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Left for Dead...The Resurrection Story....(AWD EE-20)
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0cean
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:11 am    Post subject: Left for Dead...The Resurrection Story....(AWD EE-20) Reply with quote

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. Twisted Evil

There will be blood…and not at the very end, like the movie.
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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
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 1:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bring it!
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Sold: 1985 Transporter Doka,1978 Westfalia, 1975 bay x 2, 1986 syncro vanagon, 1965 beetle, 1980 vanagon, 1967 deluxe bus, 1988 golf
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danfromsyr
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 7:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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dobryan
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 7:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great attitude. Sounds like fun! Very Happy
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794
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?Waldo?
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 8:18 am    Post subject: Re: Left for Dead...The Resurrection Story.... Reply with quote

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.

Quote:
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.

Quote:
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
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 8:31 am    Post subject: Re: Left for Dead...The Resurrection Story.... Reply with quote

0cean wrote:

7. 5 or 6 speed transmission (No need for a Granny gear, so you know I’m going Suba-gears)


I'm not a rock crawler either, but I would never give up my granny gear! Very useful feature in many conditions.
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Abelabelabel
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 9:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

danfromsyr wrote:
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ditto.
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mrshrimp
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 9:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 9:33 am    Post subject: Re: Left for Dead...The Resurrection Story.... Reply with quote

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.

Quote:
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.
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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?
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 10:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 11:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Damn you. I...am...still...resisting...conversion...must...have...syncro...before...I....die....
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djkeev
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is this the Syncro you purchased???

If so, may the God's be easy upon your efforts!!

You are one optimistic dude!

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Dave
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SyncroChrick
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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?
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 1:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 1:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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msinabottle
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 10:58 pm    Post subject: DO IT! Reply with quote

Get Grim. Get Tough. Get to Work.


Link


Get glory.

Best!
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rmcd
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 11:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

everyone starts somewhere. givem hell. look forward to the pictures.
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0cean
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 3:05 pm    Post subject: Re: DO IT! Reply with quote

msinabottle wrote:
Get Grim. Get Tough. Get to Work.


Link


Get glory.

Best!



Lol.. Nice
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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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Syncroincity
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 7:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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