TheSamba.com :: View topic - 86 Syncro Westy Re-Build Begins!

Wed Jun 08, 2011 2:10 pm

86 Syncro Westy Rockers, Panels & Seam Rust Repair:

So I bought a Syncro Westfalia with some seam rust and I am getting ready to R&R the van. If I supply the Drivers side Lower Rocker complete, the Side Panel and new utility ports and gaskets, Passenger side full rocker(under slider door)....I can get my van out of hock for $2,000-2,500 8) Of course this will not be a brand new paint job which I could care less about, I just want the rust stopped :evil:

I have heard that the rockers and panels are available someplace but for the life of me cannot remember where?
Help!
I know about the junkyard patrol and that is definitely one option, but I am pretty sure I heard that the new metal is not really expensive and easy to get. If anyone knows of a local yard that may have this metal available, please advise.

Big brakes and some other mods are in the works as well. I will be waiting on the bumpers and Tencentlife motor and tuned exhaust until sometime early 2012, but may have to send Chris a deposit to make sure I am in line for a Better Watterboxer from Vanistan. Gotta get that! :D

As I collect my supplies, I will change the title of this thread title to the build thread. I am in the Portland Oregon area.

Thanks in advance, and, HOLD ME!

Oh, and Ben......how the hell do you do this for a living :lol:

Wed Jun 08, 2011 2:24 pm

Hold yourself, Smedley. :roll:

Start here:
http://www.busdepot.com/details/vanagonmetal.jsp

Wed Jun 08, 2011 2:31 pm

Always VDub has been advertising a Vanagon for parts for some time. Check with Ashley on availability.

Wed Jun 08, 2011 2:39 pm

And tighten your d@mn alternator belt while you're at it! :P

Wed Jun 08, 2011 2:54 pm

GWTWTLW wrote: And tighten your d@mn alternator belt while you're at it! :P Done already. :wink: now it's just the brakes howling :P
Thanks Tram. Knew that one :roll:
I'll hit up Ashleys.
Ninja edit. He wants $200 per side. I'll go see him tomorrow.
Does this sound high?
Gonna get the cargo floor and as much of the OG metal I can as well. Better to have the OG metal.....
new slider windows as well as one leaks and the other has seam rust.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 12:52 am

Thanks David @frankensubysyncro, for your time tonight. It is so nice to have a good community to ping upon starting this great endeavor. I want that set of electric mirrors dammit :cry:
PM's(2) to the AC contacts sent.

Thanks for the help with the beer

FTR, I don't, and never will drive a Subaru conversion. I just can't :oops:
I am too scared!

Thu Jun 09, 2011 9:00 am

Good luck man. I am in PDX too and have some of the same rust issues. Probably wont tackle them until next year though. Who do you have doing the body work? I am trying to decide if I should tackle it myself or farm it out. :( Bodywork had never been my strong suit but I figured I might try my hand at it again.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 10:16 am

I'll be watching this thread as well. I've had my '87 about a year now, and have a huge pile of parts gathering in the basement. I too have some rust issues to deal with, and will be interested in watching your progress. Man I wish I had more Vanagon/Syncro folks near me. We are pretty spread out here on the Easy Coast. Ahh...and if I only had a garage.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 12:07 pm

PDX_Guy wrote: Good luck man. I am in PDX too and have some of the same rust issues. Probably wont tackle them until next year though. Who do you have doing the body work? I am trying to decide if I should tackle it myself or farm it out. :( Bodywork had never been my strong suit but I figured I might try my hand at it again. PDX Samba friend PNW Westy, Bob, turned me on to Class N Customs on NW Nicolai...small shop, very reasonable and he is very familiar with the Vangina's. He will work with any budget and since I am going to do the Rhino Lining lowers, I am not having him do anything but patch, treat, repair then prime with correct stuff, then I will take it from there.

stclair411 wrote: I'll be watching this thread as well. I've had my '87 about a year now, and have a huge pile of parts gathering in the basement. I too have some rust issues to deal with, and will be interested in watching your progress. Man I wish I had more Vanagon/Syncro folks near me. We are pretty spread out here on the Easy Coast. Ahh...and if I only had a garage. Cool. I have been the one "watching" these threads and, I have a garage, but, since getting the Syncro, I can no longer work in the garage :cry: I may get a set of 4 mini Emergency spares so I can at least get my van back in the garage for repair sessions, or, build a new garage carport :lol: Damn these vans!!!!

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1149701

Free YAKIMA Rear Rack VANAGON PDX Price: six pack
We will make this easy. I do not want it and have my van going in for some body work, so, either you come take it off and haul it away, or, lets trade rear hatches. I need a hatch with rear wiper....but, this hatch will be fine with the screw/bolt holes drilled thorough it are patched and filled. I may get on this today. It is not pretty, but it is very sturdy.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 12:38 pm

You can sell those Yakima pieces to ReRack on NE Sandy if no one takes them. The lock cores, the towers, the bike tray and fork mount all have value. The bars look like they might be done.

Need to get the date set for Plaza Lake (or where ever) definitely want to check out the new ride.

Bob

Thu Jun 09, 2011 12:44 pm

i'm meeting saturday with a classic car restoration guy to do basically the same thing (though i may do a full windows out repaint if the price is right). pics during the process are always helpful!

and air down tires to make it in the garage?

Thu Jun 09, 2011 1:26 pm

carterzest wrote: FTR, I don't, and never will drive a Subaru conversion. I just can't :oops: I am too scared!

Is that why you didn't want to drive mine? You would probably eat the words above if you did. What are you scared of? In my opinion a stock suby is mo better than a tricked out waterleaker and costs the same or less. Think 165 HP and laughing at the cars that don't like being passed by a VW van as they try to pass you back!!

Hopefully this won't turn into a which motor is better thread but I am going to try and convince you to put a subaru in that thing.

I think you have a keeper dude, just make a list and chip away at it when you can. Here is a start, kind of in order:

Front Big brakes (uses audi parts) (you have a heavy westy and kids, get the best front brakes you can, tell your wife it is for the family's safety)
Shoes, drums, and spring kit for the rear brakes
Bleed brakes and clutch slave cylinder
Clean the engine and trans
Oil filler gasket
Change trans oil, front diff and rear (swepco or lubrication engineer$$)
Check the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, air filter
Coolant flush, T-stat
high beam indicator (blue light) and headlight relays
Body work
Power steering flush and filter
Shift cup boot on trans
Fix rear locker (probably pin stuck from non use)
Under body surface rust

I'm probably forgetting a few other things.
I had fun and drank too much, had the spins when I went to bed.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 1:37 pm

You should just have them weld up and seal those holes. I think it would be a lot easier that switching rear hatches and changing colors. I do have a rear hatch if you want to go to the trouble of replacing it though.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 1:44 pm

PDXWesty wrote: You should just have them weld up and seal those holes. I think it would be a lot easier that switching rear hatches and changing colors. I do have a rear hatch if you want to go to the trouble of replacing it though. Cool Rick, Thanks! I am hoping just to take the rack off and will just dump it unless someone wants the headbanger that makes their rear hatch laborious. Filling the rack holes is included in my bid.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 1:45 pm

PDXWesty wrote: You should just have them weld up and seal those holes. I think it would be a lot easier that switching rear hatches and changing colors. I do have a rear hatch if you want to go to the trouble of replacing it though.

X2 on patching the holes in the hatch, I wouldn't weld them though because the heat will trash the paint, just sand, use filler, sand, paint, wet sand to blend it in. It is not hard to put in the rear wiper, the holes for the RW bracket are already there. You just have to drill the hole for the wiper arm. I put in the wiper on mine but not the washer. You need the bracket, motor, relay, and wiper arm. Easy mod.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 1:51 pm

FrankenSubySyncro wrote: PDXWesty wrote: You should just have them weld up and seal those holes. I think it would be a lot easier that switching rear hatches and changing colors. I do have a rear hatch if you want to go to the trouble of replacing it though.

X2 on patching the holes in the hatch, I wouldn't weld them though because the heat will trash the paint, just sand, use filler, sand, paint, wet sand to blend it in. It is not hard to put in the rear wiper, the holes for the RW bracket are already there. You just have to drill the hole for the wiper arm. I put in the wiper on mine but not the washer. You need the bracket, motor, relay, and wiper arm. Easy mod. Wiper is already there and works, so, I am good with just removing the headbanger rack and patching. I have had several people PM me about that SWEET rack setup, so, it is going away to a new home as soon as someone steps up, or, to the landfill :P
Trying to steal away to AlwaysVDub right now to get the metal going....
Thanks for the linky on the Front brakes, still pondering the most logical option for the Rears.
FrankenSubySyncro wrote: I think you have a keeper dude, just make a list and chip away at it when you can. Here is a start, kind of in order:

Front Big brakes (uses audi parts) (you have a heavy westy and kids, get the best front brakes you can, tell your wife it is for the family's safety)
Shoes, drums, and spring kit for the rear brakes
Bleed brakes and clutch slave cylinder
Clean the engine and trans
Oil filler gasket
Change trans oil, front diff and rear (swepco or lubrication engineer$$)
Check the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, air filter
Coolant flush, T-stat
high beam indicator (blue light) and headlight relays
Body work
Power steering flush and filter
Shift cup boot on trans
Fix rear locker (probably pin stuck from non use)
Under body surface rust

I'm probably forgetting a few other things.
I had fun and drank too much, had the spins when I went to bed.
I knew there was something I forgot to do last night, the damn list :idea:
Thanks for that David. Really helps calm my ADD 8) LMAO on The Spins
Ninja edit: panels bought. Picking up tomorrow or early next week. Brakes decision later today.
SC got a lil something today too. A shift extender. 8)

Fri Jun 10, 2011 2:34 pm

Rack GONE! Thanks Makefast~ My first side by side of a same year, same model non-syncro/syncro....I was sad to see the crappy repaint on mine next to the original color on his. His wife wants the van to be painted in white, I want my van to still be brown 8) Funny Huh?

Washers welded to the hatch. Will be an easy fix, but, has me thinking of other rear hatch mods :shock:

Oh, and....I have pulled the trigger...the BIG BRAKES are on the way. I decided to wait on the rear brakes and just roll the drum brakes now..... This is kinda fun 8)
Off to the parts store to annoy the feck out of the poor guy that gets to help me out.

Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:33 pm

Had to take the hacksaw to the crossbars - going to head to one of the rack places next time I am in town-ish to see if they can unlock the towers so I can get them off.

Man they are disgusting :lol:

Still, looks like the Towers, ARGs, and that bike rack will all be salvageable if I can get them unlocked.

Many thanks.

Fri Jun 10, 2011 4:30 pm

MakeFast wrote: Had to take the hacksaw to the crossbars - going to head to one of the rack places next time I am in town-ish to see if they can unlock the towers so I can get them off.

Man they are disgusting :lol:

Still, looks like the Towers, ARGs, and that bike rack will all be salvageable if I can get them unlocked.

Many thanks.

SOT (Slightly Off Topic) . . .
A rack store guy told me once that there are very few keys for Thule / Yakima lock, so opening one is usually pretty easy for them. Try Rack Attack off of SW Burnside.

and I think Carterzest is afraid of Suby engines . . . of desperately wanting one once he drives yours.

-Cj

Fri Jun 10, 2011 4:43 pm

@rack attack, talk to my buddy Curtis Deegan. Hope you can salvage something.
New rear brakes.

Washed up.

Pretty new naked backside

Oh, and found the disc of pics of the previous van 91 Westy that I just sold, before and after. I am feeling pretty good :shock:

NINJA EDIT: 6-12-2011
More newpage shopping: :D

GVW-255-875K-VC: Complete Hook-Up Replacement Kit [Vanagon] 1

GVW-231-720: Complete Pop-Top & Luggage Rack Seal Kit [Vanagon] 1

GVW-253-701AGM: Auxiliary Battery 1

255-070-732: Westfalia Pop-Top Decal [Bus & Vanagon] (Color: Black) 2
Cannot wait for the next 2-3 weeks to pass so I can be on the other side of this :twisted: