Walkabout

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Amskeptic
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Walkabout

Post by Amskeptic » Fri Aug 27, 2010 9:35 am

I've been trying to get out into the wilderness, but am in Albuquerque briefly for supplies and last phone/internet service.

Rear bumper is in the back of the car curing after yesterday's bridge underpass painting fiasco (stupid Sherwin Williams paint dispensor tips were clotting and spitting and leaking all over my fingers and the bumper. Shouldda heard the swearing bouncing off the bridge walls, well, not so much swearing, that is too pedestrian, more like "I hate you, you stupid can" and "I hope you cost-cutting Sherwin Williams executives DIE in a paint FIRE")

Exhaust system comes down at today's two-day campsite for sanding and painting. Dashboard gets disassembled after that for instrument glass polishing, and spring plate bushings after that. Then I mosey towards Texas and do one wheel well undercoat/respray the wheel itself per day (with front wheel bearing repacks on front wheel days) until all four are done THEN vwlover77 gets those trim rings!

God, I can't tell you how beautiful these starry nights and sunny mornings in the middle of nowhere are, but it is a glorious harshness. I am uncomfortable and chilly at night and all hot and happy in the daytime, and I am so damn tan now that I'm Native. . . with a beard.

Yet, what is the Meaning Of Life?
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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hercdriver
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Re: Walkabout

Post by hercdriver » Fri Aug 27, 2010 4:33 pm

Amskeptic wrote: Yet, what is the Meaning Of Life?
Colin
My friend, I believe you've found it.

As the old cliche goes... Life's a journey, not a destination.

Dave
66 Beetle
75 Westy

Remember that there is nothing stable in human affairs; therefore avoid undue elation in prosperity, or undue depression in adversity. -Socrates

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Amskeptic
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Re: Walkabout

Post by Amskeptic » Sat Aug 28, 2010 9:10 am

hercdriver wrote: My friend, I believe you've found it.
Image

I believe I've lost it/'em. All four bumper bolts. I had clear-coated them and placed them on a road sign post that was laying there (those holes in the post were perfect bolt holders). When I packed up to hit the road a few hours while the bumper cured, guess what I left behind?

So I stopped at a VW dealer. Went not to parts, but to service to ask for access to their fastener drawer. How nice . . . four free new bolts:

Image

Wheels have been seriously sanded and stripped (so have been my fingertips) no more trim rings, will paint as day progresses, but for now, must outrun this pesky rain heading east from monsoonal AZ/NM. Tatum New Mexico says they're sunny, so off I go.

Image
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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Hippie
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Re: Walkabout

Post by Hippie » Sat Aug 28, 2010 2:43 pm

Don't forget to wax them.
Amskeptic wrote:
Image
Harsh beauty...I wish I were there. Cold at night and all.

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vwlover77
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Post by vwlover77 » Sat Aug 28, 2010 6:41 pm

Very nice. As the miles pile on, an already excellent car gets better!

Enjoy your walkabout!
Don

---------------------------
78 Westy
71 Super Beetle Convertible Autostick

"When we let our compassion go, we let go of whatever claim we have to the divine." - Bruce Springsteen

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jtauxe
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Post by jtauxe » Sun Aug 29, 2010 8:48 am

Hey, Colin -
As to the Sherwin-Williams paint cans, I had some of the same experiences. I was wondering if it was the spray tip, or if I ahd not shaken the can sufficiently, or what...
I'm curious, though... did this happen as you got to the bottom of the can? For me the paint was fine until I got the the bottom.
John
"The bus came by and I got on. That's when it all began..." - Garcia/Weir/Kreutzman
http://vw.tauxe.net

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Amskeptic
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Post by Amskeptic » Mon Aug 30, 2010 7:26 pm

jtauxe wrote:Hey, Colin -
As to the Sherwin-Williams paint cans, I had some of the same experiences. I was wondering if it was the spray tip, or if I ahd not shaken the can sufficiently, or what...
I'm curious, though... did this happen as you got to the bottom of the can? For me the paint was fine until I got the the bottom.
Just a !%#^*$ nightmare of #^&^@! cheap plastic nozzles with that little pin that bends sideways as you attempt to depress the trigger causing a leak right up from the !*#%@ can. There was white paint already oozed out and glued to the whole mess. The dudes who mix the paint have to put the nozzles on the all the way in the first place, otherwise the triggers bottom out before it has properly opened up the can to the nozzle, not to mention allows paint to course up all over your fingers. Next time, I will be at the counter staring them down.
Colin
(the $5.00 Duplicolor wheel paint cans worked absolutely smooth leakfree and beautiful dispersal)

Image
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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Hippie
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Post by Hippie » Mon Aug 30, 2010 7:37 pm

^^^ You got new tires.

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JereandJess
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Post by JereandJess » Tue Aug 31, 2010 5:29 am

Amskeptic wrote:
Image
What color Duplicolor paint is that? Aluminum? It looks great!

And what color Sherwin Williams did you use on the bumper? Gloss white?

Looks great as well!
Jeremy

~Jeremy (and Jessica)
77 Sage Green Westfalia 2.0 FI
78 Blue Landmark camper 2.0 FI
69 Beetle

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Post by Quadratrückseite » Tue Aug 31, 2010 10:09 pm

I think that's a tire off of the Road Warrior maybe?
"The bus is the real talisman. It's the thing that runs through all of this history. It's not a thing anybody owns or controls. No matter how peeved you get with people, the bus always makes your heart jump. Everybody was attached to it."
- Ken Kesey

Steve
1978 Country Homes Camper conversion - "Gus"

http://gusthevwbus.com
http://freshandmodern.com/blog

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bretski
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Post by bretski » Wed Sep 01, 2010 6:08 am

Quadratrückseite wrote:I think that's a tire off of the Road Warrior maybe?
*nod* You are correct, sir.
1978 Deluxe Westfalia - "Klaus"

"transcripts are overrated. hardware store receipts: those are useful." --skin daddio

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Quadratrückseite
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Post by Quadratrückseite » Wed Sep 01, 2010 9:21 am

bretski wrote:
Quadratrückseite wrote:I think that's a tire off of the Road Warrior maybe?
*nod* You are correct, sir.
I knew it looked familiar. :joker:
"The bus is the real talisman. It's the thing that runs through all of this history. It's not a thing anybody owns or controls. No matter how peeved you get with people, the bus always makes your heart jump. Everybody was attached to it."
- Ken Kesey

Steve
1978 Country Homes Camper conversion - "Gus"

http://gusthevwbus.com
http://freshandmodern.com/blog

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Amskeptic
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Post by Amskeptic » Fri Sep 03, 2010 3:45 pm

Quadratrückseite wrote:
bretski wrote:
Quadratrückseite wrote:I think that's a tire off of the Road Warrior maybe?
*nod* You are correct, sir.
I knew it looked familiar. :joker:
Yes they are Road Warrior tires. Some of that Road Warrior energy infused the whole car when I put them on . . . only an idiot savant like me can sense such things.

I painted the wheels with Duplicolor Engine Enamel 1615, three coats separated by 10 minutes, then stuck the Duplicolor Engine Enamel Clearcoat on after only about 5 minutes (to avoid some checking that occurred last time I painted wheels on the Road Warrior . . . in 2007, yes back in March of 2005, the 14th it was:

Image

The insides of the bumpers and the brackets here got painted with Rustoleum Gloss White, the outsides got the L90D Pastel White.

Image
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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