1987 VW Syncro Westfalia Weekender

1987 Syncro Westfalia Weekender             

This has been a great project. but I have to move and need to sell it.   More pics coming tomorrow. but I need to get this started now.    The title is actually clear. but it had a title salvage before.  Ebay is requiring therefore that it's listed as salvage. but it saw very little damage and given that it happened in 2008. the car had virtually no value and was quickly totaled.  NM saw the vehicle and issued a clean title. which I'd be happy to send you a copy.  Nevertheless. even though NM thought the damage so minor it issued a regular title. the insurance company back in 2008 did in fact total it. branding it with a salvage history forever.

Here's what I've done and what still needs to be done.

Finished:

·      Installed new engine from Chris Corkins of Abiqui. NM.   It's bored out to 2. 2 and runs like a dream.   Great engine that cost almost $5K.   Broken in with around 2000 miles on it.

·      New paint job. excellent and expensive. from Extreme Twist in Santa Fe. NM.

·      Rebuilt tranaxle. including all new gears (not just the 3rd that tends to fail).

·      Less than 2000 miles on new BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A tires. including full sized spare.

·      Heavy duty Billstein shocks all around.

·      Air shock system in rear.

·      New brake master cylinder.

·      Rebuilt drive axle.

·      New front window.

·      Windows tinted all around.

·      New CV boots.

·      Bought a used good condition Syncro gas tank and had it cleaned out and installed with a new sender unit.

·      Steering box.

·      Steering column.

·      New emergency brake cable.

·      Added some GoWesty parts:

o   Drivershaft Decoupler Kit (has knob on the dash to engage/disengage front wheels)

o   Vacuum actuator for decoupler

o   16” wheels (has full size 16” spare)

o   Syncro Lift Kit

o   Heavy duty ‘LT Series' truck side view mirrors

o   Big Brake Kit 4WD

o   Syncro fuel kit saddle and strap kit

o   Exhaust pipe – collector to catalytic converter

o   California catalytic converter

o   Syncro fuel level sender

o   Fuel line replacement kit

o   Syncro fuel tank reseal kit

o   Steel skid plate

o   Shifter fix kit

o   Hi-powered headlight kit

o   Thermostat housing kit

o   Syncro temperature sensor

o   Complete tune-up kit

o   Plate steel bumper kit with 2” receiver hitch

o   Double swing away carrier

Still to do:

·      Cosmetic on interior

o   The plastic background plate for the diff lock and decoupler is cracked in a couple places and looks bad.   Simple fix. but have to find in salvage.

o   I put a new rubber mat. custom fitted to the floor. in the back passenger area. but it already has a 5” cut in it.   It's flush so I don't trip on it. but I need to glue it down and you may wish to leave it as is (not that noticeable) or do something else about it.

o   Vent control levers (they're inexpensive. but temporarily out of stock at GoWesty. but the van needs new ones).

o   The carpet is okay. but original and I was going to replace it with something new but now don't have time.

·      I don't have all the curtains.   I have a bunch of them. but not all.   I'll take the time over the next few days to sort that out.

·      One of the front suspension struts has a small dent in it from some impact before I bought it.   It doesn't effect performance or even look that bad. but I was thinking of replacing that since I've already poured zillions into the vehicle and why not.

·      The air conditioning has not been hooked back up.   I have all the parts but ran out of time to get it done.

·      The fuel filler neck was replaced. but it still takes a special touch to fill the tank.   It's easy enough. but it won't let you walk away as it's just touchy to get it to stay put on automatic filling.   You pretty much have to hold it the whole time in a certain position.   Again. not a big deal but something I'd take back out and figure out why it's doing that.

·      By the time I sell this. I'll have installed new side marker reflectors all around (they're on order).   After the car was painted I realized they were faded and even got cracked when taken off for the paint job.

·      The dash is faded. although not cracked.   It perks up with some Armor All. but I was thinking of trying to find another one that was new looking.

·      No CD/radio installed yet. but it's wired for sound front and back.

·      The driver's seat is very sticky. in that moving it up and back is a chore.   I'll try to get that fixed before I sell it. but in case I can't that's something you'll need to work on.

·      For some reason the seat belts for the rear facing seat are missing.   The seat belts for the bench seat are there. but not the other one.   I have them and will send them with the vehicle. but they aren't installed.

Miscellaneous:

·      The car has a clean title now. but with a salvage history.   Back when insurance companies thought these vehicles were worth $4K. it was involved in a minor wreck in the back right.   There was no frame damage nor much damage at all. but because it would require an entire paint job on that huge body the insurance company totaled it.   NM MVD took a look at it when I brought it into the state and issued a clean title.

·      There was no rust detected when the vehicle was repainted.   The seams between the body panels were scored out. looking for the rust that often gets into these seams between the body panels when living in wetter conditions. but none was found.   I did initially find some slight rust on the rear passenger floor. by the door. but had that taken care of earlier and it seems to be fine.  

·      The poptop is original but looks fine.

·      Has the second battery kit.   Both batteries are less than 16 months old and in fine condition.

·      It's a Weekender. so has the rear storage and the drop down table in back. with an additional seal that faces to the rear. meaning there's a shared table for games. propping your book or laptop or whatever while being chauffeured down the road.

·      This thing really turns heads!  It's a great ride. with stupendous ground clearance and traction.  

·      More info coming as soon as I get more pics and think of other things to add.

Want to buy this car?