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Phishman068
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2007
Posts: 1834
Location: Pittsburgh PA (ish)
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 Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2013 8:20 pm Post subject: Orphaned '87 Automatic Bus |
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Well, I adopted another orphan.
I purchased a syncro ( http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569774 ) and as part of a package deal, essentially got a free 2wd automatic '87. Well, upon further inspection, the '87 2wd is actually the gem of the pair! It's got about 80,000 miles on it, a VERY clean interior, Zero seam rust, One serious dent (Pass side front wheel fender)(which will be repaired and hidden below a bedliner line), and a shockingly clean underside.
I got it running with just a fuel pump, but the exhaust was totally shot. The water pump was seized as well, so I couldn't run it much..... but she wants to run! So i've decided to keep her and make her my winter driver while rebuilding the syncro, and possibly keeping her around as a city bus.
The engine was in "ehh" shape. I got it running but it has problems. So it's out. Before it came out though....
Pretty good bus.
Anyway, Since it needs an exhaust, a water pump, and a bunch of stuff, I pulled the engine. I pulled the trans with it to deal with coating the trans to prevent further corrosion.
A little Simple green and a bit of elbow greese, and.....
It came with an entire fuel injection system for a 90s Range Rover, if anyone needs it please contact me! BEST OFFER!!!!
In PA, this is CLEAN.....
Engine is OUT!
Plan is to replace the exhaust, rebuild the heads, and find replacements for the metal coolant pipes on the engine, the intake runners, and whatever else is rusty (anyone have any donations or parts for sale? Message me directly)
Simple Green and a Scotchbrite pad does wonders....
The whole engine is looking sharp now!
MORE TO COME!
_________________
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=559766&highlight=winter+rust
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482402&highlight=sunroof+syncro
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569774
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6864936#6864936
"Along with the ability to go fast, one looses the desire to hurry." |
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JudoJeff
Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2013
Posts: 1179
Location: Near Springfield, MA
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| Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2013 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Congrats! Looks great! |
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Syncroincity
Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2007
Posts: 1557
Location: New York City
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| Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2013 8:39 pm Post subject: Re: Orphaned '87 Automatic Bus |
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| Phishman068 wrote: |
| In PA, this is CLEAN..... |
Boy, you said it... that's nothing short of amazing. I'm from Pittsburgh originally, I know the evil of which you speak. 
_________________
'86 Syncro CHC Top AAZ Turbodiesel
'04 Passat Variant 4Mo 5MT
Vanagon Build: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=466866&highlight= |
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61Scout
Samba Member
Joined: November 06, 2011
Posts: 1297
Location: Shoreline/Yakima WA
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djkeev 
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 31979
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Phishman068
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2007
Posts: 1834
Location: Pittsburgh PA (ish)
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Phishman068
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2007
Posts: 1834
Location: Pittsburgh PA (ish)
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| Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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The exhaust has been removed and the heads off!
The exhaust was in terrible shape. The pipes themsevles were thick and the rear pipe even had great flanges at the heads but was rotted at the collector. Odd.
Here is an example of the odd failure of this exhaust.
I got everything off except one stud was broken off in the head. : /
I finally got it out by welding a nut to the end of it and then heating it up thoroughly and pulling it out. I think the threads came with it, but a thread insert should be fine.
The heads look to be in very good shape. No pitting, no cracks between valves, and the valves hold laquor thinner well. All Pushrods are straight.
I hope to just clean things up and slap it back together.
The transmission is looking sharp as well. Every auto trans i've ever seen has had big rust issues, so I've chosen to clean this baby up and coat it to prevent some further corrosion. I spent some time brushing it with simple green and it's looking okay.
I then proceeded to brush the cast iron portion with SEM Rust mort effectively neutralizing the rust and building a good base for the coating I will give it. The game plan is to blast the whole assembly (including the aluminum portion) with a high zinc primer and then a coat of flat black paint.
I'm not so sure I like the decision to go flat black, but we shall see.
Even if it flakes off in a year, the portions covered will be protected. Thats what matters in this climate!~
The crap on our roads in the winter will eat any exposed metal in short order.
_________________
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=559766&highlight=winter+rust
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482402&highlight=sunroof+syncro
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569774
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6864936#6864936
"Along with the ability to go fast, one looses the desire to hurry." |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 31979
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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minsk
Samba Member
Joined: March 17, 2008
Posts: 899
Location: pittsburgh
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Phishman068
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2007
Posts: 1834
Location: Pittsburgh PA (ish)
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 31979
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Phishman068
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2007
Posts: 1834
Location: Pittsburgh PA (ish)
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Phishman068
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2007
Posts: 1834
Location: Pittsburgh PA (ish)
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Phishman068
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2007
Posts: 1834
Location: Pittsburgh PA (ish)
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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Dragged home this crusty beast. 260,000 miles...but was running and driving well, so I guess this is my best candidate for now.
Cleaned it up quite a bit and got the heads off. The heads were not so friendly to pull off but with the help of a large hammer and some ATF in the cylinders, I got them off. I did break off one tang from one of the jugs, but I was able to extract it so it's not in the engine. : /
No noticable play in the pistons, no evidence of a burnt piston or pistons hitting the heads, so it should be good (I guess??)
The heads aren't in great shape. They'd probably run fine but there are cracks between the valves. I plan to install the heads from the original engine onto this engine, bolt it all together, and get this sucker moving!
Sadly this engine came out of a manual trans van, so i'll have to set the endplay to an automatic. At this point I guess i'll have to change the front (rear?) main seal at the same time right?
Any suggestion on what main seal to use? Is the one in the gasket kit sufficient or do I need to source a different one?
Any tips?
_________________
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=559766&highlight=winter+rust
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482402&highlight=sunroof+syncro
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569774
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6864936#6864936
"Along with the ability to go fast, one looses the desire to hurry." |
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ajdenette
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2009
Posts: 768
Location: Hope Valley RI
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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I have heard it suggested that GoWesty has a seal that will last and the ones that come in the kit are prone to quick failure, rather than having to pull the engine for a flywheel seal I figured it easier to get the expensive seal now than the headache later. I thought in the past people have found other sources for the good gasket and searching might find you that.
_________________
1985 2wd Westy with 2000 Subaru 2.2 current driver
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=685635
1986 Syncro Doka Project next in line
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=732777
1990 Vanagon Syncro Base awaiting body work |
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Gruppe B
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2007
Posts: 1330
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I read here somewhere that the best mainseal is the Sabo model from Gowesty. The kit Victor Reinz mainseal was considered to be very inferior. |
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Phishman068
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2007
Posts: 1834
Location: Pittsburgh PA (ish)
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Gruppe B
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2007
Posts: 1330
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Phishman068
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2007
Posts: 1834
Location: Pittsburgh PA (ish)
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funagon
Samba Member
Joined: March 09, 2006
Posts: 1307
Location: SLC, UT
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| Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Phishman068 wrote: |
Have you used the seal from the gasket kit and not had leaking problems?
Thanks! |
I've used the victor reinz seal on two engines with no problem, no leaking.
Somewhere on the samba tencent described how the flywheel part that contacts the seal should not have any groove worn in it. If it does, it may leak no matter what seal you use.
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1990 GL 7-passenger
2.2 liter WBX |
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