Hello List -

I apologize for the long drawn out story. I'll be as brief as possible.

If you have some time, I'd like your advise. Here's the scoop: I've
owned an Van '84 GL for almost four years, my first water cooled bus. It
has 170,000 and although not fresh, very healthy. I re-push rod tubed it
two years ago, and it has run synthetic ever since. Platinum quads/K&N,
good exhaust, SA wheels/Agilis, SA grill, nice complete interior. The
exterior is also complete and rust free after a sandblasting session two
years ago. Drives and handles great!

But, I'm expecting my first child and live in Minnesota where 6 months
of the year can really be treacherous driving. Grandpa lives in northern
Minnesota, and sometimes a 2 WD can get stick just by looking at it
wrong. I've always wanted a Syncro for this reason but could not quite
justify, or find the right one. They're damn hard to find!

Now I find one is up for sale in Mpls. The guy is kind of paring down,
and the syncro is going. Please help me rationalize this as I may not be
totally sane ( I drove trough a red light just to go see it - I NEVER do
that!).

He's asking $2,600 as is. It is a 1987 Syncro GL maroon/Grey interior 7
passenger & it needs:

1. Dash fan
2. Inner head light lense (Passenger)
3. New/different rear bumper & all 4 corner guards
4. Engine tin over push rod tubes
5. New exhaust in 5000 miles (it's welded together to become air-tight)
6. New brake pads (the brake pedal pushes up when you turn motor off)
7. AC recharge (or I may just remove it and give it to someone)
8. Seem rust repair (same as mine for about $1000)
9. One interior arm rest and sliding door track guard (aluminum plate
thing)
10. Some drive train work (it shimmies between 40 and 60 MPH)
11. A good tune up - super sluggish 2.1
12. Interior is really dirty (grease monkey), though not ripped or
trashed

In it's defense it has new Continental M&S on 14" steel wheels, new push
rod tubes, a new u-joint, fold down bed, and all the comforts of home
that the '84 GL doesn't.

I know it will need periodic preventive maintenance, I can do a lot of
it. I can't pull motors or tranies, though. Will I be throwing $3000 at
it to make it a happening, safe vehicle for my family? I can do allot of
work myself, but not the sandblasting or drive train stuff.

Thanks for you consideration, I value your opinion! I apologize for the
disjointed posting - happy Memorial day.

AB