TheSamba.com :: View topic - RIP Russ Wolfe (1943

Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:22 am

Tram wrote: The Sage wrote: Gary wrote: Had I thought about it I'd have had you call regarding "questionable" items since I have a good idea of how/what to dispose of. "You just know somebody, somewhere needs this part" was uttered more than once, but to be realistic, used cylinders and melted cases along with jars and jars of nuts and bolts simply are not easy to sell as is. We looked at this as setting up Marilyn with a way to reduce the inventory.

Melted cases are scrap. Used cylinders are probably 1500s, which are getting tough to find. You could sell the nuts and bolts by the pound to people who have a tumbler and want OEM fasteners. Wish I was closer. I know the Type 3 stuff, which is undoubtedly a lot of what you are looking at.

I was diligent about parts numbers while I was sorting pieces into keep & not keep piles; I don't know all there is to know about some of the more esoteric parts, but didn't really see any of that in what we were working with anyways...

I don't remember anything but standard flat-top pistons, nothing domed or dished, and most of the used pistons/cylinders looked pretty beat up.... Russ kept the re-usable stuff in a different area of the shop...

Tue Oct 25, 2011 10:30 pm

Most that stuff was where he tore down an engine and just left the parts sitting. I've got his old snap on tool chest and am tearing it down for a restore/repaint. There's a Sun 1015 tuneup tester left, and some special VW parts. One of dad's friends from Omaha showed up, he owns a shop and loaded up on gaskets, plus a certain wasserboxer (sp?) that dad had been trying to sell forever.

Scrap guy has been back and taken a load already. Don't worry, we saved all the small tin pieces. Almost all the scrap was scrap.

Wed Oct 26, 2011 4:12 pm

I recall we didn't get rid VW stuff. Only the pimp wire rims, some Oldsmobile hubcaps and engine parts that weren't VW. I think they were called "Okras" or "Okranas" something like that.

Fri Oct 28, 2011 7:09 am

blankmange wrote: Quote:
and you know Russ is watching us sort through this shit, with a bunch of buddies and beers, laughing his ass off as we say "Why did he keep this?"...

I'm sure Russ and Jerry both got a good laugh when we loaded that engine up ;)

My helper Ben commented that Russ left little stashes of random parts in odd places just like I do... we get back to the shop and he goes through the piles questioning my judgement.

We enjoyed the afternoon and making some new VW friends.

Fri Oct 28, 2011 7:22 am

AIR_COOLED_EXPRESS wrote: blankmange wrote: Quote:
and you know Russ is watching us sort through this shit, with a bunch of buddies and beers, laughing his ass off as we say "Why did he keep this?"...

I'm sure Russ and Jerry both got a good laugh when we loaded that engine up ;)

My helper Ben commented that Russ left little stashes of random parts in odd places just like I do... we get back to the shop and he goes through the piles questioning my judgement.

We enjoyed the afternoon and making some new VW friends.

it was good to meet both you and Ben, Mike....

if I am ever in Omaha, I'll be sure to stop by to say 'hey'....

Fri Oct 28, 2011 5:46 pm

I'm sure you fellas did a great job continuing to sort thru Russ' collection.

Bob and I did our best, over several (too short) visits, just trying to help sort, group, gather, and at the same time, make space to move around out there during our visits. I know we had a couple of good bon fires, just burning up ruined old cardboard boxes after we transferred stuff into the 'lil' blue crates. All the while, kind of wishing we lived closer, cuz I know he and Bob probably would've spent a lot of time out there, at least during the warmer months.

Happy to hear the scrap guy is working with her too!

I think Russ would've needed another full lifetime to accomplish all he wanted to do out there.

Sure do miss him...

Sun Oct 30, 2011 5:00 am

AIR_COOLED_EXPRESS wrote: My helper Ben commented that Russ left little stashes of random parts in odd places just like I do... we get back to the shop and he goes through the piles questioning my judgement.

We enjoyed the afternoon and making some new VW friends.
Mike,

How did yesterday go? Sounds like you guys were really digging deep...

Sun Oct 30, 2011 9:11 am

The Sage wrote: AIR_COOLED_EXPRESS wrote: My helper Ben commented that Russ left little stashes of random parts in odd places just like I do... we get back to the shop and he goes through the piles questioning my judgement.

We enjoyed the afternoon and making some new VW friends.
Mike,

How did yesterday go? Sounds like you guys were really digging deep...

We found a few treasures... good head cores, valves and some valves guides to go in them but I caught us more than once grabbing at stuff that we wouldn't use right away which is exactly what I do not need to do. We bought the scissor lift as part of this haul, but after raising that yellow Fastback on it I question whether it will get used much. Oh, and we found a buyer for the Bus cot. Pulled a bunch of Vanagon exhaust pieces from the scrap pile. As silly as it sounds that was an exciting find... We left a nice cash donation and a smiling Marilyn at the end of the day. It was fun. Wish we had more room for stuff...

Sat Feb 25, 2012 8:55 pm

Today when I went on my facebook page I saw that it was Russ' birthday today. I miss his helpful tips in the Type 3 forum. Now all we have is Tram. ;-)

Happy Birthday, Russ.

Sun Feb 26, 2012 5:56 am

69SquareGuy wrote: Now all we have is Tram. ;-)

God help us all.

Happy Birthday Russ

Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:16 pm

Can it be true? In a matter of hours, it'll be a year since we lost our beloved Russ. I still find it strange reading some of the threads here and running across his posts. Comforting to know that all of his knowledge, wisdom and humor will not be lost as long as we have these assorted VW forums. I still miss being able to pick your brain, even if my terminology wasn't quite right, but you still knew what I meant. 8)

Miss ya' Russ!

Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:28 pm

Yea Russ. I know you're in a better place, Pal. Just don't forget- it's only heaven until I arrive. :twisted: :wink:

Sun Mar 18, 2012 9:08 am

RuSS!!!!!!

miss all the technical chats man!! We could've have made our own CAT/SCAN machine. haha

Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:27 pm

thinking of you Russ :cry:

Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:33 pm

tirekicker wrote:
Is that this picture I took?

He was a hell of a guy.

Sun Mar 18, 2012 9:11 pm

Russ always had some helpful advice whenever someone needed it, whether car related or general problems in life. You are missed Russ.

Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:59 am

Miss ya Russ. Just ain't the same w/out ya. Think I'll have a beer in your honor.

Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:05 pm

Glenn wrote:
Is that this picture I took?

He was a hell of a guy.

It is.

And he was.

There are only a handful of shirts floating around and they were done for nothing other than respect for a man that was.... well... a hell of a guy.

again, Aloha Mr.Wolfe

Thu Mar 22, 2012 2:04 am

DraginInk wrote: Glenn wrote:
Is that this picture I took?

He was a hell of a guy.

It is.

And he was.

There are only a handful of shirts floating around and they were done for nothing other than respect for a man that was.... well... a hell of a guy.

again, Aloha Mr.Wolfe

thanks again for putting these together...

Thu Mar 22, 2012 8:50 am

Thanks DraginInk!!!!