Congratulations on your purchase!
I guess sometimes you have to take a chance!
I have a problem taking a chance but it sure worked out for you!
Good for you!!!

Bernie 

Sent from my iPad

On 2010-07-20, at 6:04 PM, craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> I just spoke with my father, who has for the last 5 years struggled with
> vanagons along side me. He is a very capable mechanic and very savy with
> vanagons. In his words:
> "This is THE Cleanest Vanagon I've ever seen. There's simply no way it has
> more than 30,000 miles on it. Probably quite a few less".
> After asking him to inspect particular parts for me he said that the gas
> tank straps are actaully SHINY (But original), the rear tailgate latch shows
> Zero wear marks, there isn't a nut or bolt on the undercarriage he wouldn't
> confidently turn a wrench on, and he has not found any rust anywhere. He
> said that the backsides of the bumpers are "immaculate".
> 
> He said that he is eager to start the work on the mechanics and make it run.
> He said it's far too nice to put the zetec engine in, and it's best to keep
> original for the time being. For now, I just want to make it work.
> 
> He said with great confidence "You did VERY well on this purchase. Quite a
> find!"
> 
> : )
> 
> -Craig
> '85GL turned WESTY
> BOSTIG in the back
> '87 Sunroof Syncro
> 
> 
> On Tue, Jul 20, 2010 at 8:53 PM, Jeff Schwaia <vw.doka@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Nice looking Syncro.  Well done.
>> 
>> Pity all the naysayers won't have the chance to say "I told you so"...
>> 
>> 
>> Don't let it rust out there in road salt land!
>> 
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> 
>> Jeff
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>> craig cowan
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 5:15 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Buying advice
>> 
>> http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2049093&id=1457880199&l=c5bbd5f947
>> 
>> There is an image of my 1987 SUNROOF Syncro sitting happily in my driveway
>> back home.
>> I will have more images soon (in the next few days). In the meantime,
>> that's
>> it.
>> It's from Oregon, rust free, 3 small dents which are repairable (i'm told)
>> (It will be off for dent removal and a good buffing as soon as it runs!).
>> Supposedly the brakes are good, it rolls nicely, and it's relatively
>> complete.
>> 
>> The list of "things" so far is:
>> Missing Passanger side quarter window
>> Sun Cracks in the dash from missing Passanger side quarter window (It will
>> likely get the complete dash assembly from my '85)
>> "Some tears in the headliner" (Available brand new, and the one in my '85
>> is
>> good.)
>> "Some tears on the interior" (It's getting turned into lawn furniture
>> immediately)
>> Dash Cluster Missing
>> Horn button (center thing in steering wheel) missing (Brown)
>> And the rear bumper is in great need of some hammering (or replacement).
>> 
>> The true mechanical inspection, as done by my brother and father will begin
>> next week. Local Vanagon nuts may join in as well. I tear into it in late
>> August.
>> 
>> It's all good for now! I'll keep you guys posted as I get more news.
>> 
>> -Craig
>> '85GL Turned WESTY
>> BOSTIG in the back
>> '87 SUNROOF Syncro
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Tue, Jul 20, 2010 at 4:30 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
>> scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> re '2WD losers' ...
>>> well, 'that depends' ..
>>> if you need AWD and have a way to use a Syncro's cabability ..
>>> great !
>>> but all the rest of the time ..
>>> I am working on two of those things right now ...
>>> stuff is SO packed in, in the rear............around the fuel tank ..
>>> and rust ..I am seeing rusted away fuel tank straps as 'normal' on
>> syncro's
>>> ..
>>> and man do they like money ...
>>> they are easily two or three times more complex, and harder to work on,
>> and
>>> more expensvie to repair than 2WD  vanagons ..
>>> so 'sure' if you need it and can use it ....fine.
>>> the rest of the time, 2WD is SO nice and easy to deal with throughout the
>>> entire van.
>>> 
>>> for a proper set of vanagons ..one would need both ...
>>> a syncro for serious use, and a 2WD for practical use.
>>> 
>>> and I suppose I'll have to buy one one of these days. I did turn down a
>>> really nice 7 passenger Syncro  few years ago with leaky waterboxer heads
>>> and new reubilt trans for only $3K asking price..
>>> didn't like the gold color ....but looking back, that would have been a
>>> very
>>> good investment.  Perfect body, no rust, mounted winter and summer tires,
>>> alloy wheels etc.   But when they need repairs ...
>>> as I like to say, "they sure like money."
>>> 
>>> lol.
>>> I'm very glad they exist.
>>> I just wouldn't be all envious unless I kept it in mind that they are a
>>> whole special challenge in complexity and cost.
>>> Of course someone will say ...'I got 400,000 miles out of my syncro and
>> it
>>> never needed more than oil changes and brake pads' or something like that
>>> ..
>>> but ......many syncro's have many 10's of thousands of $ invested in them
>>> ...
>>> and they tend to like things like transmission rebuilds....but
>>> whatever......... we are very glad they exist !
>>> I call them the King of Vanagons.  And there are many Syncro Vanagons
>> with
>>> $  50 to 70K invested in them.   Even more I'm sure.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Scott
>>> www.turbovans.com
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Peter T. Owsianowski" <pnoceanwesty@GMAIL.COM>
>>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 7:53 AM
>>> Subject: Re: Buying advice
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Nice work, Craig!
>>>> 
>>>> Will you still talk to us 2WD "losers"?
>>>> 
>>>> Hope so!
>>>> 
>>>> On 7/20/10, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> My sunroof syncro just arrived home safely in pittsburgh!
>>>>> I am told it looks great!
>>>>> 
>>>>> Thanks for all the advice guys.
>>>>> There will be plenty of questions in the future. : )
>>>>> 
>>>>> -Craig
>>>>> '85GL turned WESTY
>>>>> BOSTIG in the back
>>>>> '87 SUNROOF Syncro
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Mon, Jul 12, 2010 at 10:38 PM, Mark Tuovinen
>>>>> <aksyncronaut@gmail.com>wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Good luck with the van Craig.  I sold my `87 Sunroof Syncro a couple
>>>>>> weeks
>>>>>> ago.  I will miss it but it is for the best.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Mark in AK
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Mon, Jul 12, 2010 at 5:19 PM, craig cowan
>>>>>> <phishman068@gmail.com>wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Well today i'm told my Syncro has been safely loaded on a truck and
>> is
>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>> it's way to me!
>>>>>>> It will be in PA in a week.
>>>>>>> Sadly, I won't be untill late August..... But I have a team of
>>>>>>> mechanics
>>>>>>> that will be assessing it and taking plenty of pictures for me (and
>> you
>>>>>>> guys!) to look at soon enough.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> It will end fine, I'm confident that I will be able to get it titled
>>>>>>> (somehow) and put it on the road (eventually).
>>>>>>> Thanks for all the discouragement/incouragement.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Keep the smiles on for another month or so.
>>>>>>> And anyone with spare syncro bits, specifically a speedo.....
>>>>>>> I need one. : )
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> -Craig
>>>>>>> '85GL turned WESTY
>>>>>>> BOSTIG in the back
>>>>>>> '87 SUNROOF Syncro
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 9:22 PM, Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@gmail.com>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> "I saved a frog from a certain death in a storm sewer drain
>>>>>>>> today......
>>>>>>>> Lets hope these "Karma points" i've been saving are worth more than
>>>>>>>> amusement park "tickets"."
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Under these circumstances that's actually called
>>>>>>>> "Kermit-Points" Craig.
>>>>>>>> Hang in there buddy. Sometimes life is a four letter word,
>>>>>>>> but not yet, not today.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Best,
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Bob
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>> --
>>>> Sent from my mobile device
>>>> 
>>>> Pete
>>>> '79 Westy "Aardvark"
>>>> '87 Westy "JoesVan"
>>>> WWW.Busesbythebeach.com
>>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>>