Wandering

Yes, and no.

If you use normal VW sedan (or Karman Ghia) specs to align it you won't have enough negative caster and the car will wander at speed and exhibit a bit of "bump steer" or follow the crown of the road.

Tell your alignment person to use 1970 VW sedan specs (all four wheels), BUT; increase the negative caster on the front to 5º - 7º.  To do that you'll need one or two sets of "Caster Shims" - Buy two sets, and also get a pair of longer mounting bolts for the lower side of the front beam.

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The shims go between the beam and the lower chassis mount on the pan headset.  You won't know how many shims you'll need until it's on the alignment rack and the shims are cheap so just buy two sets.

After properly aligned, it should no longer wander at speed or follow the road crown, but you might notice the steering feel a bit "heavier", especially in parking lots.  The price of getting rid of that wandering impulse.

While it's on the rack, have the guy/gal look at the steering box to reduce any excess play.  Any decent VW service manual (Bentley's, Clymer, Chilton's, etc) tells you how to do this.   Max play at the top of the steering wheel with the wheels straight is about 1".

Your right about all the bad symptoms. I'll pass this on to my alignment 

shop.

POSITIVE caster. The shims go on the lower beam. Not negative.

You want a little negative camber. Maybe half a degree. Stock spec is straight up but a little camber in front seems to do it some good.

Possibly flogging a dead horse here.........   If a new alignment with shims doesn't correct the problem, try tightening the bolt that secures the pitman arm to the steering gear box.....   Several members have had issues with this and have found that  turning the bolt even a half turn corrected the problem..... 

"Several members have had issues with this and have found that  turning the bolt even a half turn corrected the problem....."

Heck, less than a single flat can make a world of difference.

They are right, crank that bolt down with all your strength!

And don't think you can do it with a regular wrench.  You'll need a long pry bar to get enough torque on the wrench to get it all the way snugged.

First of all, the radio idea is crazy. I'm going with an AM-FM radio, nothing

fancy, I won't be able to hear it anyway. As far as the pitman arm, I tightened 

it with a 2 foot breaker bar. Gordon sent me the specs, I'm bringing them

down to the alignment shop with my car. I'll let you know when I get it back.

Well, I don't really know anything about what degree of camber or caster one should have, nor how such would be adjusted.  But I can tell you that if the toe-in is not right, i.e. a little positive vs a little negative, then you will get wander also.  Just getting the toe set right made a world of difference on my car.

I have always used the 67 VW spec and never had any issues with drift or wandering. 

I'm bringing the car back, and having the alignment checked and adjusted

again. I'm printing out all the info you guys sent, and taping it to my

steering wheel.