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outwesty
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2006
Posts: 1074
Location: Tahoe City
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 Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 6:19 pm Post subject: The Zincro Build |
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We love a good build thread so I thought we would add our most recent project going on in the shop. We are a Westfalia rental shop in Santa Cruz with 7 Vanagon full campers. Maintaining and running the rental fleet keeps us plenty busy so the updates on this for fun project may be infrequent. The goal is to have this at syncrofest in May.
We picked this up as an abandoned project. It was a syncro westy shell with no doors, drivetrain, or anything at all really. The body was rust free but it had its share of dents and dings. The shell was epoxy primed and the undercarriage was brushed with POR-15 before we acquired it. This POR did not adhere and was pulling off in sheets. POR15 bonds to rust and rough metal but I've never been a fan of it. If there's rust, cut it out and weld in new end of story. It has no place on nice clean metal / finish no matter how it's prepped IMHO. Lets not turn this in to a POR15 debate. Some people love it. You still can. We removed all of it with compressed air and razor blades. We then shot the undercarriage with 8 bottles of 3M body schutz (over epoxy primer) after brushing all of the seams with sealer. It's pretty bomber. This will see a lot of winter driving so keeping things corrosion free was my biggest concern.
undercarriage after first coat of Schutz
I had a syncro tin top VR6 stored back in Michigan I acquired years ago that had a usable drivetrain but was beyond repair rust wise. I had it shipped to Santa Cruz and dismantled it a few months ago so we had just about everything to get this project underway. I brought the all of the suspension parts, sub-frame, etc to a Zinc plater over the hill, and then sent it for high gloss clear powder afterwards. The trailing arms and front subframe will be satin black powdered to break up the zinc look a little.
I drove an AHU Tdi westy for 7 years and enjoyed it so this will get the slightly more modern and tunable ALH. We bought an extremely clean rear end hit 2003 Golf from Co-part and pulled the engine and harness a month ago.
Plans
ALH TDI Engine using the foreign Auto supply kit.
Custom built interior cabinetry.
Mercedes G Wagen factory gray plaid interior upholstery
Recaro LXF armrest captains chairs
1.14 3rd 0.75 4th syncro trans w/o decoupler by Rancho transaxle
Diesel cook top with heater (one fuel, no propane on this one)
Interior:
The stock westfalia interior really is pretty great as it is. I actually bought a complete gray westy interior for this but after having spent over 700 nights in a westy there were a few things I've always wanted to change to make it a little better / spacious. Here's a prototype we've been working on for another van. The kitchen for this van will be a little more slim than this one.
Exterior:
The goal here is to keep this thing light so you won't see anything too fancy besides the paint and stance. These things are a lot more fun when they are not loaded down. Still deciding on the color and may paint the roof body color now. Porsche 356 stone gray is on the top of the list. More creamy than gray.
Stay tuned
Last edited by outwesty on Fri Oct 05, 2018 8:55 am; edited 4 times in total |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16501
Location: Brookeville, MD
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16CVs 
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2004
Posts: 4024
Location: Redwood City, California
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| Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 7:21 pm Post subject: Re: The Zincro Build |
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$10 bucks says that 50% of that build will be 2 weeks before Syncrofest. That's 212 days Dave. You and Ben better get to work.
Stacy
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread. |
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syncrodoka
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12005
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 9:18 pm Post subject: Re: The Zincro Build |
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YES!! I love seeing a big project car getting built up!  |
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izzydog
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 665
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| Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 11:38 pm Post subject: Re: The Zincro Build |
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| ZincroFest! |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50336
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 4:16 am Post subject: Re: The Zincro Build |
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If you want people to actually see your images, post them here in the gallery.  |
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Jake de Villiers
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5911
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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sethpat
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2017
Posts: 134
Location: Orlando
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 8:10 am Post subject: Re: The Zincro Build |
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Just curious, how much did it cost to have those parts zinc plated? I usually have my stuff powder coated but would definitely consider this route if it isn't that much more.
_________________
Unnamed 1986 Syncro
Frankenbus (sold)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=674133&highlight=
1975 Westfalia
914 IV 1.7
93mm pistons
Weber 34 ICT's
Cam 264* .402 lift |
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outwesty
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2006
Posts: 1074
Location: Tahoe City
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 8:51 am Post subject: Re: The Zincro Build |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| If you want people to actually see your images, post them here in the gallery. |
I just switched all of them to the gallery. I wasn't aware people couldn't see the photobucket ones. Thanks ! |
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outwesty
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2006
Posts: 1074
Location: Tahoe City
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 8:53 am Post subject: Re: The Zincro Build |
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| 16CVs wrote: |
$10 bucks says that 50% of that build will be 2 weeks before Syncrofest. That's 212 days Dave. You and Ben better get to work.
Stacy |
Haha You're on Stacy ! |
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outwesty
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2006
Posts: 1074
Location: Tahoe City
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 8:59 am Post subject: Re: The Zincro Build |
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| sethpat wrote: |
| Just curious, how much did it cost to have those parts zinc plated? I usually have my stuff powder coated but would definitely consider this route if it isn't that much more. |
The Zinc won't stay shiny if it isn't cleared over. You're looking at around $1500 to have it zinc'd and clear powdered....but it should last forever. |
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SCM
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011
Posts: 3114
Location: Bozeman MT
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 9:15 am Post subject: Re: The Zincro Build |
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Nice! I look forward to updates.
I'm glad that you're trying to keep it light. That's a refreshing change from the overload - er, I mean overland look that's so prevalent. Other than NOT putting a bunch of extra weight on the van, do you have any ideas for things that would trim existing weight off?
_________________
'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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outwesty
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2006
Posts: 1074
Location: Tahoe City
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 9:59 am Post subject: Re: The Zincro Build |
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| SCM wrote: |
Nice! I look forward to updates.
I'm glad that you're trying to keep it light. That's a refreshing change from the overload - er, I mean overland look that's so prevalent. Other than NOT putting a bunch of extra weight on the van, do you have any ideas for things that would trim existing weight off? |
Thank You. Bozeman! What a great place to live. I worked at Big Sky and up on the highline hacking down wheat before settling here.
We're doing away with the stock A/C system and adding in dash so that will drop a few lbs of up high weight in the back. We are also using a rectangular water tank that will keep the center of gravity a little lower on the cabinet side. I'm still researching materials to use for cabinetry. The goal is to keep them the same or less than the stock ones. The stock ones really are not that heavy so that may be difficult with all of the drawers, etc on the new ones. I have 5 CLK's that I got new from the dealer years ago so those will help with unsprung weight. I love the early metal bumper look so we will be powdering a set of the thicker 2.3mm aftermarket ones for it. There's some other small things like deleting the rear wiper etc. Take Care. |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32574
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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outwesty
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2006
Posts: 1074
Location: Tahoe City
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 10:25 am Post subject: Re: The Zincro Build |
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| djkeev wrote: |
Looks great!
Keep updating us as you progress.
Yeah ......... photobucket is worthless ....
Coating the stub axles with zinc and clear changes their diameter and I wonder how the bearings and hubs will deal with that size increase?
Dave |
We wondered that too but it hasn't been an issue. It's only about .0005 If anything it helps on the rear hubs as that bearing fit is not usually very snug anyway. |
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Steve Arndt
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2005
Posts: 1780
Location: Boise, Idaho
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 12:31 pm Post subject: Re: The Zincro Build |
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Very cool project I'll be checking for updates.
_________________
Steve
Steve's 87 Syncro project |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16501
Location: Brookeville, MD
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240Gordy
Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2008
Posts: 2354
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 3:55 pm Post subject: Re: The Zincro Build |
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Cool
_________________
Tencentlife said,
"So, now that you know what you're doing, go to town."
2010 GOLF TRENDLINE 2.5
1985 GL now with more! a 2.1L
H&R SPORT(RED) Springs FRONT , SLAM SPECIALTIES RE6 AIRBAGS REAR |
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scottbott
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2010
Posts: 83
Location: essex,uk
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| Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 7:18 am Post subject: Re: The Zincro Build |
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| this should be very interesting to watch, looks brilliant |
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sethpat
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2017
Posts: 134
Location: Orlando
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| Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 4:44 pm Post subject: Re: The Zincro Build |
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| outwesty wrote: |
| sethpat wrote: |
| Just curious, how much did it cost to have those parts zinc plated? I usually have my stuff powder coated but would definitely consider this route if it isn't that much more. |
The Zinc won't stay shiny if it isn't cleared over. You're looking at around $1500 to have it zinc'd and clear powdered....but it should last forever. |
Good to know, thanks! It’s looking awesome, great work so far. I’m really looking forward to seeing this thing built up. Hopefully see you at syncrofest!
Seth
_________________
Unnamed 1986 Syncro
Frankenbus (sold)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=674133&highlight=
1975 Westfalia
914 IV 1.7
93mm pistons
Weber 34 ICT's
Cam 264* .402 lift |
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