Hi, My name is Ben... Covid has killed my shop

[zimflux]

Your site has been such a wealth of information and I would be honored to donate.

Where is the link to do so?
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84 1.9 Westy

[vanagonjr]

I’ve referred soooo many new owners to Ben’s fuel line replacement page.
Probably saved a few Vsnagsons from a fiery demise.

Kudo’s to you Ben for creating that important section on your website!
_________________
John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
LiMBO (late model bus club) www.limbobus.org
LiMBO is on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/groups/
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798

[idahoskier]

I have benefited from your willingness to share knowledge for many, many years. I hope you find happiness and success in all your future ventures. Salut!!
_________________
85 Westy w/ 2.2L Subaru
91 Westy w/ 2.5L Subaru - sold

[Wolfram]

Thanks so much for your help to me and the group over the years.
_________________
88 Westy, '07 EJ25 Vanaru.
Either van-less on Waiheke Island in New Zealand where we spend the Southern summer, or Wolfram is in Seattle/Olympia in storage.

[VicVan]

[sanchius]

[Alaskaberrys]

[pdm777]

The mindset of new, younger owners
and their 'expectations' can be challenging
for shop owners.

It's a different world out there now.
I've watched it happen with air cooled Porsches.

So many generous old-school mechanics
have retired or got fed up with the younger
buyers. It used to be a fun hobby, as air cooled
porsches are simple and easy to work on.

"Look at my vintage car, I rebuilt this and this." = 2000
---- has morphed into : -------
"Look How Much Money I Have!" = 2021
_________________
1990 Westy Full Camper

[EverettB]

If you think the site will be shutdown in the future, please email me.

If I can get a copy of all of the files I can put it all here on Samba in a dedicated sub section.

I'm assuming you have a backup of everything on your home computer but if you don't - please do that now just to be safe.
_________________
How to Post Photos
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My wanted ads
"Water is the only drink for a wise man" | "Communication prevents complaints"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[nemobuscaptain]

[VWagabond]

Thank you for giving so much to all of us who are trying to keep these cantankerous old vehicles alive. Your guides reminded me of Jon Muir's writings that guided me through getting and keeping my old 66 Westy on the road way back in 1974. I would wish that your knowledge base be maintained and kept available for all who need it. I hope you find your new line of work to be well suited to your talents and disposition and that you don't have to deal with ungrateful and ill tempered people anymore. Good luck and happy trails.
Tom Smith
Charlotte, NC
_________________
The Road Goes Ever On & On……...
VWagabond
87 Camper GL
87 Syncro GL

[vanis13]

[Abscate]

[dobryan]

I PM’d Everett and he is contacting Ben. It seems that one way or the other the knowledge will live on.

Thank you Ben!
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[Glenn]

[vanis13]

[ftp2leta]

Thank you all, I really am moved by you people.
For those who have donated (and you know who you are) thanks a million.

Yes I still have all the original file on my computer so I may give them to Everett or anyone that could take care of those.

For now I have enough (THANKS AGAIN) for a good year or even more.

For the next 6+ month nothing will change with my Website and my shop, I am keeping it because my rent is a joke.

Also I have a lot of strange Vanagon parts, mostly Mechanic, I will make an inventory soon.

I would gladly help people in need of cheap part.

But the good stuff is all gone as all electronic stuff.

Here is my ugly face for you, a 55yo French Canadian who as been working on VW Westy for alost 20 years.

Cheers my friend
Ben

_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta

[Kejidog]

Ben.

Disheartening to hear. I totally agree with your assessment of the current state of the world. In the last few summers here in Nova Scotia I have been witnessing the lowering of the bar of so called “outdoorsmen” and camping in general. The lack of respect for others and for nature is distressing. I’m not sure if it is a generational thing or just our instant culture with success coming before work but it has made me make the decision to sell my van. We have had a good run but seeing the long slow decline at least in my opinion makes me tired of the whole thing. I plan on using my canoe a lot more to try to escape the madding crowds. Probably be rubbing elbows with the ATV crowd.

Your site after i found the Samba was a great resource for me and my growing me mechanic skills. It was reading your site that convinced me to keep the waterboxer in my van instead of the subi upgrade. I believe you came down to Nova Scotia to help an acquaintance of mine do an upgrade in Ketch Harbour. That was a labour of love for him. The van is still running strong today.

Best of luck in your current pursuit.
_________________
85 Westy Camper "Jeebus"
"new" rebuilt 2.1 with a ten cent stainless exhaust- lovin all the power!!!!

[ftp2leta]

Love... Travel hard, meet people.. Have fun, learn.

This is what travelling in a westy have made me who I am today.

This was my baby for so many years, been everywhere with this 210hp monster, reliable as hell, red she was, like the blood i have spent on her, she made me bleed because she was hard on me. She was my red Tornado van.

_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta

[ftp2leta]

I hope that one day someone will follow my step because in the past years I have seen no one building an helpful VW website with free information.

show me just one????
_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta