Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:04:37 -0400
Reply-To: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Buying advice
In-Reply-To: <4c464514.1bd68d0a.2869.ffffe807@mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I just spoke with my father, who has for the last 5 years struggled with
vanagons along side me. He is a very capable mechanic and very savy with
vanagons. In his words:
"This is THE Cleanest Vanagon I've ever seen. There's simply no way it has
more than 30,000 miles on it. Probably quite a few less".
After asking him to inspect particular parts for me he said that the gas
tank straps are actaully SHINY (But original), the rear tailgate latch shows
Zero wear marks, there isn't a nut or bolt on the undercarriage he wouldn't
confidently turn a wrench on, and he has not found any rust anywhere. He
said that the backsides of the bumpers are "immaculate".
He said that he is eager to start the work on the mechanics and make it run.
He said it's far too nice to put the zetec engine in, and it's best to keep
original for the time being. For now, I just want to make it work.
He said with great confidence "You did VERY well on this purchase. Quite a
find!"
: )
-Craig
'85GL turned WESTY
BOSTIG in the back
'87 Sunroof Syncro
On Tue, Jul 20, 2010 at 8:53 PM, Jeff Schwaia <vw.doka@gmail.com> wrote:
> Nice looking Syncro. Well done.
>
> Pity all the naysayers won't have the chance to say "I told you so"...
>
>
> Don't let it rust out there in road salt land!
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> craig cowan
> Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 5:15 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Buying advice
>
> http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2049093&id=1457880199&l=c5bbd5f947
>
> There is an image of my 1987 SUNROOF Syncro sitting happily in my driveway
> back home.
> I will have more images soon (in the next few days). In the meantime,
> that's
> it.
> It's from Oregon, rust free, 3 small dents which are repairable (i'm told)
> (It will be off for dent removal and a good buffing as soon as it runs!).
> Supposedly the brakes are good, it rolls nicely, and it's relatively
> complete.
>
> The list of "things" so far is:
> Missing Passanger side quarter window
> Sun Cracks in the dash from missing Passanger side quarter window (It will
> likely get the complete dash assembly from my '85)
> "Some tears in the headliner" (Available brand new, and the one in my '85
> is
> good.)
> "Some tears on the interior" (It's getting turned into lawn furniture
> immediately)
> Dash Cluster Missing
> Horn button (center thing in steering wheel) missing (Brown)
> And the rear bumper is in great need of some hammering (or replacement).
>
> The true mechanical inspection, as done by my brother and father will begin
> next week. Local Vanagon nuts may join in as well. I tear into it in late
> August.
>
> It's all good for now! I'll keep you guys posted as I get more news.
>
> -Craig
> '85GL Turned WESTY
> BOSTIG in the back
> '87 SUNROOF Syncro
>
>
>
> On Tue, Jul 20, 2010 at 4:30 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
> scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>
> > re '2WD losers' ...
> > well, 'that depends' ..
> > if you need AWD and have a way to use a Syncro's cabability ..
> > great !
> > but all the rest of the time ..
> > I am working on two of those things right now ...
> > stuff is SO packed in, in the rear............around the fuel tank ..
> > and rust ..I am seeing rusted away fuel tank straps as 'normal' on
> syncro's
> > ..
> > and man do they like money ...
> > they are easily two or three times more complex, and harder to work on,
> and
> > more expensvie to repair than 2WD vanagons ..
> > so 'sure' if you need it and can use it ....fine.
> > the rest of the time, 2WD is SO nice and easy to deal with throughout the
> > entire van.
> >
> > for a proper set of vanagons ..one would need both ...
> > a syncro for serious use, and a 2WD for practical use.
> >
> > and I suppose I'll have to buy one one of these days. I did turn down a
> > really nice 7 passenger Syncro few years ago with leaky waterboxer heads
> > and new reubilt trans for only $3K asking price..
> > didn't like the gold color ....but looking back, that would have been a
> > very
> > good investment. Perfect body, no rust, mounted winter and summer tires,
> > alloy wheels etc. But when they need repairs ...
> > as I like to say, "they sure like money."
> >
> > lol.
> > I'm very glad they exist.
> > I just wouldn't be all envious unless I kept it in mind that they are a
> > whole special challenge in complexity and cost.
> > Of course someone will say ...'I got 400,000 miles out of my syncro and
> it
> > never needed more than oil changes and brake pads' or something like that
> > ..
> > but ......many syncro's have many 10's of thousands of $ invested in them
> > ...
> > and they tend to like things like transmission rebuilds....but
> > whatever......... we are very glad they exist !
> > I call them the King of Vanagons. And there are many Syncro Vanagons
> with
> > $ 50 to 70K invested in them. Even more I'm sure.
> >
> >
> > Scott
> > www.turbovans.com
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Peter T. Owsianowski" <pnoceanwesty@GMAIL.COM>
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 7:53 AM
> > Subject: Re: Buying advice
> >
> >
> > Nice work, Craig!
> >>
> >> Will you still talk to us 2WD "losers"?
> >>
> >> Hope so!
> >>
> >> On 7/20/10, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>> My sunroof syncro just arrived home safely in pittsburgh!
> >>> I am told it looks great!
> >>>
> >>> Thanks for all the advice guys.
> >>> There will be plenty of questions in the future. : )
> >>>
> >>> -Craig
> >>> '85GL turned WESTY
> >>> BOSTIG in the back
> >>> '87 SUNROOF Syncro
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Mon, Jul 12, 2010 at 10:38 PM, Mark Tuovinen
> >>> <aksyncronaut@gmail.com>wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Good luck with the van Craig. I sold my `87 Sunroof Syncro a couple
> >>>> weeks
> >>>> ago. I will miss it but it is for the best.
> >>>>
> >>>> Mark in AK
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> On Mon, Jul 12, 2010 at 5:19 PM, craig cowan
> >>>> <phishman068@gmail.com>wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> Well today i'm told my Syncro has been safely loaded on a truck and
> is
> >>>>> on
> >>>>> it's way to me!
> >>>>> It will be in PA in a week.
> >>>>> Sadly, I won't be untill late August..... But I have a team of
> >>>>> mechanics
> >>>>> that will be assessing it and taking plenty of pictures for me (and
> you
> >>>>> guys!) to look at soon enough.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> It will end fine, I'm confident that I will be able to get it titled
> >>>>> (somehow) and put it on the road (eventually).
> >>>>> Thanks for all the discouragement/incouragement.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Keep the smiles on for another month or so.
> >>>>> And anyone with spare syncro bits, specifically a speedo.....
> >>>>> I need one. : )
> >>>>>
> >>>>> -Craig
> >>>>> '85GL turned WESTY
> >>>>> BOSTIG in the back
> >>>>> '87 SUNROOF Syncro
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 9:22 PM, Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@gmail.com>
> >>>>> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> > "I saved a frog from a certain death in a storm sewer drain
> >>>>> > today......
> >>>>> > Lets hope these "Karma points" i've been saving are worth more than
> >>>>> > amusement park "tickets"."
> >>>>> >
> >>>>> > Under these circumstances that's actually called
> >>>>> > "Kermit-Points" Craig.
> >>>>> > Hang in there buddy. Sometimes life is a four letter word,
> >>>>> > but not yet, not today.
> >>>>> >
> >>>>> > Best,
> >>>>> >
> >>>>> > Bob
> >>>>> >
> >>>>> >
> >>>>> >>
> >>>>> >
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >> --
> >> Sent from my mobile device
> >>
> >> Pete
> >> '79 Westy "Aardvark"
> >> '87 Westy "JoesVan"
> >> WWW.Busesbythebeach.com
> >>
> >
>
>
| 
