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71whitewesty Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2010 Posts: 1544 Location: oregon
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Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 9:36 pm Post subject: 71 White Swan Westy |
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I thought I'd share this CL find that I brought home recently. It was advertised as a 72 and had a seized engine. The nice folks that had it were about 80 years old. I have a picture of them I'll post later. They bought it about 17-18 years ago and drove it for about 3 years and then their son borrowed it and seized the engine, there it sat for the next 15 years in the yard along side some travel trailers, a ghia and a couple bugs. They have a log book with every fill up, date where it was filled also when they bought it and the previous owners name. Far as I can tell it has about 115,000 miles on it. You could tell they had lived in the same place forever. It was in the dry eastern side of WA in a place called White Swan, off the beaten path and not visible from any road. This surely would have never been found if they didn't place the ad. It was as simple of an ad as could be with 3 exterior photos and a real short description their son had put up.
Anyway, I ran up and towed it home and here it is.
The wood panel on the rear door is in great shape.
Almost no rust, just the small areas in the pictures. A few character adding dents. The nose is real straight. Seems to be all there. _________________ 71 Westy 1600 DP, all stock Bus 1
1970's Snow Trac 1600 SP (sold 12/2016)
1968 Tucker sno cat, sold 2021
1969 Tucker Sno cat 542
2017 VW Alltrac
71 tin top stock 1600 DP (project but runs)
Twin 71 White Westy, Bus 2, that I pulled from a 15 year slumber in a dry eastern WA field in 2015.
1966 Sundial Camper "Boomer" |
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71whitewesty Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2010 Posts: 1544 Location: oregon
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Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 9:46 pm Post subject: |
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Here are some shots of the interior. It's all in good shape except for the backrest on the westy bed. It's all torn up on the top. Cots are both there, no tent, darn... Smelled like mouse piss but I have since gutted and cleaned every nook and cranny and reinstalled the interior. I'll show pics of that later as well.
See the bulge in the headliner above the drivers side? That seems to be where most of the mice liked to hang out and piss. That was the worst of it and I'm still trying to get the smell out of the headliner, I'm close.
_________________ 71 Westy 1600 DP, all stock Bus 1
1970's Snow Trac 1600 SP (sold 12/2016)
1968 Tucker sno cat, sold 2021
1969 Tucker Sno cat 542
2017 VW Alltrac
71 tin top stock 1600 DP (project but runs)
Twin 71 White Westy, Bus 2, that I pulled from a 15 year slumber in a dry eastern WA field in 2015.
1966 Sundial Camper "Boomer" |
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sunnydog Samba Member
Joined: September 17, 2012 Posts: 622 Location: SW WA
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Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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I saw this in new in your signature, but had seen no other info. Was going to PM you and learn more, but wow that looks like a great find! I'll have to drive east and come visit. Hope you have a big yard that can host visitors. Any space available next to the 3 buses and a VW snowcat? _________________ '71 Westy w/ a 1776 singleport, 34P3 & 205Q. Points.
EZ Gruv wrote: |
I appreciate the effort, but this could be the worst video in the history of videos. |
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71whitewesty Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2010 Posts: 1544 Location: oregon
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Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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All the original curtains are there too. But those darn mice took their toll on most of them. The front one is good, the slider door one is good and about three others are ok and the rest are missing their middle! _________________ 71 Westy 1600 DP, all stock Bus 1
1970's Snow Trac 1600 SP (sold 12/2016)
1968 Tucker sno cat, sold 2021
1969 Tucker Sno cat 542
2017 VW Alltrac
71 tin top stock 1600 DP (project but runs)
Twin 71 White Westy, Bus 2, that I pulled from a 15 year slumber in a dry eastern WA field in 2015.
1966 Sundial Camper "Boomer" |
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Red Fau Veh Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2012 Posts: 3037 Location: Prescott Az.
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Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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Looks cool and the story with the owners is nice, did the kid really "seize" the engine? Maybe it isn't seized seeing how it isn't a 72, maybe there are other incorrect evaluations. _________________ 1971 Deluxe Sunroof Bay 1905 stroker, dual idf40's, 74mm Scat forged crank, engle 110 cam. CB 044 heads, AutoCraft rockers, chromoly push rods
1973 Orange transporter stock type 4 with dual 40 Dellortos and Empi single quiet pack
1969 Adventurewagen blue whale Gene Berg 1776 built by Dave Kawell dual 36 DRLA's, Vintage Speed exhaust, Bosch 019 screamer
1961 Swivel Seat camper, L345 grey
Touch Nicks Thing wrote: |
Swivel Seat panels are for people with no friends |
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airschooled Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012 Posts: 12722 Location: on a bike ride somewhere
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Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 11:43 pm Post subject: |
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Red Fau Veh wrote: |
Looks cool and the story with the owners is nice, did the kid really "seize" the engine? Maybe it isn't seized seeing how it isn't a 72, maybe there are other incorrect evaluations. |
Yeah! Maybe the starter got stuck in the bushing and "seized" it!! _________________ Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com |
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ncstagger Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2010 Posts: 284 Location: Fayetteville, NC
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Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 2:44 am Post subject: |
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That, sir, is a VERY nice find!
Interior looks to be in very useable condition, even the flooring. Didn't know they were still out there in that good of shape.
I need to move from the southeast, we got slim pickins down here.
Congratulations! _________________ 71 Westy Tintop - 1600 DP 34PICT3/009 - Pastel White
Resto thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=549162
"Take your most realistic time frame and dollar amount.. then add half of that amount. When you get that total... double it. Only then will you be in the ballpark." - sofaking |
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71whitewesty Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2010 Posts: 1544 Location: oregon
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Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 6:45 am Post subject: |
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Let me know when you're out this way Sunnydog.
I had to do some negotiating with the wife to bring this home. I have a few too many vehicles already and this was for sure putting my limit over the top. Negotiations went well though and all are "happy" and the kids got a little boost to their college fund.
As far as the engine. It was sitting outside the bus in the field too. So even if it wasn't seized, it needs rebuilding.
For now I'm going to borrow the motor and tires off of my tin top and see how it goes and then over the winter have the motor rebuilt.
Paint is all original and I think it will "shine" right up with a little work.
I'm starting from the inside out. I'll replace the canvas and paint the top and put new seals on. I also have new cv boots to put on and clean up the cv's, take a look at the brakes and then I'll put the motor in and hopefully be good to go. Front seats aren't bad but I think I'll recover those over the winter as well.
More pictures to come soon. _________________ 71 Westy 1600 DP, all stock Bus 1
1970's Snow Trac 1600 SP (sold 12/2016)
1968 Tucker sno cat, sold 2021
1969 Tucker Sno cat 542
2017 VW Alltrac
71 tin top stock 1600 DP (project but runs)
Twin 71 White Westy, Bus 2, that I pulled from a 15 year slumber in a dry eastern WA field in 2015.
1966 Sundial Camper "Boomer" |
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71whitewesty Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2010 Posts: 1544 Location: oregon
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Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 6:47 am Post subject: |
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Ps, I've never named a vehicle but White Swan rings a bell with me on this so I think I'll just give it that nickname..... _________________ 71 Westy 1600 DP, all stock Bus 1
1970's Snow Trac 1600 SP (sold 12/2016)
1968 Tucker sno cat, sold 2021
1969 Tucker Sno cat 542
2017 VW Alltrac
71 tin top stock 1600 DP (project but runs)
Twin 71 White Westy, Bus 2, that I pulled from a 15 year slumber in a dry eastern WA field in 2015.
1966 Sundial Camper "Boomer" |
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Kirk Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2003 Posts: 5487 Location: North Texas
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Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 7:32 am Post subject: |
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Great find! Man that would be one Id love to stumble on. Cant wait to see you bring that back. _________________ MAKE FORUMS GREAT AGAIN
Bear
Coble
Super
Oppenheim |
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Bala Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2003 Posts: 2613 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 10:49 am Post subject: |
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That's a good one you got there! _________________ 1976 Westy
1966 Beetle |
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guanella74 Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2009 Posts: 520 Location: Boulder, CO
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Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 10:58 am Post subject: |
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No kidding, what a bus! GREAT find!! _________________ - Travis
1974 Westy CampMobile - the OG!
1979 Transporter
1979 Transporter
1977 Transporter
1974 Transporter
1973 Transporter
1971 Westy |
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71whitewesty Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2010 Posts: 1544 Location: oregon
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Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 10:21 am Post subject: |
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This is going to be a slow thread so hang in there.
So after talking to the son that put the ad on CL I googled the address just to see what I could see and it looked legit from the google earth photo. I could spot the bus amongst some other vehicles.
So I hitched up my trailer that I had to get last winter when I acquired the Snowtrac and my only tow rig, a 62' International 4X4 and convinced my buddy Pete to go along for a ride. It's a good 2 hour drive each way. This is how I found her sitting in the same spot for 15 years.
This is Pete and I had to stop him from tying the tow rope to the rear bumper. He doesn't know vws'
I have never pulled a non running rig out of a field before so wasn't sure how it was all going to go. I have a winch on the truck and so I was able to wedge the trailer up against the bumper so I could winch it on there. Of course I don't have any ramps for the trailer so we had to scavenge some boards from the property. It went well.
The wheels were locked up but after a few tugs they all came loose. Fortunately the seller aired up the tires and they are still holding air to this day! Here it is, rolling and on the "road" again.
And of course the gas station shot.
But my favorite shot so far is of the sellers. They were very sweet and glad to see it going to a good home.
more to come.... _________________ 71 Westy 1600 DP, all stock Bus 1
1970's Snow Trac 1600 SP (sold 12/2016)
1968 Tucker sno cat, sold 2021
1969 Tucker Sno cat 542
2017 VW Alltrac
71 tin top stock 1600 DP (project but runs)
Twin 71 White Westy, Bus 2, that I pulled from a 15 year slumber in a dry eastern WA field in 2015.
1966 Sundial Camper "Boomer" |
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sunnydog Samba Member
Joined: September 17, 2012 Posts: 622 Location: SW WA
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Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:09 pm Post subject: |
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I said it before, but I'll say it again -- that is some serious awesome-sauce. That is a nice find and a nice story and nice-looking couple. I especially like the wheelcover on the spare. What is that? And the international and the trailer also look plenty stout. Good work! _________________ '71 Westy w/ a 1776 singleport, 34P3 & 205Q. Points.
EZ Gruv wrote: |
I appreciate the effort, but this could be the worst video in the history of videos. |
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71whitewesty Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2010 Posts: 1544 Location: oregon
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Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 12:21 pm Post subject: |
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Slowly but surely I have been cleaning this baby up. I just got it off the trailer and pushed it in the garage last weekend since the rain is now upon us.
I replaced all the cv's and boots. I probably could have reused the old cv's but ended up buying new ones. I'll keep the other for extras I guess. Sorta one of those jobs I only want to do once if I can help it.
The Old
and the New!
I also discovered where most of the mice smell was coming from....
Partly cleaned out. I think I need to make a new headliner though as I can't get that distinctive smell out. Used all sorts of stuff to get the smell out but I think it's not coming out. Headliner has been removed for a good month and still stinky.
Under all the interior it looked like this. Mice droppings and who knows what.
But it cleans up well.
This was mounted in there too. I took it out but wonder if there's any reason to use it again after a good cleaning? I lean towards not using it again.
more to come.... _________________ 71 Westy 1600 DP, all stock Bus 1
1970's Snow Trac 1600 SP (sold 12/2016)
1968 Tucker sno cat, sold 2021
1969 Tucker Sno cat 542
2017 VW Alltrac
71 tin top stock 1600 DP (project but runs)
Twin 71 White Westy, Bus 2, that I pulled from a 15 year slumber in a dry eastern WA field in 2015.
1966 Sundial Camper "Boomer" |
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71whitewesty Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2010 Posts: 1544 Location: oregon
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Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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Here are some of the things I really like about this bus.
Front floors are solid and no rust through at all.
The engine lid is also really clean and no rust.
The engine compartment is cleaning up well too. Some rust in the battery try but I don't think I'm going to worry about it now. POR 15 it and I think it will hold the battery just fine.
Things like the sticker on the slider still perfectly intact and the dog bone handle that seems to be somewhat hard to find. It's in perfect shape.
This little guy was in a box inside. This piece goes under the gas pedal and seems that most are long gone by now.
and this little piece. I wasn't sure what it was at first. It was looking a bit gross at first. I thought it was wood but it is a piece of heavy rubber used to seal off the space around the plumbing drains for the ice box and sink. I don't have this on my other westy and I have had a mouse get in through this space. maybe this will help. Either way, I didn't know this came with it and seems like a good idea.
and this was just a small pile of things that were found. The top paper is directions to a campground.
That's it for now. I'm about ready to start spending some money on it and ordering a new canvas, pop top and engine seals etc. But now that it's in the garage I can also go through the brakes and get some tires put on it. I'll update this and it goes along over the winter. _________________ 71 Westy 1600 DP, all stock Bus 1
1970's Snow Trac 1600 SP (sold 12/2016)
1968 Tucker sno cat, sold 2021
1969 Tucker Sno cat 542
2017 VW Alltrac
71 tin top stock 1600 DP (project but runs)
Twin 71 White Westy, Bus 2, that I pulled from a 15 year slumber in a dry eastern WA field in 2015.
1966 Sundial Camper "Boomer" |
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CoastalAirCooledVW Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2012 Posts: 1882 Location: Mckinleyville, CA (Humboldt County)
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Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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Awesome find. Those gas pedal stops are hard to find but yours is missing two tabs on the left and one tab on the right and probably wont hold itself in place anymore. _________________ 1966 Velvet Green Standard |
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71whitewesty Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2010 Posts: 1544 Location: oregon
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Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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Well winter has come and gone now and I thought it way past time for an update. I've been having a great time working on the bus over the winter. I'll post more pictures up slowly but so far I've gone through all the brakes and put new rubber brake hoses on, replaced the pads and rear brake shoes, put a new filler grommet in so now it doesn't leak. The booster and the rest of the system are in great shape and it stops on a dime now with a properly adjusted ebrake to boot!
I have my spare motor in and it's running really well, shifting great and overall ready for a cross country trip!
I put in a new drag link but the problem ended up being in the steering box, so I have replaced that with a good used one found on the Samba. Word to the wise, when your friend Pete gets in the bus and tries turning the steering wheel when the tires have settled into the ground after sitting 15 years, stop him! That would have saved the steering box... also replaced the steering coupler with the good VW one while I was at it.
Powder coated the rims and put new Hankooks on all around.
Made a new Baltic Birch headliner for above the drivers seat because the mouse piss WILL NOT come out of the other one. It came out real nice.
Painted the pop top, put new rivets in all the hardware and new seals and canvas. It also turned out sweet for an amateur like myself. New canvas for the upper cot too.
More to tell you about but let me get some pictures up for now. I have a lot more to upload when I get more time but here are some.
These are just some from the pop top make over. First a light sanding of the top.
and after one coat of Interlux Brightside, off white paint.
This might be two coats but still not done.
I put 4 coats on everything, just rolled and tipped with a brush.
Then it's canvas time.
oh wait, one more of the top after the paint is finished.
Top is back on the bus and ready to put in the 100 or so tiny screws to secure the bottom.
All new rivets and the bars and tie downs where already in great shape.
A little out of order here but a couple more of the finished paint.
This is the part that I see a lot of folks messing up on when replacing the canvas. This is the correct way to install it so it's tight and doesn't show the staples when the top is popped.
When you're done, it should look like this.
Tight and clean and yes, I went for the most expensive canvas I could find from Bus Depot and supposed to be as close to original as you can get. I was very happy with it.
I have a lot more pictures to load up but thought I'd leave you with these last two for now.
I've been diligently working to eliminate the mouse piss smell. I think that nothing will turn my wife off from camping more than mouse piss smell. Got to get rid of it. I've cleaned every nook and cranny several times over. Replaced any panels that the mice peed on, tried everything I could think of. Then once I had it back together and took it for it's first drive in 15 or so years, it still smelled. So I thought I'd open up the fresh air vents while I drove and holy $%$ did it get strong then!! I think I got a little sick after that drive. So I took apart the front ducting as much as you can and when I took the cover off I actually ran out of the garage for the rest of the evening. That big cavity was jam packed with mouse bedding. I mean jam packed. I didn't get a picture of it because I ran out of the garage but these pictures are from the second drive after I thought I got it all out. Long story short, I'm still working on getting the smell out. It's taken forever to get all the mouse crap out of the cavity. I vacuum, hose, spry bleach, take it for a freeway drive against the wind with all the vents open and that stuff still comes out. But I think I about have it now. Still smells a bit but I'll get there.....I would guess I've pulled nearly 5 gallons of mouse nesting out of that cavity so far. More to come as I upload more photos later.
_________________ 71 Westy 1600 DP, all stock Bus 1
1970's Snow Trac 1600 SP (sold 12/2016)
1968 Tucker sno cat, sold 2021
1969 Tucker Sno cat 542
2017 VW Alltrac
71 tin top stock 1600 DP (project but runs)
Twin 71 White Westy, Bus 2, that I pulled from a 15 year slumber in a dry eastern WA field in 2015.
1966 Sundial Camper "Boomer" |
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sunnydog Samba Member
Joined: September 17, 2012 Posts: 622 Location: SW WA
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Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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Good job on the roof and canvas! That will look nice when popped up top. Maybe I can enlist you to advise me on mine.
Despite the good work you are offering this Westy, I'm not sure the previous owners are too happy with what you are doing. And by that I mean the mice. All their hard work, lost! I hope you got some hantavirus-proof breathing apparatus.
sunnydog _________________ '71 Westy w/ a 1776 singleport, 34P3 & 205Q. Points.
EZ Gruv wrote: |
I appreciate the effort, but this could be the worst video in the history of videos. |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50347
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Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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Hopefully I am heading into Portland tomorrow to pick up some Thing parts. Will likely be stopping by Halsey. Need anything? Hate mice!!! They got my truck over the winter, ick. |
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