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Longboardluv
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2014
Posts: 934
Location: Austin TX
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 Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2021 7:05 pm Post subject: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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Hey everyone, a little about me. My name is Matt Jackson I live in Austin TX. I've owned a 1965 Split Window VW Bus for about 5 years now and cataloged that build in the thread below. We'll this week I went and bought myself a 1990 Tornado Red Carat/Wolfsburg Edition Vanagon. Now you might ask yourself, "Why in the world did you do that Matt?" Well I saw it originally filming an episode of VW Life (also link below) and a few weeks later when re-watching the video I thought to myself, I better save it.
It's got a Tiico conversion. Currently it has a seized up Audi (bubble block) motor in it. Kenny (of Kenny Hills Auto Repair here in Austin TX) was driving it as the "shop truck" just until a couple of months ago until the motor locked up. There is a well know water cooled guy here locally that is going to put a nice 3rd Gen Jetta 2.0 in it for me. That pretty much sums it up so far. I figured I stick my head here in the Vanagon section and introduce myself. I look forward to sharing this adventure with you and document some of the process. With Helga; I did ALL of it myself, but in this case most of the major work will be done by my guy.
here is where I first saw the Vanagon, it's at the 11 minute mark. Want to hear something funny, this is the first time and the last time I saw it. It's currently parked in a yard somewhere and I haven't seen the thing for more than the 5 minutes when i filmed this video..
Link
That pretty much sums it up. I would love to hear from anyone who wants to say anything. I'll be looking for tires for it, I have no knowledge of the Tiico conversion. The only time I drove a vanagon was when I helped Gary tow one home in the middle of the night in the dark. I was in the vanagon being pulled by a tow strap, it was frightening because I had no lights and it was a
ford ranger pulling me.
Split Window build thread - https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=653099 |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22670
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2021 7:47 pm Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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Love that colour and welcome to T3 world. It’s the biggest jump in manufacturing engineering in the Transporter line, imho.
Photos and paragraphs for Samba, videos for FB
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.ssS! |
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6833
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2021 8:17 pm Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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Oh man...your in for it now! 
Btw, check for rust underneath the side trim panels that go around the bottom. Sometime you find some there!
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This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them. |
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Gnarlodious 
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2013
Posts: 2323
Location: Adobe Jungle USA
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2021 8:49 pm Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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LOL I’ve been watching your excellent videos on Reddit. Nifty van though, too bad it’s surrounded by disembodied parts.
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Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit |
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MartinG
Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2005
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2021 8:54 pm Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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That's awesome Matt. Looking forward to following your adventure.
The VWLife channel needed a boost in Vanagon content anyway.  |
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Zeitgeist 13
Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009
Posts: 12115
Location: Port Manteau
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2021 9:18 pm Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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I wonder if Kenny is related to Hank. Ask him about propane and propane accessories.
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Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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4Gears4Tires
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 3054
Location: MD
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2021 11:19 pm Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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| Gnarlodious wrote: |
| LOL I’ve been watching your excellent videos on Reddit. Nifty van though, too bad it’s surrounded by disembodied parts. |
What subreddit is there for Vanagons? Vanagons itself has 63 subs which is useless.
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'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition |
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Longboardluv
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2014
Posts: 934
Location: Austin TX
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2021 11:25 pm Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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| 4Gears4Tires wrote: |
| Gnarlodious wrote: |
| LOL I’ve been watching your excellent videos on Reddit. Nifty van though, too bad it’s surrounded by disembodied parts. |
What subreddit is there for Vanagons? Vanagons itself has 63 subs which is useless. |
https://www.reddit.com/r/VWVans |
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4Gears4Tires
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 3054
Location: MD
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2021 11:37 pm Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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Apparently I'm already subscribed but I never see the posts. Neat.
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'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition |
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SUTTO
Samba Member
Joined: July 28, 2015
Posts: 5
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2021 2:53 am Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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I put a comment on that youtube video that the Vanagon should have followed you home. I'd like to think that this helped turn you to the dark side.
Cheering that you went back for it, I'm sure it will give you guys some good content for your channel as you clean it up. You will be suprised with how much fun the T3s are.  |
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Longboardluv
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2014
Posts: 934
Location: Austin TX
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| Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2021 6:07 am Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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| SUTTO wrote: |
I put a comment on that youtube video that the Vanagon should have followed you home. I'd like to think that this helped turn you to the dark side.
Cheering that you went back for it, I'm sure it will give you guys some good content for your channel as you clean it up. You will be suprised with how much fun the T3s are. |
so it's your FAULT! |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32634
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Longboardluv
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2014
Posts: 934
Location: Austin TX
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| Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2021 6:08 am Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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| Steve M. wrote: |
Oh man...your in for it now!
Btw, check for rust underneath the side trim panels that go around the bottom. Sometime you find some there! |
hopefully not, it's a Texas car. Guess we'll see. |
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Longboardluv
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2014
Posts: 934
Location: Austin TX
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| Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2021 6:10 am Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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yeah i had seen that thread thanks! that's how i found out about the color actually, i posted on that thread then figured I'd start this build thread! i'll probably need held along the way from the experts. should be interesting see how it drives with the jetta 2.0 |
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Longboardluv
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2014
Posts: 934
Location: Austin TX
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| Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2021 6:11 am Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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| MartinG wrote: |
That's awesome Matt. Looking forward to following your adventure.
The VWLife channel needed a boost in Vanagon content anyway. |
thanks yeah we'll see how it goes! we just interviewed that couple who are living in the vanagon |
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Longboardluv
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2014
Posts: 934
Location: Austin TX
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| Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2021 6:12 am Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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| Abscate wrote: |
Love that colour and welcome to T3 world. It’s the biggest jump in manufacturing engineering in the Transporter line, imho.
Photos and paragraphs for Samba, videos for FB |
thanks! |
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Longboardluv
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2014
Posts: 934
Location: Austin TX
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| Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:19 pm Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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walk around video. I need to source new tires and do something with the front bumper. my guy that is doing the motor says everything looks good. we plan to find a junk yard jetta 2.0 this weekend
Link
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Gnarlodious
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2013
Posts: 2323
Location: Adobe Jungle USA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:56 pm Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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NICE VAN! But why does it include a diesel oil pan in the back?
Is that the one from the repair yard you were looking at last week?
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Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit |
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DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4583
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 8:07 pm Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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A front bumper fix. Spoiler alert--The finished product. Look at the thread for the whole story, materials and how to.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=689888&highlight=
I'm very pleased with the way it turned out and thought a few of you might like to see an alternative to the factory plate mount location. It accentuates the horizontal elements well. Although it doesn't show in this photo, I need to fill all the spot rivet dents just above the air dam and will paint that whole area flat black. I don't like the stripe of blue between the bumper and air dam. But that can wait until next Spring when the boat prep season begins again.
Your car looks terrific and will be a lot of fun. Good luck.
Duncan |
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Longboardluv
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2014
Posts: 934
Location: Austin TX
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| Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 8:08 pm Post subject: Re: OMG I bought a Vanagon what have I done? Build thread - Matt |
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| Gnarlodious wrote: |
NICE VAN! But why does it include a diesel oil pan in the back?
Is that the one from the repair yard you were looking at last week? |
that is the oil pan from the seized audi 2.0 that is in it. thanks! |
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