Building a Syncro Hightop for Western travel, "Western Syncro"

[dobryan]

SPOILER ALERT

This topic originally was; Building a Westy for Western travel, the ‘West Coast Westy’.

But the stars unexpectedly aligned and I was able to land a 1987 Syncro tin top in pretty good shape so my efforts turned to making that my ‘Western Syncro’ instead of the Westy I had acquired. (Don’t worry, the Westy is in good hands and will be fixed up and sent on to another family that will love it.)

The Western Syncro saga starts at the bottom of page 4.

****************************

Another in a series apparently...

This year I drove the '87 Westy from Maryland to Baja and back. Along the way my fellow Vanagon friends asked why I did not have a west coast bus like I was preparing my European travel bus. Hmmmm, sure would cut down on the drive time to get 2000 - 3000 miles to get out there.

I kiddingly mentioned it to my wife, planting the seed....

The subject came up several times in the past few weeks and those who contributed a vote with my wife for the west coast westy I thank you.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving I was looking at facebook on the Vanagon owners group when a guy posted that he has a rough westy and a tin top in need of rescue. They were in PA and had seam rust but otherwise worth saving. While I was looking at the post my wife asked what I was doing.... just looking at this great deal for a westy that could become our west coast westy dear.... I told her the price and she said.... the money comes in and the money goes out. That was all I needed to hear.

We were leaving for Key West that Friday so I was able to arrange to see the buses after we returned. Today was that day.

Being from PA I was concerned that the level of rust was more than I could handle, but when I arrived I was thrilled to see this.

They had been stored in a large garage building and really only had reasonable seam rust, solid underneath. Happy day!

The deal is done! I am having them towed to a friend's property until next summer after I ship over the euroBus and can start on the west coast westy project.

I'll update this topic as I work on it next summer. Tentative schedule is to get it ready for a Baja run Spring 2022.

No lack of projects....
_________________
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

[erste]

you're crazy.

[Zeitgeist 13]

Don't screw this one up. I'm watching.

[bobbyblack]

When I grow up, I hope to be just like you!!!!

-bobby
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[dobryan]

[radar5667]

So is that 4 at one time? You are a machine.

Remember, you can’t take it with you. Oh wait, they’re vans. You actually can take them anywhere.
_________________
‘62 Heinkel Tourist, ‘70 Beetle, ‘86 Syncro Tintop, ‘87 Syncro GL Westy, ‘91 964 Coupe manual, ‘96 Lexus LX450

[dobryan]

[VdubVanner]

Glutton for punishment!
_________________
"Fritz", a temperamental and unforgiving 1989 Westy that proudly bears his German flags and status as a member of the exclusive GoWesty Belly Flop Club.
1989 Westy Makeover: GoWesty 2.3L Engine plus plus plus https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

[Zeitgeist 13]

[uberaudi]

What could go 4 times as wrong?

Good man!
_________________
'84 Adventurewagen ABA, '86 Syncro Tintop, '89 Tintop 1Z Tdi, and a '73 Pinzgauer 710M

[Sodo]

OK then, we'll see you in Seattle sometime!
_________________


'07 EJ25 with '12 longblock, Peloquin TDB+locker, pressure oiled transaxle with cooler & filtration. 150Ah LiFePO
'87 Tintop with 43k strange miles, new Smallcar '12 EJ25
....KTMs, GasGas, and a Stumpjumper

[dobryan]

[MarkWard]

Dave, too bad about the timing last weekend. I'm about to list my syncro camper for sale. It would have been a perfect candidate for you to take over. We've decided one vanagon is enough for us. Timing is everything. Mark
_________________
Adios

[thatbaldwinlife]

What a plan, have westy's stored all over the world! We are heading to Baja in spring of 2022, maybe we will see you down there!
nate
_________________
1987 Westy RJE 2.2L WBX
Vanagon Adventure and DIY videos:
That Baldwin Life YouTube Channel

instagram - nate_baldwin and thatbaldwinlife

[dobryan]

[4Gears4Tires]

Eventually there will be a South American Westy and an African Westy and an Asian Westy...

I see what you're up to! A Westy on every continent!
_________________
'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition

[joetiger]

[dabaron]

can you adopt me, thanks.

i could totally use a running 2.1 so i can get this tin top running again...
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL Camper
i had no idea i wanted to be a mechanic
"burnin oil and cookin coils" -- Destructo

[dobryan]

[djkeev]