"To live means to finesse the processes to which one is subjugated."

So I'm now up to five early NOS distributor caps and I think I'm done buying them.  Actually, I should sell a few of them but I'll get to that later.

I wound up getting the NOS Volkswagen script-so now I've got both rear pieces NOS.

I've been spending a lot of time looking for grommets...kind of obsessing about them, actually.  I found quite a few of them after spending hours digging online, cross referencing part numbers, etc.  The cross-referencing actually paid off because several of the grommets used in the Type 3 were used for over 20 years after the car stopped being manufactured.  I found a couple of grommets that were used on the 1995 VW Jetta-which was nice because the price was very reasonable.  I'm still searching for five grommets at this point but I should be able to find them soon.

I initially found the handful of grommets at four or five different places but with using the cross reference, I was able to get the majority of them from one source.  There are a couple of outliers that I haven't purchased yet but I know where they are found and that's more than half the battle.

The bottom five photos are of a German brochure that folds out to the bottom image-which shows the differences between the "N" model and the "S" model.  It's in really nice shape and I'm going to check into getting it scanned/copied so I can frame a copy of it and have an electronic copy.

I also bought two NOS oil fill tubes so I can scratch those off the list as well.

My wife suggested that I take an inventory of the parts-likely based on the fact that I kept saying "Hmm...didn't know I had that!" while looking through some bins tonight.  Not a bad idea, actually and something I can do during the Winter months.

A few waves wash in...

A few parts I received in the last few days.

311 127 525, Clamp, Fuel Hose
311 705 687, Rubber Bushing, for Subframe Mounting Rear
311 813 797, Plug Luggage Area
311 115 485, Cap Breather Tower
311 899 115, Rubber bush, upper -Body mounting on front axle bracket
311 899 155, Rubber bush, lower -Body mounting on sub-frame

I've nearly collected all of the NOS rubber mounts between the pan and body-with a few spares to keep the bin cozy.  An additional order of parts is likely as I'm a fan of buying parts while they're available.  Who knows, I might be able to trade them for other things later...

I'm waiting to hear about the progress of the transmission rebuild and that'll hopefully get me psyched to put the rear end back together.

I wound up with some pretty decent SB12 headlight rings a few days ago...one is in really nice shape-sans cracks-and the other one is just barely cracked at the mounting screw hole.  I'm going to get a pair fixed up and sell the spares I've managed to accumulate.  I'm still completely undecided about whether I'm going to use 3 bolt lights or the SB12s with some rebuilt housings.

No news yet on body work but I'm looking forward to making a lot of progress on it this Winter.

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no point in being a damn fool about it."

I found NOS FAG bearings made in Germany...the last piece of the puzzle for the transmission rebuild.  The FAG bearings made in other countries are still around and widely available but I wanted to be an irritating purist and use only the German bearings.  So I found a pair in....yep....Germany.  I had to wait three weeks for them to arrive but they're now here and ready for the last part of their trip to California.

In addition to these bearings, I received a NOS pair of front drums for 64-65 Type 3, a NOS generator strap (I don't think I've ever seen one before today), a second fan shroud gasket and a sunroof clip for a fellow Type 3 owner.  Not much in the box but it was still nice to see it sitting in the foyer when I got home.

"If you don't know what you want, you end up with a lot you don't."

This is going to be the column that winds up in the finished product...there are some very minor scratches on the top/bottom of the housing but it's in otherwise awesome shape.  The contact plate at the rear is in phenomenal condition and I can definitely appreciate the design aesthetic.

That's it for parts on the 'inbound' route for now.  I may have found door panel material but I'm waiting until that's finalized and received before I get too excited about it.

No news about the body work on the car...the engine is being tuned and tweaked.  I may wind up taking the plunge on the up-amperage generator/voltage regulator.  It'll keep the car stock in appearance and allow me to do the wiring harness installation without a lot of modifications.  It seems like the longer this takes, the more likely it is that the car will have more stock parts/stock looking parts.  I'm still planning on using HID headlights and LED dash bulbs (the headlights are the reason for needing the up amperage generator).  I don't plan on changing that purely from a function standpoint.  The challenge with HID lights is where to hide the ballasts on the car but I'm sure I'll find a solution when the time comes.

"...the wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round..."

Reproduced bumper brackets from Mika.  Very nice parts - probably better quality than VW's original part.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1435385

I'm now digging around for an alternator/generator solution.  I contacted a guy in California about a higher amperage generator and the cost is nearly $1k for the generator/regulator.  I'm not ready to shell out that kind of dough for now.

The engine is done-it's being tweaked for timing, etc.  I should be a lot more excited about the completion of the engine than I really am...I'm not.  It's just a check mark on a very long list at this point.  When I get it back, I'll have the exhaust ceramic coated and installed (after I find another heater box).  I'll fire up the motor once in a while to keep it 'fresh' but I'm guessing it's going to be a while before it's installed in an actual body/frame at the rate of the rebuild.

I also received the NOS front beam but I haven't unwrapped it-just took it out of the box and set it on the table.  I've now got three front beams for one car...none of which are complete/assembled.

I'm hoping to find my motivation soon...this year has largely been a bust in regard to progress on the car but I still have some time to turn that around.

"Buy the ticket, take the ride"

The box arrived.  The front brake cylinders are in super nice condition.  The two distributors are also in very nice condition.   I bought a few other things but these are the cream of the crop, so to speak.

Full set of early front brake cylinders, two NOS ZV/JCU 4 R 3 distributors.  The vacuum can for the one in the bottom photo on the right side has a larger port although the distributor shows no sign of work (screws being removed, etc.).  The internals are the same otherwise.

Super nice parts-happy to see the box arrive...

Time moves in one direction, memory in another.

Looks like the fuel pump won the battle.  I was expecting the box from Germany to arrive today-rather I received the box with the fuel pump.  It's a 'win' either way, really, because I got a box I was waiting for...and the other one should be close behind (Monday, perhaps?).

It's very nice now that I have it-and it's not a Pierburg-it's made by BOD in Italy.  Can't say I've ever seen one before now...It's very similar to the Pierburg but the top is different-it's more bell shaped whereas the Pierburg is more flat on top.

This one has slight corrosion on the front plate but I'm pretty sure I can replate it without any issues.

“The questions are always more important than the answers.”

I just found an uber-rare NOS Koln ignition column-complete with German inscripted bezel on the ignition.  The Koln columns I've seen are a little different:  The contact plate at the rear is black.  On the SWF model the contact plate is white in color.  The turn signal arm is shaped differently (more pointed) and the contact plate/arm internals are different (I think they're a simpler design).  I have a NOS contact plate and arm for the Koln and I'll soon receive the NOS column.  I no longer harbor a sense of regret for selling off my second SWF column, so I've got that going for me.

It wasn't cheap but it was a part I couldn't pass up in its condition.

Some 'teaser' photos:

Now I'm done with my ignition collection.  I have one of each and a spare SWF ignition and a Koln spare that needs minor repair.

This allows me to sell off some of my extra parts and reduce the parts collection...a little bit of it anyway.

Crashing hard into the secret wind

I sold one of my two NOS ignition columns a few days ago.  I wasn't 100% sure I wanted to sell it but the guy who got it is genuinely trying to get his car stock and running properly...so I let it go.  I hope I don't look back and regret it.

Then, to continue, I sold off a few other parts I thought for sure I'd never sell...all in the grand hope that this 'pay it forward' mentality will come back to benefit me some day.  Even if it doesn't, I'll be able to look back and know that I helped someone out so I guess I have that going for me.

I bought a NOS in the box complete early (61-62) set of front brake cylinders, along with a few other parts. I have a buyer lined up and just have to wait for the parts to come in and verify the buyer and parts match.  I'm going to pull the trigger on the early brake drums soon as well.

Then I'll start buying parts for myself...starting with the front disc brake system.  It's high time I got the front beam rebuilt and put back together.  The progress on the house has been very positive the past week so I'm able to see the 'forest for the trees' so to speak.  I can see it coming to a close and my time opening up to work on the car.

It might be time to accelerate the body work to get things moving right along.  The engine will be done in a couple of weeks (waiting on powder coating to be finished).  I'm motivated to get shit done and I'm going to ride this wave in as far as possible before it crashes into the sand and disappears.

Parts need to come together and form a completed car.

"Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood."

I bought the pump.  It was a bit more expensive than I realistically should spend but I also know that NOS fuel pumps are fairly rare birds...so why not when I have two within reach?

It's going to The Netherlands, where it'll be picked up by a friend and brought back to the US in September.

 This is a NOS hood beak I also picked up.  It has faint scratches from shelf wear but it appears to be in otherwise excellent condition.  This too will find its way to The Netherlands for future transport in September.

Looking at the back side, it appears to be similar to the one that came off of the 64.  The one from the 65 is different in the way it mounts to the hood.

"Character is fate"

The latest box from Germany has arrived today.

The best part was retrieving this super nice NOS ignition column.  And finding that it has the SWF paper still on the signal arm.  This is, by far, the cleanest housing assembly I've seen in quite a long time.

I dropped off the correct fuel pump for the engine build, which is progressing nicely.  After review, it turns out that the case didn't require an align bore, so it'll be about as stock as it can get once it's finished - no machining was required on the cases and the original heads are being rebuilt with new valves, springs and rockers.

Cure for an obsession: get another one.

I have one early fuel pump after a repair.  I bought a second one (NOS) and today found this third, also NOS, fuel pump today.  I'm on the fence about buying it...but I'm compelled to do so.

I also found two NOS distributors that I should be receiving in a few weeks.  That'll put me up to four ZV JCU 4R3 distributors, two of which are NOS.  I think this just goes to show that the parts are out there once I figure out where to look.

I found a NOS left door seal and a second NOS rear hatch seal, along with a windshield seal.  I'm guardedly optimistic about the windshield seal but I hope that it's in excellent condition...the NOS seals fit better than the repops out there currently.

I'm done with ignition columns and finally pared down the collection to a reasonable quantity...so it's only fitting, I guess, that I move on to distributors and fuel pumps.  I'll get the distributors down to three (I'll sell the T34 specific unit eventually).  Actually, I'll probably get everything to threes-one for each engine and a spare.

This, of course, means that it's time to sell off some parts.

The first pump arrived back at the house today after a trip to sunny Southern California for a rebuild and clean up.  The lever is now new, properly greased and the pump is ready for action.

“Better to die on one's feet than to live on one's knees.”

The fuel pump I purchased has been repaired and is on its way back to me in the next few days.  I'm now considering building up another 1500 S motor since I have the short block and most of the parts to do so...and the parts I don't have - I know where to find them.  Hmmm...maybe instead of that monster motor, I'll just build another 1500 S and sell off/trade the later case.

Further information from Pedro Sainz explains that there are two versions of the internal actuating lever for this fuel pump:  -62 (left side) with a larger diameter spring and lever and the 62-65 with the longer, smaller diameter spring and single piece lever.  Fortunately mine was just 'late enough' to be the one on the right because parts are more plentiful.

I also went out to visit Steve and check on the progress thus far...

Ferris is upside down on a rotisserie with the outer rocker skins cut off.  The rockers are almost as bad as those on the red car.  The entire inner heater channel piece is going to have to be fabricated-the inner and bottom are completely gone.  The pipe for the wiring harness was also broken/split so if the rockers hadn't been opened up, I never would have managed to get the new harness into the car because it was so mangled.

Most of the work will be done in the Fall...initially I was a little disappointed by that news.  Then I realized that will buy me enough time to build up the engine/rear suspension, have the front beam done and most of the 'expensive' stuff done by the time he really starts digging into the job.  The rockers/heater channels are the worst part.  There's a little work behind the B pillar, a small hole in the cowl and the rear drain flap area then the body is 99% done/ready for paint.

I was a little bummed out to see that the car is going to need so much work - but once it's done, I'll know that it's completely done and done correctly because it's all been opened up and fixed.

I won't be driving this car to the Type 3 Invasion...and in all reality I won't be going to it at all.  I'd rather go to the Classic next year and the two events are 3 weeks apart.  I don't see me going to both events given all of the other things I have going on...