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emilie415
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2017
Posts: 10
Location: San Francisco
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 Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 10:59 am Post subject: joining The Samba - '87 Syncro |
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Howdy, folks; I'm excited to join TheSamba as an unemotional, new owner of an '87 Syncro (tin top; manual) 
First, a few pics:
It just arrived this week and I'm in the process of upgrading the cat to a Magnaflow California Catalytic Converter and new oxygen sensor in order to pass Calif. smog to get going on a new chapter of van-powered adventures 
Light backstory if anyone's interested:
* Found through CapCity Motorsports out of Columbus, Ohio. Had a great experience working with them (honest, transparent, reliable)
- 99K original miles; they did a full mechanical overhaul
- Full paint job w/ color mesh rocker guard
* Worked with them on some small "creature-comfort" customization but nothing crazy:
- Reupholstered with Sunbrella fabric (pattern: Connect Dune)
- Weekender interior added (was originally basic passenger interior)
- ARB awning
- Dometic cooler-style fridge
- Decoupled 4WD
- 2" trailer hitch
- 15" wheels & BFG A/T KO2s
- high-powered headlights
- snap-in curtain system
I look forward to becoming more active in this great & candid community (mostly getting advice at first, I'm sure), and hopefully someday I'll have learned so much from y'all that I can help contribute back into the knowledge base 
- Emilie
----
To connect the dots, earlier on in my Vanagon search, I posted this: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=674223[img][/img] |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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mtnride1
Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2011
Posts: 194
Location: la quinta, CA
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| Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 11:06 am Post subject: Re: joining The Samba - '87 Syncro |
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ENJOY! Looks sweet. WELCOME
_________________
87 westy 2wd (NED) |
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Alaskaberrys 
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2016
Posts: 1001
Location: SE Alaska
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| Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: joining The Samba - '87 Syncro |
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Welcome to the Samba! Very nice ride! Well sorted, but need more pics of the details
Looks to be ready for for adventuring, and I look forward to reading about them.
| emilie415 wrote: |
Howdy, folks; I'm excited to join TheSamba as an unemotional, new owner of an '87 Syncro (tin top; manual)
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Not to worry, we'll get your emotions up and running
(and heed the advice on fuel lines and anti-theft options!)
_________________
'91 Westfalia, Bordeaux Red Pearl 2.1L 2wd Auto
'91 T3 Syncro Doka, Escorial Green 1.9L TD AAZ “Gremian” (to provoke, irritate, exasperate, vex...) |
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SyncroGhia
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2009
Posts: 2458
Location: Highnam, UK
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Reverend
Samba Member
Joined: April 19, 2016
Posts: 20
Location: Finland
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2017 3:33 am Post subject: Re: joining The Samba - '87 Syncro |
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It looks REALLY good! Greetings to fellow syncronist  |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22668
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2017 3:36 am Post subject: Re: joining The Samba - '87 Syncro |
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Nice and glad you got want you really wanted without doing a conversion!
That will idle nicely in the 101 or Bay Bridge traffic...
Double check those fuel lines ...get to a club meet and have some sambinistas look it over stat.
_________________
.ssS! |
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raoul mitgong
Samba Member
Joined: July 05, 2009
Posts: 1338
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2017 7:19 am Post subject: Re: joining The Samba - '87 Syncro |
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You being sarcastic? I get emotional looking at your Syncro. Can we get some more interior pics? Very nice ride.
-d
_________________
84 Westy with a 2.1 (Groover)
86 Tintop Syncro (Crow)
86 Tintop Syncro to Westy project (Tom Servo)
91 Westy (Only the top 12 inches of this van (a burn victim)) |
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emilie415
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2017
Posts: 10
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2017 10:39 am Post subject: Re: joining The Samba - '87 Syncro |
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Thanks, everyone! More pics to come for sure! Yes, CapCity replaced all fuel lines in addition to the rest of their thorough mechanical refresh.
I'm just starting to read through all the great "evergreen/reference" materials here on The Samba, but essentially once it hits the road (smogged, registered, etc.) it will be just shy of 100K. I'll plan oil changes every 2K, but if anyone else has a go-to maintenance schedule (every 5, 10, 20, 30K service workflows you do), let me know or links appreciated!
Cheers,
Emilie |
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mikemtnbike
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2796
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2017 10:42 am Post subject: Re: joining The Samba - '87 Syncro |
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My opinion: there is no need for an oil change every 2k unless you're driving 2k or less yearly and just want to change the oil annually. Just keep it full- careful to not overfill- and 3k will be fine.
Change the coolant every 2 years.
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled  https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9609
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2017 1:29 pm Post subject: Re: joining The Samba - '87 Syncro |
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| mikemtnbike wrote: |
| 3k will be fine. |
2k is too often, and "3k" is still an "anal" level of oil change. "normal" is 5k, and many people use 7500k (in newer cars). 3k is more $ but ensures the best conditions for long life. As long as oil change is done right (plug doesn't fall out etc  ).
One thing I'd recommend being anal about, is... that Syncro trans. I'd change the oil in THAT every 15k max.. Perhaps more often, but it depends how 'clean' the oil coming out was. If any metal fines appear at 15k, I'd reduce the interval.
Every part in your engine can be replaced, easily, but a 99k Syncro trans might be worth $7,000. That's a SWEET, fresh, transaxle. You cannot replace some of the parts in the trans because they are no longer manufactured. Only aftermarket parts are available, and in general, most of the replacements are suspected to be of lower quality than what you HAVE in there. So you don't wanna wear out your OEM parts.
I'd say you should protect those NLA parts and make sure your trans oil is always clean & fresh. I'd change every 15,000 miles simply to ensure that there's never any metal dust going round and round in there reducing the life of everything it goes between.
If you ever put a big engine in there I'd change every 5,000 miles.
There is a 'problem part' called the "3rd-4th hub" that breaks somewhere around 100-150k miles. There's a chance yours has already been replaced. And there's no way to inspect it. The only thing you can do is watch the magnet on your trans oil plug (for metal bits). If it breaks, your trans must be disassembled & repaired. Sorry to lay that one on you but it's something you need to be aware of.
Thats a REAL nice van! I hope you're not parking it on the street, they are easy to steal. The problem gets worse when the van is parked in the same place every day, the thieves note it, and when they find out how valuable that transaxle is.... yikes.
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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raoul mitgong
Samba Member
Joined: July 05, 2009
Posts: 1338
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2017 1:43 pm Post subject: Re: joining The Samba - '87 Syncro |
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Couple other things.
Looks like you have the early style "floppy" mirrors. If they tend to move around on you, you can get the '86+ style that should be on it or there are some remedies posted around here.
Tell us about the locking/coupling options this thing has. You stated "uncoupled 4wd". Does this have a solid shaft or viscous coupling? Rear locker? Front locker? There are a few things you'll want to know about those knobs and when not to use them. And people around here agree on most of what to do or not to.
-d
_________________
84 Westy with a 2.1 (Groover)
86 Tintop Syncro (Crow)
86 Tintop Syncro to Westy project (Tom Servo)
91 Westy (Only the top 12 inches of this van (a burn victim)) |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Paulbeard
Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2015
Posts: 2604
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2017 6:31 pm Post subject: Re: joining The Samba - '87 Syncro |
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Welcome back, glad you found your dream rig. Looks great.
_________________
Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs
— dhaavers |
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aaaaaaaaaaaal
Samba Member
Joined: June 25, 2016
Posts: 1
Location: Louisville, KY
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2017 6:58 pm Post subject: Re: joining The Samba - '87 Syncro |
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| Got to see this one in person at Cap City while they were about to finish it up. It looks great. |
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emilie415
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2017
Posts: 10
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:48 am Post subject: Re: joining The Samba - '87 Syncro |
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Thanks, everyone! Already getting schooled
To recap some of the advice so far
- Will lengthen oil-change interval to more like 4-5K
- Change trans oil every 10-15K (they did install a refurbished Syncro transmission before it was sent out to me, because they noticed it was about to go. Really "extra mile" service given by CapCity on that)
- Change coolant every 2 years
I will get back to you, raoul mitgong, on your questions on decoupling, but I know that it was decoupled to be used only when 4WD needed, and I also have rear differential locking capabilities. |
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Reverend
Samba Member
Joined: April 19, 2016
Posts: 20
Location: Finland
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| Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:58 pm Post subject: Re: joining The Samba - '87 Syncro |
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| I've changed oils from 7000km to 10000km in my Syncro. |
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