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Marshj
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2017
Posts: 268
Location: New Jersey
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 Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 7:32 pm Post subject: Unique Project in Jersey City needs Saving; Electric Vanagon |
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This thing is going to go to scrap, and I don't want to see that. I have no interest but wanted to volley to you guys.
So, for years there has been a dive bar that has been attempted to be shut down. The owner, Terry, is a VW fanatic. He has a baja beetle and another beetle he was servicing. Terry got hit with some serious medical issues in the middle of an electric conversion on his (one owner) 1984 Vanagon. The last time the van was on the road was 1997 and it has 97k on the clock.
Weeks after a full motor rebuilt, the van was hit by coastal floodwaters in Hurricane Sandy. So alas, Terry with his inventive mind decided to do an electric conversion on it.
He sourced the motor, had his engineers make an adapter plate, sourced the ECM and throttle electronics. He finally had everything sourced minus the battery when he got sick.
His friend Chris and I got together and looked at the project, Terry was trying to recoup his costs as he just sold his business and needs to liquidate the lot this week! I am taking on a house project and can't find the space for this one. Terry now just doesn't want to see everything get scraped. If I had a lot in the mountains it would be the perfect "Van Life" experience Airbnb.
The van as a parts van is a great candidate. The electric motor is a unique project for someone with the skills and time. If I was retired I'd consider it.
I wanted to post before a van heads to the junk yard and Terry's dream too. This is not a sales ad so I won't put any numbers and you might even be able to get everything for free just to save the project.
Feel free to PM me for details.
Chris's number is - 201-455-1938
I know the electronics alone cost a bundle
Last edited by Marshj on Mon Dec 09, 2019 7:46 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Marshj
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2017
Posts: 268
Location: New Jersey
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| Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 7:35 pm Post subject: Re: Unique Project in Jersey City needs Saving; Electric Vehicle |
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Where Terry's Van has sat for 20 years... true lot find ( we Don't have Barns in the city lol )
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Marshj
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2017
Posts: 268
Location: New Jersey
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| Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 7:45 pm Post subject: Re: Unique Project in Jersey City needs Saving; Electric Vehicle |
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Electronic Components |
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dougass
Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2016
Posts: 300
Location: NJ
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| Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 8:54 pm Post subject: Re: Unique Project in Jersey City needs Saving; Electric Vanagon |
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I’m in JC too, if anyone wants to get together and figure something out let me know!
Also, I’m always keeping an eye out for local storage for my vanagon, storing it out of town means less time to play.
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Marshj
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2017
Posts: 268
Location: New Jersey
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| Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 9:06 pm Post subject: Re: Unique Project in Jersey City needs Saving; Electric Vanagon |
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Agreed on the local storage challenge. I know you keep yours about 40 minutes away like me. Terry's lot would have been perfect, but he is officially out this week ;-(
We need to find someone else with a surface lot or warehouse where we can get some work in on these. Or even find a garage bay to rotate between when people have projects to do.. let's think on it.
I will keep you updated what I hear from Chris on what's going on with the van and the beetles. Wish I had the space to save these and get them moving in the right direction to a good home for restoration
Jeff |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22670
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 5:07 am Post subject: Re: Unique Project in Jersey City needs Saving; Electric Vanagon |
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Good luck with sale/ resolution
The composition of the photos will sell, the placement of the bins suggests the urban chic, while the fence in the back emotes the trapped in the city motive.
A black cat crossing in front would be perfect.
Sorry to hear about Terry’s medical, good luck with that, Sir
Someday .....
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16505
Location: Brookeville, MD
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davlance01
Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2013
Posts: 224
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 7:07 am Post subject: Re: Unique Project in Jersey City needs Saving; Electric Vanagon |
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2200 rpm is way too slow of a motor for the stock trans gear setup.
Of coarse assuming the transmission is being used because of the need for a adapter plate.
I'd take on the project if I was retired too!
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skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 16883
Location: sticksville, ct.
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 7:13 am Post subject: Re: Unique Project in Jersey City needs Saving; Electric Vanagon |
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it's been my observation that project vanagons don't sell for lots of money...no matter how clean it is. I suspect he'd be lucky to recoup 1/10 if his investment. that van going down the road isn't a big money van to begin with.
looks clean...but as it sits I would take the first 1500 someone flashed at me
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6572
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 7:25 am Post subject: Re: Unique Project in Jersey City needs Saving; Electric Vanagon |
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| djkeev wrote: |
Hmmm
While I’m not far away, I am half heartedly seeking a Van and I do have space..... the electric portion is WAY over my head!
For free with a title, I could be enticed to go get it. I do have the Vanagon tow bar I made.......
Hmmmmm.......... |
Do it, Dave!
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jackbombay
Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2007
Posts: 2723
Location: Eastern Idaho
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 8:17 am Post subject: Re: Unique Project in Jersey City needs Saving; Electric Vanagon |
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| djkeev wrote: |
the electric portion is WAY over my head!
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But, until there is a battery in there you can't hurt yourself!
Wish this was closer, would be a cool project to finish off, although I'm sure the battery(s) will not be cheap 
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Marshj
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2017
Posts: 268
Location: New Jersey
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 8:20 am Post subject: Re: Unique Project in Jersey City needs Saving; Electric Vanagon |
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| Dave... I was hoping you’d save this thing from the yard. |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 12:26 pm Post subject: Re: Unique Project in Jersey City needs Saving; Electric Vanagon |
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Well, as Jeff suggested I called Chris and talked to him.
He's asking $1,000 for it.
Sadly, no title and I'm unclear about what electric components would be included.
He made it sound like they were going to electrify a Beetle. 🤷♂️
Anyway, I told him I was willing to save the Van but not having an engine, yanking it home and not having a title make the prospect of me taking it very very slim unless it is a zero or very low cost endeavor.
He's got my number, I said to call me if the scrap yard ends up being the option, that I would save it.
He mentioned he would tell the owner that I called.
I told him that hoping for a $1,000 for an engineless untitled vehicle is a bit of wishful thinking.
He ended up by saying that instead of just giving it away, he would be inclined to donate it and get a tax credit. I can only assume he means something like the Salvation Army or one of those Kars for Kids type places.
The end result would probably be the same, sold for scrap value.
Dave.
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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert
Last edited by djkeev on Tue Dec 10, 2019 1:11 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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dabaron
Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2018
Posts: 2561
Location: Philly, mang
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 1:08 pm Post subject: Re: Unique Project in Jersey City needs Saving; Electric Vanagon |
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| djkeev wrote: |
Hmmm
While I’m not far away, I am half heartedly seeking a Van and I do have space..... the electric portion is WAY over my head!
For free with a title, I could be enticed to go get it. I do have the Vanagon tow bar I made.......
Hmmmmm.......... |
was hoping you'd beat me to it...
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Marshj
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2017
Posts: 268
Location: New Jersey
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 2:23 pm Post subject: Re: Unique Project in Jersey City needs Saving; Electric Vanagon |
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| I told Chris the same, it’s basically a free parts van for the amount of work needed to get it |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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campism
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007
Posts: 4492
Location: Richmond VA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 4:48 pm Post subject: Re: Unique Project in Jersey City needs Saving; Electric Vanagon |
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All that fuss is probably a diversion by some VW Vortex guys trying to get to the Vanagon before you guys.
I'm not really that insensitive. Just trying to keep it light.
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6572
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 5:54 pm Post subject: Re: Unique Project in Jersey City needs Saving; Electric Vanagon |
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Light can't penetrate that stuff. 
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"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
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mikemtnbike
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2797
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2019 8:13 am Post subject: Re: Unique Project in Jersey City needs Saving; Electric Vanagon |
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Maybe I'm crazy but aren't the "coastal floodwaters" possibly a whole other bag of rust worms well beyond a missing engine?
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