The true delight is in the finding out rather than in the knowing.

I received one of my rogue purchases of recent memory.  I need this like I need a hole in my head (as my grandmother used to say).  Here's the interesting part: I bought it for the contact plate because it's plastic.  It has some chips and scratches but it's in otherwise perfect condition.  The thing wound up being NOS!  There is no ignition key switch (the back/electrical section is present) but I have a few extra of those from previous experiments.

Definitely makes up for getting screwed over by VKS last year.

I've spent a lot of time sourcing parts as my current primary source is drying up.  I've bought the last of a few great parts so it's time to start looking for a replacement.  I've got a nice line on one and I'm hoping it works out.  I found a source for German door seals and I think I have a line on the windshield and rear window seals but not the side windows.  One thing at a time, I suppose.

I found some very nice condition front turn indicators-they're not NOS but they're in excellent condition.  Once they arrive, I'm going to decide on the pair I'll keep and sell off the rest of them (I think I'm up to 5 sets).  I also sourced some hinge rubber sets.  The quantities are limited on them so I'm going to buy all I can get my hands on while they're available...like a crazy cat lady.

I talked with the body shop guy on Saturday when I dropped off the body panels I bought.  He laughed when he saw what I brought with me.  I have a feeling it'll be cheaper and higher quality to have them fabricate the parts needed to repair the panels.  The floor pan is in the process of being completed-it should be back at the house by the end of the month.  I'd like to get the front and rear suspension on the pan before the body is finished-that way I can take the completed pan and just sit the body on top at the shop (where there are more people to help).  There's a timing challenge along with some new conflicts if the body is about a month ahead of schedule as well.  It's a good problem to have.

The body shop is used to working on muscle cars so my little VW is an oddity.  The usual process is to soda blast the car, paint the hinges, jambs, window areas and the owner takes the car back for assembly (engine/trans, wiring, etc.) and returns the assembled/partially painted car to the shop. 


The cars that go back for final spray sit there for 2-3 months waiting in line for the final paint...and the shop hopes the owner of the car doesn't run out of money in the mean time.  I'm paying as I go so that it'll minimize the shock for both of us.

The shop will then spray the body and the owner picks up the assembled, painted car.  They obviously don't have to do that with Ferris - just blast it and paint it and give it back to me when it's done.  There's no masking after the body work is done, just paint.  I think I saw a smile on Tom's face when he realized that they could paint the whole thing in one shot (matching paint is a bitch-especially custom colors).  It ensures the cleanest and most consistent color over the whole car.

I'm actually a little surprised at how fast the body work is going to be done.  Originally, it was going to be May or June...now it's looking like March.  

Not sure I'm prepared for that, honestly.  

The parts collection is going on three years solid...I've spent a LOT of time looking for parts, sourcing parts and negotiating prices in languages I'll never fully grasp.  I've enjoyed the hunt for the obscure and it's long from over but the bulk of it is done.  It'll be bittersweet-I can't wait to start putting the car back together but I also don't want it to end.  I grown quite accustomed to searching for parts, receiving boxes and sorting them when they arrive.  I grade them all like eggs and decide what to keep and what to sell.  

I think this is how neurosis and cat hoarding begins...

Background Tune: "Master of Puppets" by Metallica