Sparkles -- 86 Syncro High-Top Build

goskiracer · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 6:07 am Post subject:

Might be some useful info for folks shipping their vehicles. I am active duty military and will shipping Sparkles to Norway with my move. The DoD has a limit of 20MT for shipping a POV.

"Transportation of one POV at government expense is not to exceed 20 Measurement Tons (MT). To calculate the measurement ton of your POV, multiply the length times width times height (all in inches) then divide by 1728 (gives you the cubic feet of your POV) then divide by 40 to obtain your POV measurement ton (L x W x H/1728 = Cubic Feet/40 = MT)."

Sparkles measured in at 188" L x 72" W x 80" H = 15.6 MT
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86' Syncro 2.2 Vanistan, WBXhaust, ski-pole shifter for +11hp

goskiracer · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 10:06 am Post subject:

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

Dropped Sparkles off at the port to get shipped to Norway. Pretty exciting day!
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86' Syncro 2.2 Vanistan, WBXhaust, ski-pole shifter for +11hp

Yukon Syncro · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 7:07 am Post subject:

Have a blast in Norway and don't forget to try the Lutefisk and Rakfisk when your there. You will need lots of Aquavit before to work up the nerve and after to forget what you just ate! Shocked

To be fair you might actually like it. Then finish it off with the tasty Brunost brown cheese on a waffle with cloudberry jam!
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1987 ~~1.6 TD (JX)~~ 1.9 TD (AAZ) Syncro Transporter Tintop with front and back lockers - Escorial Green. Got a North American High Top buried in snow waiting for a ~~spring~~, ~~summer~~ when-oh-when-lord install.

goskiracer · Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 12:47 am Post subject:

After getting Sparkles registered and squared away I grabbed a few friends from Oslo and we headed to Valdresflya to get in some early season touring. This was the first proper driving Sparkles has had in three months, and everything went great! Got in a day with bluebird skies which was a nice treat after the last few months of rain.

I had to instal parking lights to be road legal here in Norway, for that I used a set of Terrawagon Terrapodz. They work great for that purpose, and I am quite happy with them.

The Nokian Rotiiva AT tires performed great in heavy rain, snow, and ice surface conditions. Granted, we are not talking F1 traction here, but as long as the nut behind the steering wheel is properly adjusted these tires are great for severe winter conditions... in my experince Wink

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86' Syncro 2.2 Vanistan, WBXhaust, ski-pole shifter for +11hp

unplannedbbq · Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 3:49 am Post subject:

goskiracer · Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:34 am Post subject:

haha, yeah unplannedbbq it was great to have an excuse to get them Wink

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86' Syncro 2.2 Vanistan, WBXhaust, ski-pole shifter for +11hp

Bman · Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 9:25 am Post subject:

ShultzRoadHouse · Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 4:07 pm Post subject:

The Bogus Basin and Payette River stickers add 10hp+ a piece. Wink

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ShultzRoadHouse
'81 AirCooled Westy RIP
'82 Westy w/ '93 Subaru EJ22
'71 Super Beetle w/ '75 AJ 1600
'12 Jetta

goskiracer · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2015 7:17 am Post subject:

last week my mom ws in Norway for a visit. We went up to the Lillehammer area for a trail run, and camped by Mjøsa. Mom was a great sport with camping in the van, but the need for a pop-top or highroof really presented itself again.

Earlier, I had hoped to get one of the aluminum zwitterdach style roofs before I moved to Norway. Now I am looking at fabricating my own zwitterdach roof from a fiberglass hightop and some westy hardware and tent.

here is the plan...

Take the hightop and cut along the red lines to create a roof section that is similar to the westy pop-top. Add bulkheads and reinforcements to the base and pop-top.

And the envisioned final product! Now I just need to find a complete westy roof I can get all the needed hardware off of.
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86' Syncro 2.2 Vanistan, WBXhaust, ski-pole shifter for +11hp

goskiracer · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 1:32 am Post subject:

I visited Paul and Linda of vwcamperroof.com and picked up one of their freshly finished roofs in Norwich. Really great folks, wouldn't let me leave without a fesh coffee and biscuts Smile

Drove up to Simon at t3volution.com and started getting into fitting the roof. That syncro ambulance in the background has 47000 km on it!

Here is the top underside.

detail of the back corner.

The top...wow, the build quality is really a generation ahead of anything else out there. The roof stringers really add some serious strength and stiffness.

The pièce de résistance is the moulded flange that mates to the roof, matching the seams and creases perfectly. Folks with bonded joint experince understand why this approach is the correct way to bond a roof on...

Swabbing the deck

Decorating the cake. Here you can see the massive joint area. No messing about in the gutter.

The roof adds 13"/33cm interior height at the arch peak. Perfect for my needs.

Wind noise/ handling? Nope/ "Full sock" crosswinds from Gothenberg, drove like my tintop normally did.
Gas mileage? Dunno, can't keep my foot out of the 10c engine.
Weight. I can lift it myself.
Cost £1250, worth the quality and fit alone. Paul doesn't work the delivery, chat with Simon at t3volution.com
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86' Syncro 2.2 Vanistan, WBXhaust, ski-pole shifter for +11hp

goskiracer · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 5:19 am Post subject:

Isulating the panels with 20mm thick foam that is self adhesive and has an aluminum foil reflective coating. Takes about 1.5 sq m for the area on the drivers side. Comes in 1m x 0.5m sheets from the Norwegian version of NAPA autoparts Wink

The roof was insulated with the same material, just 10mm thick. fairly painless install.
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86' Syncro 2.2 Vanistan, WBXhaust, ski-pole shifter for +11hp

goskiracer · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 5:20 am Post subject:

Stopped to camp here on the way from Oslo to Bergen. If you get the option drive the hwy 7 over Hardangervidda... you won't be disapointed.
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86' Syncro 2.2 Vanistan, WBXhaust, ski-pole shifter for +11hp

BavarianWrench · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 7:20 am Post subject:

Looks great, Congratulations, I luv hightops. What is the standing hight inside now?

Gruppe B · Samba Member Joined: January 16, 2007 Posts: 1331

goskiracer · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 9:45 am Post subject:

BavarianWrench, with carpets the interior height is 180cm. I'm 172cm, so it fits me perfect Smile

And as it turns out my Super 7 skis are 180 as well... So when I need to do some fiddling with the experimental tele bindings http://www.moonlightmountaingear.com/canada/?___store=ca inside I'll have plenty of work room.

GruppeB, thanks for the tip! The zwitterdach design was a bit of a thought experiment. If I need the sleeping space in the future I may modify the roof to expand..[/u]
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86' Syncro 2.2 Vanistan, WBXhaust, ski-pole shifter for +11hp

goskiracer · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 1:55 am Post subject:

Mocking up the passenger jumpseat.

3-point seatbelts (headrests not in yet) and 20mm hatch insulation

And one of my favorite additions so far, slider grab handle! Matches the position on the driver's side as well.

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86' Syncro 2.2 Vanistan, WBXhaust, ski-pole shifter for +11hp

goskiracer · Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 10:58 am Post subject:

Tomlin type mercedes wheels with t3technique center caps. The wheels are 7x16 ET 33 with Nokian Rotiiva AT tires at 225/70r16.

Also, racing stripes to break up the roof profile and add horsepower... Good for at least +5hp per stripe Wink

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86' Syncro 2.2 Vanistan, WBXhaust, ski-pole shifter for +11hp

markz2004 · Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 11:54 am Post subject:

goskiracer · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 6:20 am Post subject:

Drove over to the (very) west coast of Norway last weekend to visit the girlfriend's parents on a little island called Bømlo. Really great area with (possibly?) hundreds of small islands dotted with clusters of houses and sheep.

Right before we drove back to Oslo on sunday I went on a short trail run through a few farms and checked out some of the small mountain tops. I can't help but laugh when all the sheep stop to stare at me as I run by them.
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86' Syncro 2.2 Vanistan, WBXhaust, ski-pole shifter for +11hp

IdahoDoug · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 8:05 am Post subject:

Nice. I love a good trail run and when I see animals, I adjust my pace a bit and make noise so they are clear I am not a predator or in pursuit. Has led to a lot of close looks as I trot steadily past.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader


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Sparkles -- 86 Syncro High-Top Build
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