also enjoy the 57 beetle, but anything over 65 MPH is work. And I can't drive 55.

Matters not, everything is up on blocks and covered for the winter. Ya, way jelous of you folks that drive AC year round. In the day I daily drove many a AC VW into rust buckets. Ah the good old days, salted roads and 15 below zero.

Bezzer, AKA Alan

Wow. Feeding ACVWs to the salt god was a pastime of mine back in the Day also. Who knew that $150 used cars would become so sought after?

If you like the 914 so much, you either must not do your own work, or you bought it already "finished". Not that they're difficult, but where the hell do you find parts? I have a couple customers with them and they drive me bonkers that way.

My better half and my first "together" VW was a '76 Marinogelb Westfalia. I got sick of cylinder head issues on her '88 Isuzu Trooper II (40K miles that she had bought new) and talked her into checking out this Westy I had in the shop in Sun Valley that was beautiful but popped out of 4th and my customer wanted to dump. I told her to check it out half as a joke because no chick I ever knew gave a tinker's damn about VWs or old cars.

She LOVED it! Bought it and I put a trans in it. Grand total $1200. She took her '88 Trooper to the dealer in Twin Falls and they bought it for $8K outright (4X4s are a hot commodity in Idaho).

We sold the Westy in '95 and she's regretted selling it since. So, we might just be "stuck" with this one.

Later on, we went to Twin Falls shopping for a fridge for our first house. We went all over looking and comparing prices. Just for kicks, I pulled into a used appliance store and we looked around inside. In a dark corner at the back, I found an old "art deco" looking 1941 Kelvinator. It still worked, and had won a 1st Prize ribbon at the Filer Fair.. (Filer must be a hoppin' town. :roll:)

Her response? "LET'S GET IT! IT'S PERFECT!!!" :shock: Then I knew she was a keeper for sure.

We've since graduated up to a 1955 "Hotpoint" because it's way bigger. But the Kelvinator still keeps the "shop supplies" perfectly chilled in the shop. :D

Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:58 am

Yes, Many of my old ACVW's met the rust God in person. It would kill me to drive em' just to re do underbody in the spring, then two years later strip it down for the next good body. oooo the pain.

Tram, I wish that the 914 was done when I got it. There was a time when "doubting Thomas's" would stand and deliver the ,"what to hell is that POS and why even try to fix it speach!!! Two years and lots of skinned fingers later I got the girl on the road (first year in primer). Most of the parts (I needed) were from Automobile Atlanta, but I do it all myself, cuz I love my cars!! The only bummer is (was) I don't have a lift, so everything was done on the down low. My knees still hurt every time I lean into that engine compartment.

And she is all stock, including the L-tronic 1800 cc FUEL INJECTED power plant. :lol:

Wed Nov 18, 2009 3:30 am

Oh dammit, there goes another one!

The square is down though, right now, so this $300 delta green 69 deluxe shed will have to wait it's turn. I'm happy to have it, but wow these things are really huge when you take the time to really consider them, something I never really done until now. I already know this will never be a daily for me. The square is still on top in my book. Definitely.

More in my gallery. Cleaned it up some since these photos were taken too.

Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:31 am

=D>

Nice-I hope soon Ill get one :cry:

Wed Nov 18, 2009 11:08 am

aveyinc wrote: ...wow these things are really huge when you take the time to really consider them...

Yep. Lots of steel, interior panels, headliners etc. That's one reason totally restoring one costs so much more than practically any other VW.

Wed Nov 18, 2009 1:21 pm

Aveyinc, congrats on the type II. I have had many, but like Localboy says lots of size=lots of work. One of the main reasons I sold my busses was that I could not do front end work alone. Unlike the type 1+3 it is very difficult to handle, jack, and place a bus front end. Not that I don't have friends to help, but one of my things is being able to do it alone.

But I sure miss em'. That up in the air carpet ride was fun. Called them my "flat bottom Porsche". Drove them like all my others , flat out.
Bezzer

67
70
76
all Westies, all gone :cry:

Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:18 am

Thanks. This one will be a nice place to start after the square is to my liking. I do have to say one thing though.... oh my god! Finding parts for a bay? Wow! Easy, easy, easy, easy. Makes all the type three parts stuff feel like searching for bigfoot or ghosts or el chupacabra... almost impossible... feels like I may be mad for doing it, but there are still some who truly believe. Such a difference. Ha. :lol: