Date:         Sat, 2 Feb 2008 22:31:11 -0800
Reply-To:     gaspo <lists@1SKY.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         gaspo <lists@1SKY.COM>
Subject:      86-synchro, parting out or whole corpse with bits.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

helo,

my sad day to take offers on my proud girl,
now somewhat worse for her years, and miles.
the engine blew head stud whilst doin ~20mph,
so no crashes ever, and all was AOK till that.
ahh, the stories we have over the last 200k.....
i got many good trix of this list, so offer her here first.

good parts:

rear tranny, w/ dif lock, good cv's, boots, half shafts, etc.
front tranny, new coupling 7 years ago has ~10k miles on it cuz....
rebuilt driveshaft with chevy ball joints, balanced,
trannys have second set of holes that mate to the better driveshaft.
(so i can take it out, for 2wd only mode, thus only 10k on front VC).
all front suspension bits are good shape. rotors are gettin thin.
power steering rack is second one, still strong, no leaks, good boots.
passenger lower swing arm needs new rubber bushing, but doesnt slide
around, much.
ive actually got one somehwere, but you need a good press and
squeezin skills.
2 good ECUs, a couple coils, second fuel pump, lots o misc fiddly bits.
front windshield is ~4yr old, nice green top tint (rare!) and new
smooth rubber.
back window is ~10yr old, rubber going.  all others stock, and in place.
radiator is ~4 years old. gas tank still holdin gas, never been empty,
insulation blanket frayed at edges pretty good.  front tires are
still nipply new, cooper 14" 27-85. rear ok, and two more rims and
older spares.
headlights good (square).  one highbeam glass has bb hole.
driver yellow and rear good.  passenger yellow smashed, rear repaired.
one rear side red missing, other dont work.

not so good parts:

engine has sheared head stud, i cant get the stub out of the block
and have tried many trix to remove it.  disinegration maybe only option.
but i wouldnt bother.  just take the heads, waterpump, alternator,
newish clutch, flywheel, crank, jugs, etc, etc, and toss the block.
had two head studs go on other side 2 years ago, torched those out,
and got her goin again.  but i give up, and rekon all the studs
to be tweaked or cursed or both.  At this point, probably best to
replace
all head studs on both sides as they where either a bad batch
or suffered the cooling-electtrolyte-Al-vs-Fe thing and welded.
all other bits good, and in boxes in dryer storage.  including
fuel injection bits, intakes, the head and jug thats off, and
everything else as it was when it blew.  engine has been sittin
in the rain this winter, so flywheel and clutch have rust spots
now, etc.  but still turns by hand.  exhaust pipes good, gaskets goin.
most engine rubbers good.  airbox good. no AC.
muffler no holes, new catalytic has 6 passed smog tests on it, then
removed.

body has many many rust spots. she's got 360,000 plus miles on her,
has been from florida to B.C. at least twice, snow to sun and all
between.
high colorado mountains, and a few years 10ft from the pacific ocean.
i have only pressure washed her once a year or so after burning man.
theres a welded on piece of steel pipe that holds the not-included
flagpole/windgenerator mast.  roof has many rust spots, but no
real cratering, and no leaks.

the interior is stripped except for the front seats with burn holes.
most of the headliner is still up there, but holes in back where
AC was removed.  nothing in rear except storage shelf of angle bracket
and plywood.  all panels etc removed.  angle brackets screwed to
interior
side gusset to provide ultimate bungee system (bungees not included).

wiring harness? are you kidding? with all that alkali-to-salt trips,
every wire is green inside as far back as you can strip it.
every switch on the dash has failed, and replaced with toggles.
key still locks steering wheel, but has nothin to do with ignition
anymore.
this is the main reason im lettin her go.  ive replaced every wire i
could
as it fried and died, theres a second rear harness halfspliced that
gave her another 10 years, but the every copper has to be replaced
to even think of "dependable" electrically.

in other words, all the running bits are good except for the damn
engine,
the wirings shot, body is ugly but whole.

van is located near the town of mendocino CA.  up on rear blocks.
engine is located in sacramento CA.  will have to have tranny
tied up or removed to tow, or flatbedded.  is current CA registration
till may 2008.  regged as 4x4 in mendocino county, so was not smogged.
but did pass 2 years ago.  doubt seriously could get this engine
to pass smog again.  title is current and clear.  would prefer a
salvage sale or non-op thing, and love to see her trannys and parts
give another synchro more years of fun.

will take any serious cash offers that include
arrangements to remove it from its current location.
i've done synchros for 15 years,  so i know what the parts are worth.
neighbor runs a tow biz, so i know what tow costs too.
dont insult me with low offer,
but dont be shy to make real offers either.
all whole-deal emails will be replied to.

individual part offers will have to be better than market value,
send me your max bid, and if you're tops, ill email back,
otherwise, most all individ bits are already "dibbed".


shes a lot like this now,
http://www.1sky.com/2cvm948/sfomsytx/wrecker.jpg
solarpanels, ham radio antennas, webserver and radiostation
will be removed and are NOT for sale.

suggestions to other places to post this would
be appreciated.


--gaspo.