what I consider the really valuable part is the body/chassis.
there is just no substitute for no or barely any rust, and no dents,
and either original paint, or a VERY good repaint job.

engines are all over the place , easy to get.
transmissions ......those are harder to find good used. Like those are the
most important major part that can be expensive or hard to get, if you need
one.
If a person has the room for another vanagon .......a cheapo van can be
worth it just for the trans, as long as miles are not excessively high.

I suppose a 'homeless' syncro vanagon will find it's way to me one of these
days - a 'whole other' set of issues to deal with.
I turned one down once due to such extreme rust the front seat belt anchor
points were gone, rusted away to nothing. Worth a lot in parts though of
course.

whatever, we're sure having fun here with these rigs !
Scott

----- Original Message -----
From: "dylan friedman" <insyncro@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 8:12 AM
Subject: Re: 1987 Vanagon for sale - without engine. w/RONAL R9's

I'm no stranger to East Coast vans that have sat.
Look closely at the brakes and input shaft on the exposed transmission
.
IMHO you will spend more on fixing the rims, brakes and crossing your
fingers on the trans than it is worth.
It needs an engine too.

I just picked up two running and driving vans for about the same money he is
asking, one is a Syncro.

There are many trying to get out of projects currently.

A runner is worth way more than a van with the engine in boxes.
At least it is to me these days.

df

________________________________
From: pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@gmail.com>
To: dylan friedman <insyncro@yahoo.com>
Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 10:53:02 AM
Subject: Re: 1987 Vanagon for sale - without engine. w/RONAL R9's

If you click the "more pictures" link he seems to have a pretty honest
collection of pictures of the van (including some of the wheel damage).

On Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 9:35 AM, dylan friedman <insyncro@yahoo.com> wrote:

Jeff is dead on.
I had a chance to buy this van day one it was for sale.
The rims will need $100+ each for straightening and refinishing.
I was only interested in the R9s.
Take a closer looks at the van, it needs work as well.
You get what you pay for.

________________________________
From: J Stewart <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>

To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 7:22:30 AM

Subject: Re: 1987 Vanagon for sale - without engine. w/RONAL R9's

I looked at the pics last night, can't look at them this morning at work,
since Internet is restricted (can't look at anything that falls into the
"vehicles" category), but as I recall nearly every one (if not all) of the
rims was bent. Distance shots look good, but close up shots show lots of
dings and rust spots. May not be the bargain everyone thinks it is. No
offense to the seller, just calling it as I see it. Jeff

>
> fyi this van has the highly sought after Ronal R9's on it...the wheels
> alone are worth the price he is asking..
>
> chris