Need VW Help to join Temple to Temple Crew in Katrina-ville

[LB]

Hi.
This is my first post here, and I hope the string I've choosen is the most appropriate. (There's actually, one in Regionals, too, but then my friend suggested this one instead.) I'm a 4th year running Burner, but since my mind finds these sorts of fractile board discussions very addictive time-sinks for me, I've never been... but I hear it's nice. A friend (who tells me about you all regularly) suggested I post this plea here, so here goes. Thanks for reading...

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Friends, Burners, Countrymen, Lend me your ears… and socket wrenches, Bondo, and non-ozone-depleting Freon alternatives…

Do you want to lend hands-on skills to the Katrina recovery effort, but can’t take that much time away from the Bay Area? Are you (or someone you know, or are sleeping with) a slammin’ VW mechanic? Let me help you help me help them!

Here’s my scoop in brief. In order of potency and relevance, I need:

1) A 1984 VW Vanagon Westfalia head gasket set replaced. About $1,000 of the estimated cost is labor - just 10 measly hours of know-how I don’t have, or I’d do it myself. The remaining $200 or so is parts, which I can still just cover, if I get enough help with the labor.

2) Maybe some minor body rust/paint work, if you have that skill available to offer?

3) AC work, but that’s low on the list, unless that’s what you have to kindly offer. It could help…

That’s all that’s needed…

Here’s the patient, currently on Craig’s List:

http://www.craigslist.org/sby/car/110722623.html

Perhaps we could all view this as a hands-and-skills-on Katrina Relief Fundraiser project, because it truly would be, at this point. I am figuring, hoping, praying (and a little belatedly, perhaps) that if I am willing to give a few months of my life for Katrina support and mending, than maybe some fellow Burners (or Burner-like-substances) might like to lend a few local hours of their needed skills and/or materials, to help me meet this goal.

“OK,” you’re asking, “Head gaskets are fine and good, but what’s with begging for the bodyshop work, and AC?” Here’s the thing. I need to get this van in honest, sweet shape for a healthy resale for all, while alchemizing it back into the much-needed travel cash I already dumped into it. Therefore, an “as-is” lowball sale would likely not yield enough. Anything given that makes the van shine will help. Without this type of immediate help, I’ll probably no longer be able to afford my pilgrimage to the Gulf Coast to volunteer with the Temple to Temple crew down in Biloxi, MS. I’ve been eager to give whatever is useful of my odd self down there. My odd self includes (but is not limited to):

- Common sense and good heart (though both are a little bruised of late)
- store help
- buildin’ stuff
- professional web and interface design (not hobby)
- applied “fine” arts and photography
- elementary school teaching/tutoring
- mental health work
- recreational and art therapies
- musicianship
- a bike with a basket to carry stuff around
- lifting and moving heavy broken objects…

I’m also willing to trade or sell these skills with you at this end, if that helps.

I was just trying to get a safe, decent vehicle (my Mom wouldn't worry about) to drive alone in across the country, and then live in. Long story short, I’ve now got two VW Westys on my hands. The Westy for sale is just a mechanical stone’s throw from being great – I’ve paid through the nose to have so much done to it already, to get it in sound shape for this trip. It still runs great, too, but now has this lurking engine issue that I WILL NOT unload it on someone without full disclosure. But when I mention the head gaskets are cracked, it’s pretty much a deal-breaker for the sale price I need, until they are replaced.

That’s where I hoped you beloveds might come in?

Thanks for reading this far. In closing, here – keep reading - You’ll like this. True story…!

While habitually responding to my neighbor’s lackadaisical recycling habits at the dumpsters yesterday morning, I came across a large box at the top of the garbage heap, that clearly should’ve been in the cardboard recycling bin. It was light enough to be empty, but something rattled inside as I moved it over, so I tipped it. Out fell a perfectly good little footsy massage spool. I picked it up (my being in deep need of any massage available) and then noticed something lightly hand-written on one of the flaps of the box:

“Whoever opens this box faces the curse of the great Westy!”

The word “faces” had been crossed out, so that it now read “…BREAKS the curse…”. There was a picture of a West Highland terrier printed on the side of the box, around which it read “Westy Storage Centers”. I smiled and gasped a little, as one of those gleeful shivers, the full magical poetry of the universe, rippled through me. Of course I salvaged the box to use in my van as a traveling chest.

And oh, how I still ooze for this revision of the Curse of the Great Westy to manifest itself, in full accordance with the prophecy…

Whatever you can offer in mechanical skills, materials, leads, ear-marked funds, or spiritual intentions, my lovelies, would be so deeply appreciated.

Namaste,
LB
Los Gatos, CA
(South Bay Area)

[LB]

In case it matters, here's the updated Craig's List listing
(A whole new link page, not just an edit of old)

http://www.craigslist.org/sby/car/112410385.html

Thanks,
El Bee

[kilngod]

Try signing on to the discussion group at VWBusCamp.com and post your questions through e-mail. They are a pretty knowledgable group, and respond to questions quickly.

Good luck.

[LB]

kilngod:

Great tip. Have done now this - Thank you!

LB