Reviving a Tornado Red Carat

[uberaudi]

Great looking van! Those Ronals are choice!
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'84 Adventurewagen 1Z TDI, '08 Audi Avant Quattro 6spd BHW TDI

[joetiger]

Thanks!

My plates came in yesterday.

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Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell

[Captain Pike]

Quite SHARP! Sir. Outstanding rebirth.
Now put a pumpkin hob globlin engine in it....
.........From a better vanished time.......
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
....Bad Sneakers....

[joetiger]

[joetiger]

[joetiger]

A few updates since it's been a while.

The power mirrors work! I had a couple of broken wires from the harness going into the door and some very dirty contacts behind the mirrors.

(They don't work well, mind you, but they work.)

I had that godawful steering wheel clunk due to the worn plastic column/bearing bushing. Major thanks to the Samba archives for help on this--I've had six vans and this is the first time I've done it. I had no idea this bushing existed.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=377259&highlight=steering++clunk++column

The flimsy and frustrating replacement. There are metal ones available as well--in hindsight I probably should have gotten one of those instead.

Swapped the ignition switch while I was in there.

It took me a minute to figure out that the bottom section of the column needs to be clamped (I used two vice grips) to get enough counterforce to slide everything back together. A bit of a wrestling match.

Next, I lucked upon a fella in Aspen selling a Vintage Speed exhaust elbow pipe on Fbook for a very fair price.

I had to pull out the death wheel for the rusted exhaust bolts.

Installed, a nice, clean fit. But as with most all of my Vanagon work, there were complications: I shifted things enough that a broken exhaust stud is causing a little ticking leak that wasn't there with the original pipes. It's not affecting anything at this point, but it's annoying. Gotta get that fixed.

I also replaced the shifter ball & cup at the trans with the billet stuff from Van Cafe. Shifting is far more precise. However, what was a ten minute job on the Syncro was another wrestling match here. That pin in the cup/shaft would NOT come out at first. It's strange how an easy job on one van is the opposite on another.

The biggest news is that the following upgrades were installed with help from our friends at Midtown Automotive:

Powerflex:
trans mount
Radius Rod bushings
LCA bushings

T3 Technique:
Upper & Lower ball joints

Also new front wheel bearings.

I took it to Midtown because A) I'm retired from lower ball joints and B) I had a bad feeling about the radius rods. The rubber bushings that were in there weren't even VW, just some thick o-rings from wherever.

Scotty and his team had to cut out/weld in new metal in the unibody due to boring of the radius rod holes. (bad pic but you get the gist.)

I drove it out west to breakfast Sunday and it is absolutely planted on the highway. Even with heavy crosswinds, I have never driven a Vanagon that is so stuck to the road. Very happy with the upgrades!

...but with my younger daughter headed back from school this week for Xmas break, I had to take a Vanagon break for clutch, LCA's, and struts on the GTI. Sometimes it's fun to work on something different and for a better cause.

I've still got a long, long list of stuff to do on the red van, but it handles like a rectangular McClaren now.
_________________
Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell

[dobryan]

Awesome work!

Ready for Syncro Solstice in RED!
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2010 Subaru EJ25 (Vanaru) and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[joetiger]

A few more little things.

Finally found a plastic heater cover for next-to-nothing. I know it's not a big thing, but I like it for completeness and to protect the valve from shifting cargo.

My table was missing the T-molding. Instead of spending $30 on oem-equivalent, I spent $10 on amazon.

Snug fit with a few staples added.

It's not very robust, but it fits and the backing adhesive was nice and sticky. It looks much better, anyway.

While Mansi's FI kit is planned for the future, I wanted to try the performance chip from Techtonics. I followed the instructions of Mr. PhishMan and Mr. Baldwin.


Link



Link


Still amazed by how clean most areas of this van are.

Feels silly putting a Techtonics sticker on a Vanagon, but hey, it's accurate.

After getting it all back together and driving it around all day, my thoughts are in line with what others have said:

Is it placebo? Possibly, but it seems to idle better and has slightly better throttle response. I can really feel it above 3000 RPM, like when in 3rd but not quite ready to shift to 4th, if I put my foot in it, it has more power than before. I'm pleased.

Between tuning it up with good parts, new injectors, the better exhaust collector pipe, the chip, and zero extra weight, this is a peppy van.

I also removed the throttle body and cleaned the gunk out of it, and cleaned the contacts on the position switch. That and idle screw adjustment have settled the idle down slightly, from steady 1400 to 1200 RPM.

I still need to time it, but found out yesterday that at some point in the last 20 years, mice feasted on my timing light's cables.

In any case, just enjoying the ever-loving shit out of driving this van and making improvements here and there.
_________________
Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell

[do.dah]

Regarding your rear heater shroud, does it have the piece that goes under the air outlet cut out, or did you install the shroud, then put the rear seat back in?

I've had to remove that shroud a coupla times over the yrs, and about the 3rd time, I cut the section out that goes under the air outlet, so I don't hafta remove anything besides the screws that hold that shroud on.

Of course, since I've done that, I've had no reason to get to the heater/blower...

[joetiger]

[joetiger]

I haven't had a lot of time to work on the red van, but that's changing.

I gave my daughter the '04 GTI, so now my mom's old rig, Bubbles the Beetle, is back in my possession. Linds has had it for six years and it still only has 80k miles. It will sit there until I have time to fix the brake lights, a suspension noise, and broken plastic all over the interior (third time on the broken plastic replacement, at least three times on the brake light switch.)

I find myself once again--years later--muttering, "what the hell am I gonna do with a New Beetle?"

I finally gave Linds her own Vanagon Pilot lessons:

"This is so much easier to drive than a GTI."

I sold my F-150 to my company, so the red van shall now become my dry-weather daily driver. It's running great with Mansi 1.35 rockers added recently, but I feel like I have a ways to go before it's a dependable every day rig.

Small thing: a new upgraded fan resistor, compliments of a Syncro Solstice buddy.

I started fiddling with the AC. It's complete, not working, but I'm committed to making it work. I'll update that latest AC thread with my findings.

I need to replace some coolant pipes/hoses, reseal the fuel tank, and a bunch of other maintenance stuff. I'm not ready to take care of all the little dents, but I am going to repaint the bumpers and maybe the roof.

I'd like new Schwenk Carat springs and Mansi FI kit.

Plenty to do. AC first.
_________________
Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell

[Abscate]

I daily drive my 1.8T NBC as it’s great on gas and a blast to drive. Like you, only 75k miles so it’s not got a lot of nasty stuff gone yet.

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🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🍊 🍊 🍊

[joetiger]

I've done a few little things to the red van recently. I'm moving forward with making it a daily driver and occasional overnight camper.

Curtains, as mentioned in the OMAC curtains thread. Happy with how these turned out.

Found a cheapo fridge on Amazon that checks all the boxes:

-34 quarts, perfect dimensions for behind the seat.
-Lid opens the on the correct side and the power port and control panel are towards the interior.

Used Rampage center console for Jeeps:

-Lots of storage and cup holders and pretty conservative looking--it matches better than some of the overly-curvy plastic ones I've seen.

-Narrow enough that the e-brake and passenger rotating seat aren't interfered with.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000V9FWSU?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Because I added a fridge, I put together a bare bones dual battery setup. Pay no mind to the antique 44AH Duracell battery; it's a placeholder.

I lined the base with sound deadener, insulation, and some leftover subwoofer carpet. I used a cheaper Amazon isolator and a couple of inline fuses at the batteries.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D4M6QP2D?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Running the interior lights, stereo, 12v outlet from the #3 fuse as well as the subwoofer and fridge. Works fine so far.

I did the 1000 mile valve adjustment on the Mansi ratio rockers as directed, then decided to install the GoWesty Alternator bracket.

I removed the alt and the original bracket and found this mess.

I looked at that plastic flange sideways and it spewed coolant. So, awaiting parts from Van Cafe. I'll replace that flange with the metal version and replace the thermostat to oil cooler pipe, which is in bad shape, since I have the system open.

Better to find this in my driveway than "out there" somewhere.
_________________
Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell

[4Gears4Tires]

Great progress. That is a really nicely sized fridge. I also like how it's pretty even with the base of the passenger seat. I'm consistently annoyed at the size of my fridge, it's taller and wider and I never really fill it to the brim anyway.
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'87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition

[dobryan]

[sanchius]

This is really turning out beautiful, Joe.

I usually prefer smoked front turn signal lenses to the OEM yellow and whipped up this pic to show how sophisticated your van would appear with smoked lenses.

But in this case, it actually becomes quite boring and takes away of the fun and unexpectedly bold energy of a clean Tornado red van. IMHO, the clashy bright yellow of the current front turn signals nicely increases the euro-drama of the front-end and keeps it from being too sedate.

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The Syncro years (2005-16) - The 2WD years (2017-23) - In Hoosierland (2023-now)
Westy & WBX rebuild spreadsheet - Sanchius & Tuna: The Video
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[joetiger]

Thanks for the mock-up! I've looked at the smoked lenses but agree that the orange works.

Regarding the fridge, I could have left the right side handle off and it would sit even more flush with the B-pillar, but that would completely obscure the vent on the drivers side front so it's offset a bit.

Now I'm waiting for parts. I drove the Syncro to work today, still with its campground emergency supercharger repair. I gotta get that apart when I have the red van going again.
_________________
Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell

[69tr6r]

Is there a link for the fridge?

Thanks!

[joetiger]

[Captain Pike]

I scalped mine. 3 coats of marine grade fiberglass epoxy. Rated for 5 years salt emersion. Turned it sorta yellow tho......

Yes, those are indeed Vanagon seats in the 181.
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
....Bad Sneakers....