Date:         Sat, 25 Sep 2004 00:54:52 -0400
Reply-To:     Don in North Carolina <Don_Dixon@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don in North Carolina <Don_Dixon@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      WTT: 1987 Syncro for Pop-Top????
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Thought I would put this out on the list.  When I bought the Sycro, I was
looking for a Pop-Top (westie or weekender - 2WD type) but thought that I
could convert the syncro.

Looking all that I would have to do, I see that this is more of an
undertaking than I thought.  Several people have sugested that I should
start with at least a Pop-Top weekender first, rather than start with a
plain 7 passenger van (even a Syncro!).

So here is what I have - 1987 Vanagon GL Syncro, ~183K miles, ~40K on the
engine.  Runs great.  Dumped a bunch of money in it in the five months I
have had it (sound familiar?):

New belts
A/C converted to 134a
New fuel filter
K&N air filter
New Ignition switch
New headlight switch
New headlight adjusters
New voltage regulator for alternator
New battery (see above!!)
New O2 sensor
New Catalytic converter
New Muffler
New Tail pipe
Used 1991 AFM
Redline synthetic in front diff and transaxle
New boots and repacked CV's on left front and left rear
New half-shaft (Bus Depot - Lobro CV's w/German boots) on right rear

Has the BFG AT 27x8.5x14 tires on the stock rims, ~50% left in tread.  I am
in North Carolina, but the van is registered in Arizona (and meets
California smog standards).  In the five months I have had this van, I have
put ~11K miles on it, with no DNF's!!  I also have some spares - a spare
ECU, spare set of new belts (OK, I'm paranoid!), New set of brembo brake
disks and front brake pads, etc.

I'm just wondering if anyone with a Westie / Weekender is interested in a
trade.  Please P-mail me for more info if you are interested.  I have been
cross country in this van twice, and could do it again to deliver,
possibly...

Don in Reidsville, NC
1987 Vanagon GL Syncro