Date:         Sat, 13 Jan 2001 14:19:39 -0700
Reply-To:     John Andrew <johna@TELLURIDECOLORADO.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Andrew <johna@TELLURIDECOLORADO.NET>
Subject:      Fw: Back from checking out 1986 Westy GL with Buick!
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;


-----Original Message-----
From: John Andrew <johna@telluridecolorado.net>
To: Vanagon List <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Saturday, January 13, 2001 2:16 PM
Subject: Back from checking out 1986 Westy GL with Buick!


Hi,
 
Back from my encounter with the Buick Westy Syncro GL.  Got 14" of fresh snow to drive it in.  No locking differential was a dissapointment.  Anyways, the engine sure does pack a punch!  You have to be light on the pedal or your burning rubber or at least spinning on an icy road.  It is a carbureted 3.8 rebuilt Buick 6 cylinder attached with a kennedy plate.  It has 200K on the body.  7K on the rebuilt engine.  It sure sounds strange to hear that throaty sound coming out of the VW van.  The exhaust comes out from under the van about 2/3 of the way back from the front.  He has a tach mounted on the dash so you know when to shift.  Really quiet when you are driving  the van.  Vibration is almost non-existent.  Everythig looks easy to work on.  This guy is the original owner .  Third engine he has had in it.  Put the buick in so he could tow his Harley.  Waterboxer lasted about 120K.  Put a chevy in which lasted about 80K.  Now its the Buick.  He bought a slide in for his pick-up so now he is selling this beast.  My feeling is this engine is too much for the drive train. Will th tranny and differential take the power even if you baby it? 
 He had the brakes and drive train gone thru at the same time he did the latest conversion.  Bigger radiator installed as well.  The body and camping gear is all in great shape. All screens, tables, manuals, and the removable seat are there. New tires and air shocks. No dents and the paints great. But is 200k too much for a syncro?  How do you tell if the viscous coupling is sound?  Wait for an unconverted model?  Whats your guesses on what it is worth?  I have first refusal until I talk to the shop that has done a lot of the work. I am open to everyones opinion.  Anybody have one like it?
 
Thanks to everyone for their advice so far!
 
John Andrew 1984 Westy 

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