Messages

For those lucky to live close enough to attend:
https://mailchi.mp/simeonemuseum/vw?e=76f4b0cc85

Happy Veteran's Day to all my fellow vets, especially Rick. I had to chuckle a bit when he described OCS.  Navy OCS at Newport, RI in the dead of Winter was brutal. They really did overload you with more crap than you could process just to see how you'd handle it. Being smart didn't necessarily help.  The valedictorian from Rensselaer Polytech rolled out half way through. He just couldn't acclimate. BTW, really liked the shirt, Rick!
LT NNWO, USNR-Ret

The death, devastation and destruction is far worse than shown on national news. Thousands of people have lost their loved ones, pets, farm animals, their homes, businesses and inventory, jobs, their cars, trucks, farm machinery, clothes...Everything.  It will take years, perhaps decades to recover...if ever.  This will give you a small sense of the situation and what they face:
https://open.substack.com/pub/rwmalonemd/p/news-from-the-frontline-of-helene?r=4n72x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

News continues to come in with stories of neighbors helping neighbors, volunteer groups, businesses like Lowes, Home Depot and mega-donors like Elon Musk and Dolly Parton, not to mention churches, Samaritan's Purse and private pilots with fixed wing and helicopters donating their time, talents and fuel to rescue and bring aid to survivors. Can't say as much for FEMA and the government bureaucracy...slow and inefficient. This is a disaster of epic proportions that will take years, if not decades, to overcome. Sadly, some will never recover.

I've heard that Chimney Rock, Lake Lure and Maggie Valley are heavily damaged as is Biltmore Village.  Over 400 roads in NC are impassible.

Unimaginable!  Have been trying to text and e-mail friends that I know in the mountains and haven't gotten a single reply.  No power, no cell service. Last night, we made a donation to Samaritan's Purse (they're in Boone) but, whatever charity you chose, please do likewise.

  Great verbal visualization!  Suggestion for the OP:  Install the 3:50 gear and see if that does enough for you.  That will put it back to "stock...as delivered" condition. IF you need/want less revs, we've given you some options.

A top loader is a great tranny but it won't give the OP that overdrive 5th gear that the T5 has.

...and you'll need a driveshaft cut to the correct length, a bellhousing, clutch, pressure plate and throw-out bearing and arm with adjuster rod and a 4-speed shift lever. The conversion requires a special transmission support bracket and an adapter plate between the tranny and the bellhousing.  The bellhousing needs a minor mod that any competent machine shop can handle. No metal was cut to install the shifter. It was a fun project!

...OR...You could install the 3.50 rear, then pull out that rare C-4 C-code for safekeeping and install a T5 5-speed. Easy conversion kits out there. That OD 5th gear will give you just what you need on the highway.

The price list with Catalog C is dated 1990 and specifically states "Cat C 1990".  Price for the wheel is $169.95 ea. or a set of four for $650.00.  There is no copyright notice on Catalog C.

No picture of lugs but there are two described:
"1968 SHELBY 10-spoke Aluminum wheel lug nuts: long type, chrome plated steel; price each  17/24"
"1968 SHELBY 10-spoke Aluminum wheel lug nuts: for new re-issued wheels; includes washer; price each  17/25"
As for the valve stem, the picture shows the rim clearly and there is no valve stem on the rim so, I assume that it's inboard in the darkened area at 12 O'clock that can't be seen clearly.
Incidentally, the price list will bring tears to your eyes...Oh, for a time machine!

I have a "Branda catalog C" shown on the upper left of the front cover with no date anywhere. The '68 10-spoke picture is on the bottom of p.17 and so dark you can't see the valve stem which I believe may be at 12 O'Clock. They are tapered spokes. The description reads:
1968 SHELBY 10-spoke Aluminum wheels: 15X7; currently being reproduced by Carroll Shelby; includes lug nuts and correct center cap. 17/23

Years ago, we were headed down I-85 when we came up on a VW on the side of the road with the engine on fire. I pulled over and ran over with my 2.5 lb HALON extinguisher, pulled the pin and gave it all I had...but not enough.  The fire had a head start and it couldn't be put out. The VW was "Toast".  OTOH, we were coming out of a restaurant one night when we saw a car with smoke pouring out of the engine compartment. I asked the owner to release the hood lock so I could open it just enough to see inside.  A quick shot of HALON was all it took to put out a small electrical fire, then disconnected the battery.  While HALON is effective `in most instances, keep in mind that substitutes like HALOTRON or similar are far less effective. They don't mention that in their ads.

Question:  He has the short block but do you have all the correct items that were originally on it (intake, carb, dizzy, timing cover, etc.)?