1987 VW Vanagon SYNCRO plus SPARE VANAGON BODY

1987 Volkswagen Bus/Vanagon GL SYNCRO REAR LOCKER Description

1987 VW Vanagon Syncro – 2.1 Waterboxer – Rear Locking Differential – INCLUDES AN ENTIRE SPARE VANAGON BODY!!

I have owned this van for about 5 years and it has been awesome. I bought it specifically because of the lack of rust underneath and can still say it is in excellent shape compared to most East Coast Syncros. That being said, it is not perfect, as you can see in the photos.

I bought this van to use as a work and recreation truck and it has served me very well. I take it off road several times a month to tend to my beehives and a campsite nearby. I haul firewood, lumber, stone and mulch with it. I camp in it, take it to shows, and drive it exclusively on weekends instead of racking up miles on my CC. My son used it as his daily driver for several months while his car was in the shop. I just used it to pull a tractor (Farmall super-M) out of the mud, and it did great. I never concerned myself much with the appearance of the van, but have been relentless in maintaining it mechanically and electrically. It starts every time, and I take it to work every Friday (about 60 miles round trip).

Here are some repairs and improvements I have made over the years:

New tires this spring

New windshield and rust repair last summer (no longer leaks!)

16” Mercedes wheels

Replaced 6 out of 8 CV joints – repacked and new boots

Brand new driveshaft (4 years ago)

Replaced swingarms (restored/refurbished new ones prior to installation)

New rear springs installed (GoWesty stock-height springs)

New front springs come with the van

GoWesty Big Brakes in the front (about 3 years ago)

GoWesty LED Dash Light upgrade kit

Super Cool custom clock (from ’65 Karmann Ghia) with cupholders and switch panel

Full length all steel roof rack with 42” light bar

Rear facing fog lights

New stereo with Bluetooth – new door speakers and custom speaker box in the rear

New water pump

New coolant pipe

New plugs, belts etc. as required

New battery this spring

New foam pad in the rear with new upholstery

Here are some things which don’t work, or need to be addressed:

The exhaust is getting bad – catalytic converter recently replaced though..

Gas gauge – planned on replacing when I had the motor out (haven’t taken the motor out)

Odometer

Rear locker actuator – I think the vacuum lines/reservoir are leaking

Electric mirrors

Some seam rust starting to creep in..

I had to grind away some of the plastic on the new door speaker covers when I replaced the speakers to allow the window cranks to turn. It is not attractive… I have the original speaker covers and intended to modify them to fit but never got around to it.

A previous owner used some sheet metal screws to attach the door panels and some of the vinyl is starting to peel away from the panel.

It needs a new rear wiper blade – yes, the rear wiper (and defroster) work!

Here are some of the things that come with the van:

A “whole” spare vanagon body – I have only cut the bottom of the windshield and some spots at the bottom of some of the windows – SEE PICTURES

Extra 2 sliding rear windows out of a westfalia

Extra Gas tank

Extra Dashboard

Full set of bottom cages/crashbars which protect the driveshaft and engine

The stock driveshaft

New front springs

Body panel which covers the sliding door track (straight)

Full set of privacy curtains

Bug screen for rear hatch, so you can sleep with it open

Wiper actuator assembly

Lots of harness parts and connectors

Two Axles with CV's (old ones)

Brake Backing Plates

Brake Drums

Lights

Other Random Stuff

At some point a previous owner did a half-decent job of repairing some sort of damage on the rear corner of the van above the gas cap. There is evidence of body putty and re-spray, but it has never been an issue, and there is no rust, so I haven’t bothered to fix it. There is a perfectly good replacement corner on the spare van. Also, I am not sure what the deal is with the paint in general on the rest of the van, especially on the doors. It looks like someone sprayed over the original paint and it all orange-peeled and then they just left it. Again, there is no rust, so I just left it.

The interior is made up of several different colors of items, so I suspect someone took the entire interior out at some point and previous owners pieced it back to the point it is in now. SEE PICTURES - I was always looking for a weekender interior, but could never find one at a reasonable price.

Last summer I removed the windshield, cut out all the rust along the bottom of the opening, welded in patches which I harvested from the spare van, then prepped, primed and repainted (black) the whole windshield opening. I bought a new rubber seal and had a professional windshield installer re-seal and install a new windshield. It’s awesome – no more puddles on the floor mats after it rains.

My intention was to drive this van until the motor could no longer move it, and then rebuild the motor. So far, the motor has been very reliable, but it is very tired and slow. It has only broken down once, when it blew a coolant line and it has only failed to start once, but I don’t know why. I let it sit for about an hour, and then it started. Those are the only two times it didn’t run for me. It does not leak any water or oil. The oil light on the dash flickers a lot, and has done so since I bought it. If you let the oil level get too low, the light will flicker more, letting you know something is wrong. If you drive it long distances on hot days it will also flicker more. I am told this is due to the old bearings allowing more oil to flow and intended to address it once I rebuilt the engine.

I have had the van up to 75mph on the highway, but only once, and it cruises well at 65. You do have to downshift on the longer/steeper hills. It is not fast… I haven’t taken it more than about 100 miles from home and typically only put about 100 miles on it per week. However, last week I put over 500 miles on it with no problem. If you intend to pick up this van and drive it a long distance back to your home, I don’t think you will have a problem, but I am just being honest when I tell you that I have not driven it long distances.

As far as the infamous “Vanagon Syndrome” I haven’t really experienced it. Over the years it has only acted funny twice while driving it on the highway, but may have been something else. I have never had to pull over or even slow down. It kinda shuddered briefly and then immediately stopped – that was it. I stick mostly to back roads, and have never had any type of incident that way.

I am selling because I found a 1967 Westfalia that I couldn’t pass up. Otherwise I have no reason to sell.

This van is sold with no warranty or guarantee.

The van is inspected in PA until December 2018.

Title in hand

No returns

Van is for sale locally, and on several internet venues, so I reserve the right to end the auction at any time

I would deliver within 50 miles or so, otherwise BUYER ARRANGES AND PAYS FOR SHIPPING

Buyer pays all Notary and Title Transfer Fees

Please look at all the pictures and ask questions before bidding

If you contact me with an offer, please make sure the offer is one that would make it worth denying other interested parties the right to bid on the auction.

Please don’t contact me with “low-ball” offers. I am not being unreasonable with my price. I am starting the auction at the price I would take for the package, so there is no reserve.

feel free to contact me with any questions, I will answer honestly.

I also have tons more pictures, and would take more if you would like

GOOD LUCK AND THANKS FOR LOOKING!!