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0cean Samba Member
Joined: February 29, 2012 Posts: 1149 Location: California
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:11 am Post subject: Left for Dead...The Resurrection Story....(AWD EE-20) |
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Well, after a little over two years of parts gathering and planning I’m finally starting my build thread. It all started with Syncro lust for driving deeper into Baja for surf trips. Then it became a fixation when I saw a burnt syncro for sale and thought, Hummm…. I could convert my 2wd. Yeah… you know you have problem when that becomes a plausible reality. Anyways, I bought it and it was the start of this chain reaction.
Here are my goals for the build.
1. Must travel in sand and messed up roads in come comfort. ( I’m not a rock crawler guy, more of a freeway and sand driver)
2. Good gas mileage. (This is a problem)
3. No rust because I don’t want to do this again.
4. Security because Mexico is well… Mexico
5. Modern comfort features.
6. Middle seat so my friends don’t feel like I put them in the back of the bus and ostracized them.
7. 5 or 6 speed transmission (No need for a Granny gear, so you know I’m going Suba-gears)
I had a choice to buy a SUV or build one, I choose to build one and this will be my daily driver. The money that would have gone to Toyota or Subaru is now going to a 27 year old van. What could go wrong?
Disclaimers:
Just a warning, this will get really bad before it gets good. I mean really bad!
I’m not a mechanic or a welder and have no formal training other then YouTube.
If I don’t respond to a comment/question, please don’t take offense, it’s only because I have a lot going on.
This is all Samba’s fault and you’re are a bad influence.
There will be blood…and not at the very end, like the movie. _________________ I'm not a mechanic, I just play one on the internet
Cluster Rebuild:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569920&highlight=
Left for Dead the Resurrection Story Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=613669
(Number of Different Donor VW Vans Body Parts Used: 12)
(Number of completely different vehicles parts used: 3) |
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junichi Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2005 Posts: 749 Location: brentwood bay, bc
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15144 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 7:17 am Post subject: |
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_________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16504 Location: Brookeville, MD
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 8:18 am Post subject: Re: Left for Dead...The Resurrection Story.... |
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0cean wrote: |
2. Good gas mileage. (This is a problem) |
You may want to consider a TDI. High 20's or low 30's are easily achievable.
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4. Security because Mexico is well… Mexico |
If security is a concern then the pop top is out. A high top would serve much better in that regard.
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6. Middle seat so my friends don’t feel like I put them in the back of the bus and ostracized them. |
You might consider one or two rear facing jump seats. I think they do a better job of maintaining a nice interior space than the middle bench. |
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photogdave Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2004 Posts: 3053 Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
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Abelabelabel Samba Member
Joined: November 17, 2014 Posts: 336 Location: Santa Ana, CA
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 9:24 am Post subject: |
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ditto. _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL / Carat Interior / Auto - White "Daily"
1990 Vanagon Carat / manual / Cherry Red "Bella Rouge" |
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mrshrimp Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2013 Posts: 373 Location: Portland
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 9:30 am Post subject: |
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You need a granny gear. You really dont want to be getting stuck in the sand. You may not think you need one now, but when you start to start to meet other Syncro owners in the community who are going on excursions, you will want the option to go with. Get the granny gear and the rear locker, you wont regret it. |
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0cean Samba Member
Joined: February 29, 2012 Posts: 1149 Location: California
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 9:33 am Post subject: Re: Left for Dead...The Resurrection Story.... |
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0cean wrote: |
2. Good gas mileage. (This is a problem) |
You may want to consider a TDI. High 20's or low 30's are easily achievable.
A: Really want a TDI, but I am waiting to see what will be offered in the future before the dive train decision is made. Allot of exciting options are being developed at the moment by others.
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4. Security because Mexico is well… Mexico |
If security is a concern then the pop top is out. A high top would serve much better in that regard.
A: Not really a high top guy, but I did think about it. It would be too hard to drive as a daily driver for my taste. Wish I had the room to stand up though, that would be nice. _________________ I'm not a mechanic, I just play one on the internet
Cluster Rebuild:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569920&highlight=
Left for Dead the Resurrection Story Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=613669
(Number of Different Donor VW Vans Body Parts Used: 12)
(Number of completely different vehicles parts used: 3) |
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 10:05 am Post subject: |
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To each their own regarding high tops. That said, the daily driver comment makes no sense at all to me. I've used a tin top, pop top and high top at different times as a daily driver and I have observed absolutely no downside whatsoever in using the high top vs pop top or tin top. None. If anything, the high top is the easiest of all three with the advantage of being able to stand up and walk around inside more easily. |
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tarandusVDub Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2010 Posts: 1649 Location: Between Here and There
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 11:50 am Post subject: |
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Damn you. I...am...still...resisting...conversion...must...have...syncro...before...I....die.... _________________ 1990 Syncro 16" DoppleKabine 2.1 DJ 112i
________________________
Sold: 1972 Bay Campmobile; 1984 Westy, base model, 2WD. |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32625 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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SyncroChrick Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2005 Posts: 1010 Location: San Francisco, CA
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:20 pm Post subject: |
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Andrew A. Libby wrote: |
To each their own regarding high tops. That said, the daily driver comment makes no sense at all to me. I've used a tin top, pop top and high top at different times as a daily driver and I have observed absolutely no downside whatsoever in using the high top vs pop top or tin top. None. If anything, the high top is the easiest of all three with the advantage of being able to stand up and walk around inside more easily. |
As a daily driver, one could argue that the tin-top is less noisy and parking in a downtown garage is generally much easier. |
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SyncroChrick Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2005 Posts: 1010 Location: San Francisco, CA
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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that looks like mine after the fire…
http://www.expeditionportal.com/images/stories/articles/CP/SyncroFarewell/Burned1.jpg
my full story here in case you missed it...
http://expeditionportal.com/a-final-farewell-to-my-best-friend/
In my case even though it looks really bad, the fire went up and not down so everything under the Syncro was still intact. I was able to get all the front diff/axle/sub-frame, transmission, vacuum, etc and plan to reuse those.
Obviously the gas tank and filler were melted but I found those easily already.
I still need to find the front dash plate tough and some wiring.
I also dismantled a way-too-rusty-to-salvage Westy Syncro last year so I have now 2 kits to install…when I find the time and the right recipient.
Really looking forward to this project! |
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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SyncroChrick wrote: |
Andrew A. Libby wrote: |
To each their own regarding high tops. That said, the daily driver comment makes no sense at all to me. I've used a tin top, pop top and high top at different times as a daily driver and I have observed absolutely no downside whatsoever in using the high top vs pop top or tin top. None. If anything, the high top is the easiest of all three with the advantage of being able to stand up and walk around inside more easily. |
As a daily driver, one could argue that the tin-top is less noisy and parking in a downtown garage is generally much easier. |
I currently own all three (pop top, tin top and high top) and so I am speaking from experience rather than imagination. A tin top is less noisy than a pop top but it is not less noisy than a high top. I do not park in parking garages regardless of which one I drive. |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15144 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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maybe we should start a charred syncro club..
last spring I bought the bottom/front end out of a burned out syncro..but there was still paint on in the front cabin. so not too hot for the front differential. plastic vent line A-ok on top.
I'm also waiting for time and a suitable donor.
maybe I'll go the Flint CCW quattro route. man that'd be great. _________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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msinabottle Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2005 Posts: 3492 Location: Denver Area, Colorado
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 10:58 pm Post subject: DO IT! |
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Get Grim. Get Tough. Get to Work.
Link
Get glory.
Best! _________________ 'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence." |
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rmcd Samba Member
Joined: October 29, 2010 Posts: 1349 Location: PNW - its a dry rain.
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0cean Samba Member
Joined: February 29, 2012 Posts: 1149 Location: California
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Syncroincity Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2007 Posts: 1557 Location: New York City
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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The standard 2-place middle seat will fit if you flip the mount rails 180-deg and park it next to the slider door. You may want to lose the left side armrest, but it does fit with a Westy kitchen installed. _________________ '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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