A FAQ section for this highly specialized VW!

[Erik H]

As I finish the restoration of the Bulli I've owned for 15 years and I put it on the market, I reflect on ALL the insight I've gleaned from ALL the sources in the VW world. How could I have done this? I was born the same year that my beloved Bus rolled from the line in Germany. If it wasn't for the SOTO's, NEATO's, Thesambas, the Wolfsburgs, and the the other resto folks, I don't think it would have been possible.

So now as my attention moves to the "darkhorse" of VW, the 411/412, I wonder who will show the way?

I've been suck-in by the lines and then blown away by the sophistication (if you can call it that) of the design. The complexity though, will keep most folks away, and as a result, keep the design from being appreciated.

My point here is to "save the idea" if you will, with information. I would gladly fork over some hard earned cash to get a "John Muir" collection of facts about this vehicle,

but at the very LEAST can we save some of the key posters from the repetition AND bring a collection of procedures to and for everyone in the forum? If not here then somewhere.

Just thoughts from someone who has been bewildered by just the suspension posts alone,

e

[raygreenwood]

Damn...must be star alignment or something. Just last week while driving around, I was thinking of something similar. Mainly if nothing else...a parts #'s listing of anything and evrything. What people find that cross matches etc.
When I say i need to refer to my notes...i am refering to a hardbacked log book in my glove box...that is now too valuable to keep there.

This started out in 1989, as the service log book of a 73 412 four door I was driving. Every last mechanical and service related part and all part #'s were listed and logged. A couple years later...I wrecked it...but found a 411 wagon that the entire driveline and suspension were missingfrom. So everthing swappped...many new parts were added and logged. New methods were tried....tuning methods were tried. Then..I swapped to a 412 wagon.....most of the parts swapped too. That got rear-ended. Then...in 1994....I swapped to a 412 2 door with 4 speed.

Needless to say...in thos black log book are hundreds aof part #'s...cross match parts...tuning information etc. I would like to find a place to share this stuff. Lets have some ideas. Ray

[Erik H]

Ray, judging by the number of posts and how long you've been in the forum, your daily average here seems to be about 6-7 posts A DAY! In my very brief involvement here, save a few others, it appears you might be single handedly spreading the Type4 gospel. I have "cut and pasted" so many of your posts to my word processor that its hard to keep track of some of the contexts. And there in lies the problem, continuity and flow.

As for places to host, the type4.org site might be of some service. They have a forum-ish area at Yahoo groups, but it pales considerably to this one. I'll email them about our interest and the possibilities.

Another idea might be to use the posts already typed here. With some cutting and pasting and some serious editing, significant time might be saved.

If all else fails, how about Bogging this collection of posts or that glorious black book in some combination for web viewing?

Still another idea, professors at most colleges create "readers" with their local copy centers all the time. If the collection is presentable, I would gladly pay the price for its contents and maybe others would too.

Forgive me, I'm just riffing ideas here

e

[raygreenwood]

Some cool ideas. I have been meaning to set aside some evenings to just groove through the forum...and write down more info for the book. A "reader" would be great. Ray