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General Forums => Air Speed Lounge => Topic started by: 72vwtype2 on January 03, 2005, 12:19:39 AM

Title: Any Vanagon Experts?
Post by: 72vwtype2 on January 03, 2005, 12:19:39 AM

I am considering getting a next generation bus from my 72 van - the vanagon camper. So I am looking for any good advice on these vehicles such as; good vs bad years, aircooled vs watercooled, notorious issues (rust, mechanical) etc...

Also are there any good websites out there. In my short time of research I have already found www.vanagon.com.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Title: Any Vanagon Experts?
Post by: Trevor P on January 04, 2005, 05:20:50 PM

Waterboxers are notorious for head gasket leaks. Stay away from the slush box automatics. If you can get your hands on a syncro, then thats the way to go IMO. Whether you go air or wasser boxer, just make sure it was well looked after...the bills on one of these vans can really add up if your gonna have to repair a lot of neglect.
Good luck!

Title: Any Vanagon Experts?
Post by: Hansk on January 04, 2005, 06:16:06 PM

Been to ....   gowesty.com yet ?  Lots and lots of sites out there for vanagons.  I have an 86 westy , nieghbors have an 87westy, friend has an 87 also , parents have a 90 syncro westy .  Yes ,they've  all had thier issues but over all have been awesome vehicles. Definitely the only water cooled VW worth owning :D  

Title: Any Vanagon Experts?
Post by: jim martin on January 04, 2005, 07:23:08 PM

i had a 1986 syncro van ,it was a fantastic truck,1 ton suspension and all the diff locks to boot.that truck took us up and down the whistler highway every weekend  for 10 years ,plus many road trips all over the place.
it was awsome and it never let me down .!!!!
i really miss it.
as far as water leaks from the cylinders etc ,never happend to me.
the only fault was a absolute terrible exhaust system.i must of welded those pipes a million times,for some reason they were prone to cracking at weird spots.