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smurfpike Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2010 Posts: 220 Location: Utah
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 12:45 pm Post subject: 1987 Syncro Westy Camper full restoration build w/ pictures |
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I have finally uploaded my pictures and information of my restoration build. Below is the process of the restoration.
Link to all pictures
http://s63.photobucket.com/user/smurfpike/library/1987%20Syncro%20Camper
This build started after I sold my 78 Bus Camper that my dad and I restored. It was a hard sell but didn't fit my needs as a show car anymore.
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After selling the Bay Camper I knew I had to upgrade to something that was the ultimate camper so that I would never regret selling it. After some friends convinced me that I needed a Syncro I decided to start looking for one. I ended up finding one here in the classifieds and ended up buying it over Labor Day Weekend 2013. It was a 1987 Syncro Camper.
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My girlfriend at the time now Fiancé flew to New Mexico days after purchasing our new toy. This is just after I paid for it and started our way back to Utah.
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Here are some pictures on our way home
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After arriving home it was time to start tearing it down and build it even better than new.
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[img][/img] _________________ 1965 Ottinger Tribute Overland Bus
IG @otter.the.overland.bus
FB Ottertheoverlandbus
IG Westyrestorations
FB WestyRestorations, parts and accessories
1987 Syncro "Big Red", Full restoration thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=606596
1978 Westy Camper, Full ground up restoration, restoration thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=593413
Last edited by smurfpike on Wed Sep 10, 2014 8:41 pm; edited 4 times in total |
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smurfpike Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2010 Posts: 220 Location: Utah
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Syncro Jael Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2013 Posts: 2204 Location: Utah
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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Jason, it is prettier in person than the photos!
Beautiful Syncro.
_________________ 1987 Syncro Westfalia Hightop - NAHT
Subaru EJ25 Forged Frankenmotor, Triple Knob.
Jael = (Mountain Goat) |
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SyncroBilly Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2014 Posts: 230 Location: New York
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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Nice van. Congrats |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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Love it. |
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Farfrumwork Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2008 Posts: 692 Location: Mile High
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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Very nice van.
Everything BUT a can opener (we were camping next to you at the last Syncro Solstice) _________________ sold -> '85 Wolfsburg Syncro / 'Built' DOHC EJ25 (a great machine!)
'07 Legacy spec.B, road tuned stgII
'17 4x4 Sprinter, stone grey, SMB pop-top, on 33"s
"Blood stains, speed kills - Fast cars, cheap thrills - Rich girls, fine wine - I've lost my sense, I've lost control, I've lost my mind" |
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Jon_slider Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2007 Posts: 5091 Location: Santa Cruz, Crowdifornia
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 5:47 pm Post subject: Re: (Big Red) 1987 Syncro Camper Restoration with pictures |
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Fantastic!
Just went through your album. wow!
and congrats on the betrothal
My 87 would love your spa treatment
_________________ My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco
Last edited by Jon_slider on Tue Sep 09, 2014 6:37 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Atadloco Samba Member
Joined: July 13, 2012 Posts: 254 Location: New Hampshire
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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Awesome van! Congrats! |
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BavarianWrench Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2004 Posts: 1045 Location: Oceans Edge
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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Way to earn it, your Syncro is sweet! |
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smurfpike Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2010 Posts: 220 Location: Utah
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:33 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the replies and support, it has been a lot of work and it still continues and im starting to realize that it will never end
Continuing with the teardown I took the whole interior out and all insulation in the doors and panels. I found that a few mice had made their hotel throughout the insulation.
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After the Interior was out we found that there was some rust along the seam and it continued through to the Syncro gas tank bracket.
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This was the point that I had decided that I am going to remove all the stock undercoating and take the undercarriage and fender wells down to bare metal to eliminate any rust. Might be overkill but worth it in my mind.
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New gas tank bracket and used POR-15 Marine Clean and Prep Ready to treat the metal before applying POR-15 to all of the undercarriage, wheel wells, and engine bay.
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I waited on the front wheel wells until I upgrade the whole front end. Next it was off to the paint shop for a fresh look. I kept with the original paint color code Titan Red Metallic but when it was done it had a little more orange to it and I like it better that the stock red.
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While it was at paint and body my Fiancé helped me get the interior cleaned and ready to put back together. [img] [img]
I can’t seem to find the pictures of the process of putting it all back together, but as it went back together I had removed the stock fridge and put a Propex heater in its place with a custom valve that will flow heat to the floor or towards the top through a custom vent that is placed behind the cabinet where the fridge vent is located. I also fiberglassed the A/C unit plastic to reinforce all of the plastic where it had cracked. While the windows were out I had them tined with ceramic tint to help with the heat and I added the left rear slider window from GoWesty. Then it was on to adding onboard battery charger, interior LED lights, automatic LED lights in the cabinets, and solar setup.
[img] [img]
Next section will be the front and rear suspension job _________________ 1965 Ottinger Tribute Overland Bus
IG @otter.the.overland.bus
FB Ottertheoverlandbus
IG Westyrestorations
FB WestyRestorations, parts and accessories
1987 Syncro "Big Red", Full restoration thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=606596
1978 Westy Camper, Full ground up restoration, restoration thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=593413 |
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Signalocity Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2012 Posts: 573
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 10:24 am Post subject: |
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Nice work and nice ride! |
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smurfpike Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2010 Posts: 220 Location: Utah
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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Here are more pictures of the under carriage finished
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New brake lines throughout the vehicle
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Setup for the front and rear winch power, I ran the cables through the frame channel and brought them out by the bumpers with quick connects.
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Now it was time to start the suspension restoration and grinding out the front wheel wells.
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Before grinding down to bare metal
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After grinding and application of POR-15
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Next was to sandblast all of the suspension parts
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After blasting the rear trailing arms I realized that the spring perch was rusted through and they were worse than I thought
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New perches installed
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New parts and bushings
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Suspension parts with a new coat of POR-15
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Fresh paint on other parts
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Now the fun begins of suspension assembly
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All completed and sharing with fellow Syncronauts
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[img] [img] _________________ 1965 Ottinger Tribute Overland Bus
IG @otter.the.overland.bus
FB Ottertheoverlandbus
IG Westyrestorations
FB WestyRestorations, parts and accessories
1987 Syncro "Big Red", Full restoration thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=606596
1978 Westy Camper, Full ground up restoration, restoration thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=593413 |
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costal_cat Samba Member
Joined: May 05, 2008 Posts: 137 Location: NC
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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Really nice work! I'm partial to 87 myself;-) Did you do any engine upgrades? Looks like you had the jump seat with it as well , very nice! _________________ 87 Syncro Westy
TDI Overland Parts engine conversion |
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SyncroBilly Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2014 Posts: 230 Location: New York
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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Wow man. Nice job. Love your van
Which tires are those? What size? |
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TequilaSunSet Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2012 Posts: 2109 Location: Philippines
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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SWEET SYNCRO!
This pic gives me an idea, how about building a Hovergon?
_________________ Don't harsh my mellow...
1985 Hightower Vanagon 1.8T- Gone
1972 Panel Bus- Gone
1967 Bug- Gone
1964 Euro Sunroof Bug- Gone
1969/72/63 Sunroof Bug- Gone
1975 Brazilian Bug in the Philippines 🇵🇭- New to me |
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smurfpike Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2010 Posts: 220 Location: Utah
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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costal_cat wrote: |
Really nice work! I'm partial to 87 myself;-) Did you do any engine upgrades? Looks like you had the jump seat with it as well , very nice! |
Yes it has the Tiico and I have upgraded that with the MK2 serpentine belt system and fuel rail, eventually I will do the 1.8T. I did have the jumpseat but gave it to a friend that will use it more than I will. I have a 50qt portable fridge in its place. _________________ 1965 Ottinger Tribute Overland Bus
IG @otter.the.overland.bus
FB Ottertheoverlandbus
IG Westyrestorations
FB WestyRestorations, parts and accessories
1987 Syncro "Big Red", Full restoration thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=606596
1978 Westy Camper, Full ground up restoration, restoration thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=593413 |
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smurfpike Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2010 Posts: 220 Location: Utah
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NoNameNeeded Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2014 Posts: 150 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 8:37 pm Post subject: |
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All I can say is WOW! You do amazing work sir! |
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smurfpike Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2010 Posts: 220 Location: Utah
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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TequilaSunSet wrote: |
SWEET SYNCRO!
This pic gives me an idea, how about building a Hovergon?
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Thanks, I thought the same thing it reminds me of the hover board from Back to the Future. _________________ 1965 Ottinger Tribute Overland Bus
IG @otter.the.overland.bus
FB Ottertheoverlandbus
IG Westyrestorations
FB WestyRestorations, parts and accessories
1987 Syncro "Big Red", Full restoration thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=606596
1978 Westy Camper, Full ground up restoration, restoration thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=593413 |
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madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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Sweet resto job
Any details you can share about the automatic LED lights for your cabinets? _________________ 1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD
"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali |
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