Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all,
Just got my latest project today....
Yet another blind purchase off the tinternet
Its a 1987 RHD hightop Syncro turbo diesel. Ive been looking out for one of these for ages, so im well chuffed at the mo.
The vans been stood for over two years so their is a lot of red rust breaking through the seams, and its had a poor paintjob done which makes it look a lot worse than it actually is. Needs a good jetwash.

A quick look around the van shows the underneath, the gutters, front panel etc are all good. Some of the wheel arches need attention but may just need cleaned up, just one hole in the passenger front from a poor repair.

The interior is complete, in reasonable condition, cushions look almost new, it even has an erberspacker heater and captains seat.

It starts and drives, but does not stop as their is no fluid in the system.
The engine starts on the button and runs nice, but it does have an oil leak which needs investigating as it leaves a bit of a puddle on the drive.
The all important 4wd drive train is all there and connected up, ill be testing this a bit later when i get the bus running properly. The fact the prop is still fitted is a good sign.

So my first tasks are to sort the oil leaks and the brakes. Then see what it needs for an MOT.....I like a challenge.
Heres a few pictures when it was picked up today.







More to follow, have i bought a lemon or hit the jackpot

Probably won't look that bad after a right good wash.
Oh, sorry, I should introduce myself, I'm Simon, I'm probably about to empty your bank account.

Simon Baxter wrote:Probably won't look that bad after a right good wash.
Oh, sorry, I should introduce myself, I'm Simon, I'm probably about to empty your bank account.

how true..

Good luck with that hitop, fair bit of work in that i reckon..
welcome, by the way

Welcome to owning a Syncro

First job, get a screw driver and push it up under the right hand wheel arch where it meets the side of the van.
Second job, above the rear jacking points get a screw driver and push just above where the jack goes in the hole.
Third job, take that bottom fridge vent off and feel along the floor and see what is there.
Fourth job, look under the plastic on the foot well.

That should give you an idea what condition the body work will be in on the rest of the van, fingers crossed it will all be OK then you can start on jobs 5-1000

Good luck

Jed

dont listen to simon, give your money to me instead
good luck

Shudder........

Good luck, fella!





(You're gonna need it!)

Welcome to the money pit club....

I think Jed and Simon have summed it up so well in their different ways....

I bought my Syncro via fleabay 3 years (and several thousand pounds) ago and one day it will be finished and a thing of beauty and awe .

Have you got a lemon or won the jackpot ? dunno, depends - as ever - on the price, but I'm sure you will have fun ... more pictures would be good, we can all offer suggestions then

Simon Baxter wrote:Probably won't look that bad after a right good wash.
Oh, sorry, I should introduce myself, I'm Simon, I'm probably about to empty your bank account.

I just did a lol and a Rofl and a roflmao

hi all,
Thanks for the comments......the words money pit and good luck seems to be used a lot here....oh dear....

The first mistake I make was assuming the syncro would go in my workshop, the doors are 2.5m, the van is....well... bigger... oops lots of outside work to sort it. Doh

I hope to have a good look around this weekend - in the daylight - thanks for the advice i'll have a poke around and report back. hopefully with some pictures.

As for my bank account, Simon you'll have to fight the good lady for that, I haven't mentioned the word 'money pit' yet... though I have already identified some bits i need (turbo oil feed pipe, oil filter, etc) so I recon I'll be putting an order in shortly.

Where are you located.

(Need someone with a big empty workshop!)

In Reading not far from M4 J10, I dont have a big empty workshop....I have big full workshop...

I squeezed my pickup into my garage by using old rims with no tyres on them...just fitted..

wow. I thought squeezing them into the garage by using old rims with no tyres on them was stuff or hearsay and legend...

The guy who collected the van for me had a syncro and he said the same......i'll be getting me tape measure out... you never know.

Thanks for all the feedback, so yesterday I gave it a good clean and checked the following:

First job, get a screw driver and push it up under the right hand wheel arch where it meets the side of the van. DONE ALL GOOD - very solid

Second job, above the rear jacking points get a screw driver and push just above where the jack goes in the hole. DONE ALL GOOD - very solid

Third job, take that bottom fridge vent off and feel along the floor and see what is there. DONE not so good, the lower part of the cill is GOOD but that upper seam needs attention, there is a 6cm hole just below the vent

Fourth job, look under the plastic on the foot well. done -someone has replaced them in the past, solid but poor welding, just need cleaning up and painting

After cleaning I de-rusted the van using some instant Armageddon industrial grade acid, 1/2 hour later nasty rust all gone

All in all I have found nothing that worries me body-work wise.. Yay...

so some pics:











The interior is ok, hob, and Fridge look, good, cushions are superb. just needs a good clean and the carpet type material on the walls glued back in places, all seems to be there.



so on to the brakes,,,why don't they work..

Firstly the fronts, as soon as I moved the calipers the brakes pads fell apart, see the bits on the floor, thats the remains of the brake pad



Now on to the rear brakes.....now I found out exactly why the brakes did not work, this is exactly as I found it when I took the wheel off, I wonder where the drum went?



I have to say I've never seen that before!

Let the spending begin, more updates soon.

Andy

Some good news Andy

Jed