'86 Weekender Purchase Advice

[ledogboy]

I hate to do this, as I imagine a "what do you think it's worth" post is just about the most irritating first post imaginable, but here goes:

I sold my old '87 tiptop (here on The Samba) about five years ago or so, and have always regretted it. My wife and I do a lot of hiking and backpacking, and we loved heading towards a trailhead after work, arriving late at night, and being able to crash on the bed and hit the trail first thing in the AM.

So I have been keeping my eye out for a van for awhile (with the lady's permission). Budget is a major factor, but I enjoy tinkering, and have a buddy who is a mechanic and is happy to trade me wrenching time for time in my recording studio- so something that needs work is a-ok. My ideal vehicle is a Weekender (I'm not interested in the stove/fridge), though obviously they are significantly more expensive than tintops.

An old friend of mine has an '86 Weekender that has been sitting for about four years. He parked it after a trip where he had to have an emergency repair on the exhaust, and was having issues shifting from 3rd to 4th. The engine was running ok, but is original with 170,000 miles, so is likely to need help soon.

We went to visit the van today. The top is filthy, but there are no cracks, so I think with a major cleaning and some paint it would be solid. There are no leaks in either the poptop or skylight. The tent is a solid, original one window. The van has pock marks of rust, but only very, very minimal seam rust. The wheel wells and under the rubber step were solid as was the undercarriage. The one worrisome rust spot was in the lower corner of the passenger side of the windshield where there is a spot that will require immediate attention. around the gaskets of the rest of the windows looked solid.

The interior is the brown corduroy, and is in the shape you would expect. Other than the upholstery, the interior is is good shape (table, carpets, cupholders all clean and correct).

The engine compartment looked a lot cleaner than on my old '87, and I believe the vehicle was pretty well maintained until it's issues and a lack of funds left it in a four year slumber.

So, I'm trying to figure out what/if I should offer for this thing. I know the adage that a cheap van can be the most expensive van, but again, I'm excited to have something to work on. I figure the bare minimum it will need immediately is:

-New exhaust
-New Tires
-Drop tank for inspection/replacement
-Replace fuel lines
-I am going on the assumption it will need the manual transmission rebuilt.
-Rust remediation around windshield
-and of course, an engine might not be far behind

It seems like finding a reasonably priced Weekender to spruce up is getting to be harder, so I am pretty tempted to work something out here. We are old friends, so I want to come up with something that would be fair to both of us. If anyone has any input as to value, it would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers,
Ryan

[randywebb]

all new plastic to replace the crumbly "Chinese Drywall" brown plastic in an '86
(don't ask me how I know)
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

[JudoJeff]

Under $5,000. Going to take a lot to get it into shape.

$3,000 is what I'd pay myself.

Good luck.

[dhaavers]

If he's a real friend, have him check hot oil pressure & compression or leakdown before you even talk money.

You have a tranny ready to granade due to 3-4 slider failure; if it pops on you, you lose another $500 core value.

The engine is already past the point that many start to stretch rod bolts & granade. Hot OP at idle is the best clue to this.

Details now; talk money later.
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[ledogboy]

Hmm... many thanks for the responses!

[PDXWesty]

A lot has to do with what your expectations are for the van. Do you want to return it to "as new" condition? Or are you ok with the rust marks and faded paint knowing you're having fun inside the van. If you aren't one who needs to fully restore the van, then the cosmetics won't cost you a lot of money. More can be spent on mechanics. Everyone freaks out about rust, which will eventually be a big problem, but you could easily get 10+ years down the road and not have to worry about it. If you have to have a cherry van in the end, then you will spend a lot of money. If function is your main concern, then you can get by and let it be for a lot less.

I would think somewhere in the $3k area would be a good deal for a pop top van with unknown mechanical conditions.
_________________
89 Westy 2.1 Auto

[ledogboy]

[djkeev]

[ledogboy]

Dave!
Your '86 rebuild thread has been a hoot for me to read, and is one of the many Samba threads that inspired my rust checking today....

[djkeev]

[randywebb]

I traced my Van's ownership, and it has always been in oregon, so can't have had much SW sun.

OTOH, it has no rust.
_________________
1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

[djkeev]

I lived in Oregon for 10 years...... Maybe it is rotting from too much moisture and too little Sun!

Dave
_________________
Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[ledogboy]

Welp-
We were able to come out to a very fair agreement that involved partial trade, so I am now the happy owner of an '86 Westy Weekender! I have a buddy who is going to help me with the transmission when he gets back into town in the middle of December. I am hoping to head down to the storage unit to take care of some of the basic stuff- cleaning, fuel lines, upholstery, etc in the meantime.

Thanks for all the advice! I'll snap some shots when I can...
_________________
1986 Westy Weekender
Now a full camper
1.8t Syncro conversion
Some people call him Maurice...

[Uncle Lon]

I just brought home an '86 Weekender as well. I flew out to Flagstaff for it and drove it home, so it obviously wasn't in too bad shape. Leaking water pump, bad battery and lots of 'deferred maintenance' items. NO rust, NO major body damage. Still, I'm into it for almost 4 grand before I even begin restoration, which I figger will cost at least another $6K to $8K, and that's if the engine is as good as I think.

I have a pretty high standard for my Westies, but still call them 'functional restorations' and don't expect any to win Best of Show at Pebble Beach. However, there are just LOTS of things which seem little but which are expensive to fix. (They have a framed photo of me, over at Bus Depot and GoWesty both, with the caption, 'Our Financial Future'.) For example, I've seen a bunch of vans which are touted to be 'original and perfect'. But remember that anything from 1986 is now 27 years old - and so are all the rubber and plastic components. 'Great' seats have 27 year-old rubber foundations, there are plastic gizmos and parts in the gauges, etc. The thing about Vanagons that is so confusing and misleading at times is that they can have about everything worn out, missing or fixing to crater, and STILL they start, run and drive pretty good. But as is proved every day, especially on this forum, you can rebuild a good Westy and it will pay you back in miles and smiles, both.

Uncle Lon
https://www.facebook.com/unclelonswesties