another issue..

Joe..
I would welcome the opportunity to learn under a expert...

Michael

Joe,
Springfield MO

hey Ben,
i used to live in Springfield for a short time. Is there still a VW shop on Kearny? I bought parts from him for 3 years and an engine or two...I remember it being near the college

Michael

Yep, Roy Rogers is still there. I go quite regular to make my, ahem, payment. Great thing about Roy's is that they are always trading for neat stuff.

Really?? In the 80's it was just a small shack with lots of parts in it.

Michael

They have upgraded to a bigger shack. They actually have 3 stores in different towns I think, though this is not the original. I will have Steve how long they have been there.

Ok, results are:

Joe Soltis is a metal welding genius....the repair is as strong as OR stronger than the stock trans forks. I watched this guy perform his magic for the better part of 8 hours....he is incredible. I watched as he showed me what he was going to do and it was amazing, it was a practical and innovative repair, alot like TC was talking about. Anyway, photos tell the story. This guy is meticulous beyond belief..and he could weld with a battery and a set of jumper cables and make it look like it was done with a $5000 TIG outfit!

Now since we pulled the trans and everything, I may get a different trans,a welded brace, and a set of kafer bars.

michael

That's just great! Congrats to both of you!!

Good for you! It's wonderful to see quality and hear enthusiam. WAY too much of the opposite found elsewhere.

This really brightens my day. This is the kind of thing that drowns out the bickering that sometimes goes on with members.
-=theron

Wow! Whatta repair, what an effort, whatta a guy. looks great.
Joe, that goes above and beyond.

Theron, If it wasn't for your support of this sight ,things like this would never happen. A big thanks you to your effort on Micheal's behalf and mine. As for the fix remember always keep it simple. The germans engineered it why change it!
Joe

Man all this turned out great.....I think it's time now for a group hug. Joe, You are one talented craftsman....What you've done for michael says alot about the kind of guy you are.......Your a good man!

I looked at it this way, I was going to be in mike's neighborhood so I offered some help. Mike's hospitality was excellent. I had a great time! Mike showed me his VW parts resource that was out in the middle of nowhere. It was very tempting to buy an old VW Beetle for the next extreme project. Maybe next trip down to Houston!

Looks excellent!

Joe is the man!

Joe you are a craftsman and the milk of human kindness flows by the quart in your veins!! Thank you for helping mike out - he seems like a very nice fellow!

If you are ever out west here give a shout - our case es su casa. People like you are what this site is all about - helping eachother out and cheering eachother on. angela

Joe, next trip to Houston...by all means tell me and I will help pin Frank down...

Thanks ever so much..

Michael