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Re: [T3] T3 for sale: Long time, sad news


Mike,

I'm really sorry to hear that things have not gone well for you lately. I 
sincerely enjoyed having you here a couple summers ago when we installed that 
engine in your squareback, and hoped that we could get you to join us for an 
Invasion somewhere, sometime.

More comments below:

On 19 Apr 2005 at 1:25, Mike Wodkowski wrote:

> drove back from detroit and the #4 valve spring busted on the freeway
> 40 miles outside of NYC. Messed up the valvve stem, messed up the head.
> Found an aircooled guy not 8 miles from where I was - he got the car going
> again but says I should really get a new valve stem and have the head
> ground. 

Wow, I'm surprised. I've never had a valve spring break, and this engine didn't 
have all that many miles on it, and the valve train was stock, so the stress on 
the springs should not be a problem. The valve springs were just old used OG 
springs, but I always test them for strength before using them. I occasionally 
come across weak ones that I assume have developed cracks, and those are 
gratefully thrown in the recycling bin. I guess there's a lesson here for all 
of us: Valve springs take a beating, so re-use old ones with caution.

> So I'm putting her up for sale, to anyone who wants her. Outside of the bad
> valve and head head, it has an engine put together by none other than Jim
> Adney, a berg full flow system, great brakes all the mechanicals in order,
> bu the body has seen better days. 

Other engine features I can add: full flow oil filter w/Berg pressure relief 
pump cover, fully balanced engine, counterweighted crank (OG std/std crank, 
counterweights added by Berg) heads ported (by me) w/4 angle valve job, semi-
hemi to reduce compression for modern gas, swivel foot valve adjusters, and 
springs shimmed to correct height, case savers and align bore done by RIMCO. 
It's a '72 FI engine, with all the '72 FI trimmings, and I did all the 
assembly.

I would NOT replace the head, but it would probably be worthwhile to touch it 
up a bit, replace the valve, and check all the valve seats while things are 
apart. The head is a 72-3 head with the type 3 only rocker box vents. Those are 
impossible to find, so don't ever let them slip from your fingers.

> I also have a generator I've been meaning to send you Jim and I feel like a
> heel not getting it back to you sooner, I hope you can forgive the long
> loan..

I actually thought we were even on generators. I sent you a good one, and you 
sent me one which was bad, but I fixed it. If you still have an extra kicking 
around, then I'll take it, unless someone closer to NYC can use it.

> Anyway, that's my story. I'm in Brooklyn NY until the end of May. After
> that, I don't know what'll happen to it, so if you want, I'm taking bids.

It's been awhile since I've seen the car, but I'm sure the engine would be a 
wonderful thing for someone who wanted something a step above ordinary.

> And I'll just say in advance, I wasn't around much in the past few years in
> voice, but I read when I could and a lot of you kept this car alive and were
> as generous in spirit as you were with advice - and for that I'm grateful.

We heard from you occasionally, but it was disheartening that the news always 
seemed bad. I had hoped things would turn out better for you. Did you ever try 
to look up my artist friend Gregory B. in Brooklyn? I wonder if you two would 
have gotten along....

> Sorry this is so long.

Not at all, just too much silence between posts. It's always good to hear from 
you.

-- 
Jim Adney
jadney@vwtype3.org
Madison, WI 53711-3054
USA

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