Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 07:19:46 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: When is a Syncro too rusty to Restore?
In-Reply-To: <20080619102603.543D67F4042@pop6.cfu.net>
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Sounds like a serious restoration project about to be undertaken. I
think if I had a Syncro, because of what they are, and where they stand
in the world of vehicles - that is something really unique - and could
afford it, I would tear down the vehicle to bare bones, bead blast the
entire thing, get rid of all rust, weld in new metal where needed, and
come back with a powder coated body primer or epoxy primer then apply a
full paint system over it. Then reassemble with as much new stuff as I
could. The goal would be a vehicle restored to as near new as I could
get it, with the intent of driving it the next 100 years!!! IE, it would
not be sold in my lifetime. I would use it until I'm gone, then pass it
to someone who would cherish it the way I would.
I really hate it that more and more of the Vanagon vehicles are passing
through the crusher. I know this will peak, then less and less will pass
through the crusher - but thats due to the falling numbers in existence.
These machines are already classic in their own right, and will become
more so with the passage of time.
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Max Wellhouse wrote:
>> Troops: I have an 86 Syncro at my house currently with 212k on the
>> odo. It's a non-locker, decent tires, motor's okay, pinion bearing
>> is noisy, interior is above average, etc. The big deal is the body
>> rust. Passenger side isn't too bad, but the driver's side is. Lots
>> of ubbles under the front windshield glass, but the doors are
>> okay. The bigheadavhe will be the big side panel, the arch under
>> the driver's door, and the rockier panel. The undercarraige isn't
>> that bad, and the suspension parts aren't that bad.
>
>
> Bottom line is I know Bus Depot and others sell new sheet metal, but
> I'm wondering if I'll haveenough good metal to have a shop weld the
> new stuff to? I could p-mail some pix to an educated pair of
> eyes. The Syncro as it stands is probably worth more in parts than
> it is running right now, but I don't want to destroy a useable Syncro
> if it can be salvage. It's purpose in life would be to be my winter
> vehicle saving the 90 GL from any further salt exposure.
>
> Thanks
>
> DM&FS
>
>
>
>> .
>>
>> __,_._,___
>
>
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