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CTB
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Joined: July 19, 2010
Posts: 152

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PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 10:39 am    Post subject: Introduction Reply with quote

Hi all. You might have noticed I've recently begun mouthing off a lot here, so I thought maybe I'd post a small intro, as I've seen other boards where this is customary.

Short version: 1984 Vanagon GL owner since 2001, however the van saw very little use (nearly none) from 2005-2009. It also gets parked (usually outside) for the viciously long winters we have here in Detroit. Various life changing events later, I'm now using the van again for fun and am slowly fixing the stuff that needs some attention. I use the van primarily for transporting me and my mountain bike to the trails here. It's a far better bike hauler and changing room than my daily driver. Smile Since I'm a gearhead and tinkerer, it's currently receiving the brunt of my "make it better" streak.

Dream setup would be to eliminate all the suspension squeaks, get some new shocks and maybe bars, fix the heater blower, and yank out the 1.9 WBX and slap in a Subaru SVX, though an EJ25 would be much more likely.

For those who haven't seen my other posts, here are some pics of my adventures with my bus:

As I bought it:

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Why I bought it:

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First attempt at new wheels and tires, which I thought looked pretty cool:

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With the Sunburst and Agilis 51's, which stayed on for years:

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All cleaned up for a show this year after getting it back on the road:

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

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And finally with my SA wheels back on it with nice new tires, and a pic of what's inside the bus in the Burger King pic:

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

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


Glad to be here, lots of good info and helpful people. Cheers!

Very Happy
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campism
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Joined: September 07, 2007
Posts: 4482
Location: Richmond VA
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 10:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Van looks like it's in great shape. Love the sign pic.

Ride fast, take chances.
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funagon
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Joined: March 09, 2006
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 10:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cool Pictures. I like the van!
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1990 GL 7-passenger
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insyncro
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Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 11:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Welcome aboard.
Love the color scheme of your bus.
Really sharp looking.

dylan

--we have a clay cart track, dirt jumps and motox course in back of our shop.
I test Syncros over the obstacles.
haven't run the cart in a long time though.--
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SteveVanB
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Joined: June 01, 2008
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Location: This side of Daytona
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 11:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I love that 2-tone blue! Side question, did you paint your slider window frames? Looks awsome!
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Gauche1968
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Joined: April 13, 2006
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 12:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Haven't seen those Starburst wheels in a while.

Are those windows tinted?
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1984 Vanagon GL
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CTB
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 12:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks, everyone. When I first saw the paint scheme, I wasn't too keen on it, but I've grown to like it as a perfect signature of the 80's of my childhood. Smile

campism wrote:
Ride fast, take chances.

Done and done! My friends and injuries will back that up. Very Happy

bigsteveob wrote:
Side question, did you paint your slider window frames? Looks awsome!

Thanks! Yes, I painted the frames as well as all the chrome trim in the windows. None of it was chrome anymore, and at the time I wasn't sure if I could just yank it out of the groove without the van leaking, so I took the time to paint it all. I used a nice satin black spray from Rustoleum, I believe. I really dislike brightwork of any kind, other than emblems and badges, so I also installed satin rain gutters that Bus Depot had. One of my gutters would fall off anyway, so I used that as a chance to get the black ones. I've left the bumpers since they are in pretty good shape.

Gauche1968 wrote:
Haven't seen those Starburst wheels in a while.

Are those windows tinted?

My wheels are perhaps semi-famous. I got them from John Wessels and his Syncromog.

Yes, the windows are tinted. They were tinted when I bought the van, and I un-tinted the driver's window to try to be more legal and see out better. The tinted windows were yet another thing I liked about the van when I went to see it. I literally bought the first Vanagon I went to see, and it's still the only one I've driven, though I got a ride in an EJ22 conversion van a while back.
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DAIZEE
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Joined: January 26, 2010
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 1:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice looking van and I absolutely like those starburst wheels. What happened to them?
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'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)
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CTB
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 5:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

They were hard to find even when I bought mine back in 2001 or 2002. The Rheins were much easier to find, and I think they still are.
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kamzcab86
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Joined: July 26, 2008
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 5:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh, my lord... I was just taken back to fourth grade! Shocked Laughing My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Adams, had a Vanagon exactly like yours (in stock form), that I had the pleasure of riding in... but hers, I'm sure, eventually ended up at the junkyard. Last time I ever saw it (nearly 10 years ago), the van was looking pretty sad. Yours, however, still looks new! Cool
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