Anyone willing to share their mechanic?

Hi, I am new to the website, and was hoping someone could tell me where in the Athens area I could find someone willing and CAPABLE of working on my 1976 Westy?

Cheers,
Jim

There's a whole group of crazy aircooled folks in Athens, try this forum- http://athensvwclub.com/phpBB2/index.php
Real nice people, and knowledgeable too!!

Hey Jim,
What needs fixin?

Hey Jim, As Clyde asked, 'What do you need?' I am in Bishop and I have a 76 Westy.

Clyde wrote:Hey Jim,
What needs fixin?

Wow sorry it took so long to reply, been swamped.

I am in the process of restoring my 76 westy, ( 20 years now ) and want to fix the play in the steering wheel. Needs a new brake servo, and then small amount of body work and paint.

After taking her into a local westy specialist (NOT!) and getting her back in worse shape, I thought I'd ask the experts.

Thanks in Advance!

The best person to fix anything is it's owner. You can adjust the steering play, or replace the box. Talk to Gary at Bug Eyed about the booster.
Hope it goes painlessly.

Clyde, I couldnt agree with you more!
I bought this van in 1990 it had a bad engine, and had caught on fire. I did " fix it myself" as you suggest, and enjoyed the accomplishment. But now, 20 years later, I am building my own house, trying to start a small farm, raising three kids (four if you count my wife), running my own small business, and I have a full time real job. Im not complaining, just busy. It sure would be nice to be able to turn to a qualified mechanic to get my westy finished, especially for a job I have no experience with. Was just hoping someone had found one they could recommend. Sadly, the guy I took it to had it for 3 months, didnt fix anything, and actually made matters worse. So for now at least, I am fixing her myself. I spent the weekend putting in a new fuel pump and distributor and setting the timing, and she runs like new! I plan to install a new brake servo, and while under there see if I can figure out whats up with the steering. Lots of advice out there in cyberspace, none of it seems to agree so I am a bit confused as to what to fix. Drag link? center bearing? tighten steering box? replace steering box? Ball joints? tie rods? toe in? alignment? seems like it could be any of the above? where to start? IDK

Jim

Clyde wrote:The best person to fix anything is it's owner. You can adjust the steering play, or replace the box. Talk to Gary at Bug Eyed about the booster.
Hope it goes painlessly.

Jim, there are several used brake servos for sale on the Samba right now. As for the front end play, give me a call and I"ll try to help you figure out what the problem is. As your many responses indicate, there could be many different causes.

My phone # is in my PM.

Driving to work today I realized that Clyde and I had been telling you everything except what you had asked. Sometimes, despite having the ability to fix something, you just need someone to fix it for you. In that case I call Shane Price. He is a VW club member and also is the owner of Price's Automotive in Statham. His # is 770-725-7964.

Thanks Jon! I'll give him a call, funny I go thru statham all the time, yet have never seen his shop.

jimbeaux wrote:Thanks Jon! I'll give him a call, funny I go thru statham all the time, yet have never seen his shop.

He is right behind Blazers and the new day care center.