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My SUNROOF Syncro restoration
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Phishman068
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:01 pm    Post subject: My SUNROOF Syncro restoration Reply with quote

Hello guys! I thought i'd start a restoration thread for my current bus.
This is my 4th vanagon and will be my keeper for some time. My first bus, a 1985 Sunroof bus that came with a partially added westfalia poptop and an engine that lasted for one week was purchased by me in Highschool. I got a lemon and learned fast. Over the course of the 7 years I've owned this '85 it's morphed into a full westfalia with a Bostig Engine and taking me across the country many times. Now i'm preparing to graduate from college, and have my dream bus in hand!

Forever i've wanted a sunroof syncro. I've learned I don't use the poptop but love the westy interior. Last year I was able to purchase a sunroof syncro that had sat in an Oregon junkyard for 12 years. It was rust free and pristine. We believe it to have 22,000 miles on it! Zero rust, and the body is cleaning up well. I have put a great deal of time into getting it running so far and now have almost 500 miles of running on it, loving every mile.
That ticker goes up daily of course, but my joy is still present. There is a great deal left to do, but I'll share what i've got so far and keep you guys updated.

My Sunroof Syncro is operational and will soon be recieving a full westfalia interior and my Bostig engine conversion, as my '85 bus will be sent to pasture. Literally, it is going to live on as temporary housing for WOOFers (Working on Organic Farms). So far I have added some great things, and I'm loving every minute of this process!

No hopefully I can figure out how to post pictures.....
[/img]
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Vanagon Nut
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 11:38 pm    Post subject: Re: My SUNROOF Syncro restoration Reply with quote

Phishman068 wrote:
....

No hopefully I can figure out how to post pictures.....
[/img]


If a pictorial "how to" hasn't been posted yet.....

Here's mine!

Neil.

Edit: Pictorial not clear. Deleted image. Now back to the programme currently in progress..... Wink
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insyncro
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 4:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

$yncro
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Brungeman
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 4:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Phishman, Craig? I think that is you...
open a Photobucket account (Free) and load your pics on there... you can link them up from there! its easy and did I mention Free?!? (my second favorite four letter "F" word)
Sorry I haven't made it up to "Slimey Pebble" to see the new vehicle, Ive been busy with the start of school. Are you planning to bring it down to the clubhouse?

Dave
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vwjedi
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 4:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pause the Phish CD, but down the bong and load some pictures! Very Happy
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Phishman068
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 5:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


This photo was taken as it first showed up at my house in PA after a several thousand mile journey across the country on the back of a truck. The entire bottom portion of the vehicle has rock chips and that "white" is primer showing! Someone drove this thing hard through gravel.
There are some dents and scratches but the paint has shined up nicely. I'm buffing out a few scratches and hoping to get a paintless dent removal shop to pop out a few of the dents. Overall though, it's clean!

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


This engine is dirty, but its worth noting that the coolant cross over pipe is shiny gold, as are the fuel tank straps. All original stickers and clips are in place. This may be the most original 2.1 i've ever seen.
It took some work to get it running. It needed a new fuel pump, new fuel pump relay, and a clutch. It's now also running on fresh rear CV's, Redline MT90 in both cases, and fresh oil.
I put crap oil and transmission fluid in it for the first 300 miles to loosten things up and now it's running on proper oil, filter, and transmission fluid.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


The cleanest frame i've ever seen in PA.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

The usual clearcoat peal on the roof.[/img]


Last edited by Phishman068 on Fri Oct 07, 2011 3:53 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Phishman068
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 7:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dave, yes.... It's me.
Ya man, come up to Slippery Rock for quality ales and a few vanagons!
I may be taking the syncro down next weekend when I pick up the new bus and we get to work on it. I may take the silver van. Who knows yet.

Anyway, come up sometime man!

For the rest of you,
Slippery Rock PA. Google it. The taps are always open.
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outwesty
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great project Craig. I'm curious. How did you find it in OR if you live in VA?
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Phishman068
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 11:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I live in PA.
I purchased it from the classifieds on here. I bought it off a guy that used to have a split window business out there and he purchased it from the junkyard. I had my eyes open for a few years and when it came up, I jumped. I've been in contact with the junkyard as well as the previous owners to track down some of the vehicle history. She's been off the road now 13 years!

Sadly, the guy I purchased it from was a complete D**K to work with and Everett had to get involved (and even that didn't resolve it). Even after I had the car in hand (Thanks to a shipping company willing to go take the car even without the seller there), the seller wouldn't get me the bill of sale for 6 months. I was only able to obtain a bill of sale by having a friend from the vanagon-list go and physically knock on the guys door with a bill of sale in hand for him to sign.
Now the titling process is clear and everything resolved. It took a year though! Luckily during that time, I was working on it.
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vwjedi
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks good man, I'm jealous. I have a freind who has a sunroof Syncro within about 30 miles of my house. has been sitting for years. I have been bugging her to sell it to me for about 5 years.

Maybe one day.VWGIRL Lauren, are you there? Is it time yet? Very Happy
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rubbachicken
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

nice looking bus

jealousy from here also
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danfromsyr
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jedi, she's just using that as a shed.. buy her a new bigger shed and offer the trade..

vwjedi wrote:
Looks good man, I'm jealous. I have a freind who has a sunroof Syncro within about 30 miles of my house. has been sitting for years. I have been bugging her to sell it to me for about 5 years.

Maybe one day.VWGIRL Lauren, are you there? Is it time yet? Very Happy

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pnwkayaker
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 9:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Phishman068 wrote:


For the rest of you,
Slippery Rock PA. Google it. The taps are always open.


Man, I used to kayak Slippery Rock (the creek) on our way back from the Yough, but I don't think I ever stopped at the town (we usually stayed at Ohiopyle or Confluence). Very nice river, and beautiful area!
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Phishman068
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 3:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have taken some updated photos of where it stands today. Massive improvements have been made!

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outwesty
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 5:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks great. I love that color. Are those 15"s or 16"s on there ?
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Phishman068
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 5:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Those are 16'' mefros with 225/70/16 BFG's.
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Popsvan
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 5:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sweet ride !
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Last edited by Popsvan on Fri Oct 07, 2011 8:12 pm; edited 1 time in total
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photogdave
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 6:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is that the Gary Lee ladder/tire carrier? How do you like it?
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thook
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 6:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I saw a green one like that for sale here on the Samba......in fact, it's still up with status pending. No motor, though.

The wheels/tires made a definite improvement! Nice score.... Cool
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2doorsdown
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 8:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That van looks great! Yes tell us more about Garys ladder..I just order one from him too. The high lift you have at the top looks like it might want to move over to the right a little...looks like it's hanging heavy on the foot side? Maybe it just the angle. Did you buff the van to get that nice shine? I might go with those tires soon too...I have some nokians but want something a little more aggressive. Keep the pics coming!!!
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