Hi Volks,

I spent all summer transplanting a Westfalia pop top and interior from a
1982 Westy to a 1987 Syncro. We live near Pittsburgh PA.

Reasons: I own a 1987 Syncro and know it's pedigree, new front and rear
suspension bushings, tie rids, axle bearings, CV joints, drive shaft joints,
rebuilt tranny, Suby engine,  front heater blower, ignition switch, seams
POR 15'nd and seam sealed etc, OK I'll stop now, there was more. Now has
145,000 miles.

I had the opportunity to work on a 1985 Subaru / Westy in early April, and
fell in love with the design. I'm not a wealthy person, so buying a 20K
Westy was out of the question, let alone a 12K one.

I found a 1982 air-cooled Westy that was dead from the waist down. Lots of
rust covered by patches and tape, rusted out clutch hydraulic line, and
brake lines soon to follow. Engine and tranny unknown. The mileage was
whatever you wanted it to be, as tapping on the instrument pod cover would
produce different results, 80,000 here, 636,000 there.

I knew how to weld with an oxygen-acetylene torch, but also knew that metal
distortion would result. I looked into MIG welding with gas back-up, and
decided I could do it / learn it. Would TIG have been better, a resounding
yes, but I couldn't afford the time or money to learn.

So with all that said, have a look at these pictures:
http://photos.yahoo.com/jetstar5224

No matter if you think that this was a travesty involving two Vanagons or
wondered how to try to go about it, these pictures add to the database of
possibilities, good or bad.

For us, it has given this old seven passenger Syncro a new purpose, one that
we are getting reacquainted with.

Cheers,

Dave Milo

P.S. This is not a step by step compendium, but a chronicle of my
experience. Hopefully it will serve some good purpose.