Edit: 22 Feb 2010
In my never ending quest to keep up with Rick Swafford, I have decided to put all my projects into one thread.  -Enjoy.
KC






Here are some prelim shots of the 1970 westy I just got.  It runs but has sitting issues...i.e brakes and leaky seals on the hatch and doors.

Engine has had some work on it reciently as has the trannie.

Have most all the OEM paperwork and most of the PO's names.

More Pix later

  stuck in driveway.





Fuse Box is cracked and is holding together by Zip Ties! One of the tabs is broken off and is missing a fuse.
KC - Yea!

Got an early Christmas Present on December 24, I go to speak with the original owner of my BUS!!!
He is 83 and seems to still be sharp in the head.

Explained that he and his wife were into motorcycles (indians) and travelled all over in the 1970's (mexico, all over the US...)  He gave me some great stories about the bus, I am going to get with him in the spring and get some photos of him with the bus now.

He stated that he has at least one photo of him with the bus camping in the catskills,  He stated I could have this photo as soon as he found it.  He was HEAVY into VW's and stated that he bought a beetle off the 1st shipment that ever came to Chattanooga as Grey market Cars, he said that he hated the trannies and that he loved the semifores (pop up signals he called them).  He stated that at the time he bought the bus he had 4 VW's in his name at Southland and they wouldn't put another warranty in his name, that was why the Bus was in his Wife's name.  He has some photos of when he used to race VW's and has a photo of him winning 2nd place where the beetle he is driving is taking a curve witht he rear driver's tire off the ground!

David, Do you remember any races that were held in a parking lot?  This is where he raced, it sounded like a road course layout.  Any way, sounds like he did alot of buisness with Southland.  

Wierd story, this bus was bought in Chatt, then to Ohio, then Alabama, then to GA to end up about 8 miles from where he lives now, (Ringgold Ga!!!)  

It's was a great gift to talk to the original purchaser of my bus some 40 years after he bought it....  I can't immagine that this happens all that often, so I am going to get as much info from his as possible.  

I did find out that the bus was white only when he owned it so the lower yellow paint was done after 1976...

Take care,
KC

He also told me that he drove it "floored" everywhere he went.  He said it ran out well at 70 mph.  (in 1970 in Chattanooga, where the Intestates finished....?)  Any way, this would explain why he had the engine RR'ed at 26K miles... It cost him like $116 to have the engine redone, a new piston and cyl installed and the head reworked, I'm thinking dropped valve or so.  It had a "B" series 1600 SP Single relief engine when new, it has a AE DP Dual relief that I need to pull and change out the intake, the pre heat tubes do not get hot.

Thanks,
KC

'65 Ragtop Photos...  These are all I have right now, more to come.
KC

I saw the bug on craigslist and thesamba.  Not a bad deal.

I saw the bug on craigslist and thesamba.  Not a bad deal.

Especially whe I got him to drop his Firm price!!
KC

Any Clue as to how I could have a lowered rear with no odd camber?
Enquiring minds want to know....
KC

Any Clue as to how I could have a lowered rear with no odd camber?
Enquiring minds want to know....
KC

One outer spline will bring it down just a tick, but shouldn't give you the wheel "tuck"....
When I had my '62, I had it down one inner, and it looked good, with just a slight cambered tuck to it.

On the other hand, you could go really low with performing a trans. raise, which is major surgery, but could leave the wheels straight as well.  But that, as I said, is kinda major surgery.   :wink: