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Signalocity Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2012 Posts: 573
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 8:37 am Post subject: Project Crunchie '87 Syncro Tin Top Overlander. (Pic Heavy) |
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I am a long time lurker and infrequent poster. I wanted to share my ongoing build/resto for my ’87 Syncro tin top. I told myself, that if I was ever going to do another restoration, it would be the last one, and just for moi. I was originally going to do a split window, until I ran across the Syncro. Not knowing they even existed piqued my interest and satiated my desire for getting away from things. The idea is to build a clean and reliable (as can be) overlander with an eye for simplicity and detail. I started the hunt for a van and being on the east coast was limiting. I really lucked out though, in finding one around the corner. I have been in the auto industry for over 15 years and local import repair shop owner was ready to part with his. We negotiated a fair deal and I drove it away without any fuss. The van was a solid driver with minimal rust and a bare pallet, just what I was looking for. There are a few dings and the passenger side had been painted at some point, but the damage doesn’t seem to be too bad. The PO ran into a garage with roof racks installed and tweaked the drip rails in four spots, that seems to be the worst of it. The first phase will see a complete drive line, steering, fuel, brakes chassis detail and suspension overhaul. Essentially, I am redoing all of the vans naughty bits. I am a good bit into this build and will try to keep the updates flowing.
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Jeff's Old Volks Home Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2011 Posts: 819 Location: Chester Basin, Nova Scotia
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 8:45 am Post subject: |
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Looks like a great foundation. Nice shop too. _________________ www.jeffsoldvolkshome.com
2004 Jetta TDi Wagon
2002 Smyth Ute TDi
1990 Vanagon weekender Syncro AAZ
1987 Syncro Doka AAZ...soon to be TDI
2014 DL650ABS Xpedition
1986 Weekender Syncro (Under construction)
1987 Westfalia (Under construction)
1987 Syncro Single cab |
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hans j Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2006 Posts: 2713 Location: Salt Lake City UT
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 10:01 am Post subject: |
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I would highly recommend buying this book for planning an overland vehicle: http://www.desertwinds.co.uk/expedition_guide.html I've read about half of it so far and not in any order. I just pick it up and open it to random pages and learn.
Looking forward to see what you come up with as I am just about wrapping things up on my build!
Oh, and awesome shop. If I were to build one I would want the brick or tile floor. I love the look! _________________ 1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181 |
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Signalocity Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2012 Posts: 573
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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Looks good Hans, I will add that to the reading list. The floor is oddly enough tiles to mimic bricks. |
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BavarianWrench Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2004 Posts: 1045 Location: Oceans Edge
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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The floor is Clinker Tile. BMW has in it's CORA requirement that the shop floor be Clinker Tile. The tile is not a faux Brick. It is the German answer to a tough shop floor that can be easily cleaned, not easily destroyed, and have some traction when wet, preventing workshop injuries. My guess is you work at a Dealer? Or that was a BMW Dealer shop? Oh and by the way, nice project. The van is sweet!
Last edited by BavarianWrench on Sat Apr 26, 2014 2:33 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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shadetreetim Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011 Posts: 1994 Location: Riverside, California
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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Nice start. I love pic heavy threads! Keep posting your progress. _________________ Tim Potts
Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!
'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5 |
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kbeefy Samba Member
Joined: March 10, 2006 Posts: 600 Location: Central Oregon
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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nice. _________________ 86 syncro CHC, NorthWesty subbie 2.5, decoupler, locker, custom interior, 225/75r16 Duratrack's on CLK's, Toyo cabin heater, ARB fridge, 300w Zamp Solar, Gowesty bumpers/skid/rails, Fiama awning
'86 Syncro Westy. Stock for now.
2000 F350 7.3 CC LB 11' Northland Cabover
2006 Subbie OBXT
2002 Tacoma DoubleCab 4x4
1969 Mustang Basket Case 351c/FMX/9
http://kbeefy.blogspot.com/ |
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Signalocity Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2012 Posts: 573
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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:52 am Post subject: |
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BavarianWrench wrote: |
The floor is Clinker Tile. BMW has in it's CORA requirement that the shop floor be Clinker Tile. The tile is not a faux Brick. It is the German answer to a tough shop floor that can be easily cleaned, not easily destroyed, and have some traction when wet, preventing workshop injuries. My guess is you work at a Dealer? Or that was a BMW Dealer shop? Oh and by the way, nice project. The van is sweet! |
What that guy said. |
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Signalocity Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2012 Posts: 573
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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 10:27 am Post subject: |
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So before moving down to the underside of the van, I wanted to give the inside a good cleaning out. I removed the dingy carpet, headliner and the few remaining trim pieces. I also pulled out the glued down insulation on the rear deck lid and pillars. I used some Acrysol to clean up the left over adhesive and a flap disk on the degrading roof insulation. The remaining glue on the roof would have to be ground down to metal to completely remove; no amount of adhesive remover is going to touch that. The battery compartment had a bit of surface rust, so I cleaned it up and hit it with a bit of etching primer for the time being.
Last edited by Signalocity on Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:25 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Syncronicity Samba Member
Joined: March 09, 2009 Posts: 839 Location: Glenwood Springs, CO
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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 11:03 am Post subject: |
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You are inspiring me. Maybe next fall/winter. Will be far too busy flogging it this Spring and Summer Nice work. _________________ Tom, Juanita, Iggy & Abbey the Dirty Desert Dogs
2.1 L 87 Syncro
KD0ALU
________oo_oo
/ /__/___[_____\
I I======[]IIIII[]
()_)------()_)----)_) |
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Herr Motorspiele Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2007 Posts: 436
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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 11:58 am Post subject: |
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Looks like a nice clean starting point. Are you in NC? |
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Signalocity Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2012 Posts: 573
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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 2:25 pm Post subject: |
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Herr Motorspiele wrote: |
Looks like a nice clean starting point. Are you in NC? |
Indeed I am. |
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Herr Motorspiele Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2007 Posts: 436
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luckystu Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2011 Posts: 70 Location: Tasmania, Australia
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 1:58 pm Post subject: |
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I like em naked! Nice work. Potential abounds. _________________ 1990 Syncro Camper : 2.1wbx : Rear Locker : Decoupler : Camperize pop top conversion ; 2" lift and 16" CLK rims (215/70r16} |
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BavarianWrench Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2004 Posts: 1045 Location: Oceans Edge
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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I'm excited to see this through. How long had you been eyeballing that Van before you got it? Great place to start from. |
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Signalocity Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2012 Posts: 573
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 7:21 am Post subject: |
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BavarianWrench wrote: |
I'm excited to see this through. How long had you been eyeballing that Van before you got it? Great place to start from. |
Honestly, I had not seen it before ... despite having a working relationship with the owner for over a decade lol. We made a deal once I took it for a test drive and gave it a good once over. |
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Signalocity Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2012 Posts: 573
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 8:58 am Post subject: |
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So moving down underneath the van, I wanted to come up with a basic color scheme. The almond color will be for the underside; black will be the suspension components and frame pieces as well as the fender wells. The aluminum will be for the drive line with red accents. The almond is close to what the factory color is behind the undercoating, just a little less pukey looking. The almond color is actually a two part epoxy primer with a matching enamel top coat. I like to section my work, without removing too much from the vehicle and ordering parts as I go. I do my best to keep a balance of work being done and parts coming in, that way when it comes time for assembly, everything is ready to install. Certainly a rotisserie would be best, but that is not an option as I need to keep the van mobile for as long as possible. Removing the undercoating comes down to elbow grease more than anything else. I used a number of different things, but a simple scraper and scotch brite pad handled most of it. I stayed away from anything mechanical, as I did not want to get all the way down to bare metal. It is certainly a lesson in patience and determination. The black is the factory primer with remnants of the base color. The VIN detail was just for fun.
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alaskadan Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2013 Posts: 1849 Location: anchor pt. alaska
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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Well sure I guess you could just start with a pristine body. I guess. |
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alaskadan Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2013 Posts: 1849 Location: anchor pt. alaska
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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Well sure I guess you could just start with a pristine body. I guess. |
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Signalocity Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2012 Posts: 573
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Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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alaskadan wrote: |
Well sure I guess you could just start with a pristine body. I guess. |
I have done the rusted out hulk of a body before, never again! It is not pristine pristine, but pretty decent. |
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