----- Original Message -----From: nickbellauSent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:07 AMSubject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Camper conversion parts wantedAnyone out there know of any T3 campers being wrecked/ parted out as I would like to finish
my conversion. It currently has a Trakker pop top and custom fold down bed but would like a
proper interior.
I couldn’t agree more with Les. My van has a fold down bed in the bottom and a bunk arrangement in the pop top. I’ve got two boys with child seats so when we camp I have to unpack the child seats and put them elsewhere before folding down the bed. By comparison setting up the bed inside the pop top takes a few minutes. If there are just two sleepers, upstairs would be best!
To answer your question, keep an eye on the forums like aussie vee dubbers or the kombi forum. There are quite often cheap T3 campers (non syncro) that come up for sale with blown engines or other problems. You could buy one, strip the good bits and sell the rest for parts or to a wrecker.
There is also mercwreck who have a few T3s, they may get campers occasionally.
http://www.mercwreck.com.au/mercwreck_volksparts_carparts.php
Gary
I have had a few VW poptops and I gave up using the fold down bed after the very first experience. Before the seat can be converted to a bed, every mortal thing in the back compartment has to be shifted forward. In the morning, before we could even make a cup of coffee, every mortal thing had to be repacked in the back.
Most poptops come with a ply bunk base for the top and are usually limited to 70 kg load - one person or two children. I made hardwood slats for the top which slide back to stow at the back, taking up only 18". I haven't worked out the loading but my full weight in the middle of one slat gives a deflection of 10mm. The gaps between the slats when they are pulled out into the sleeping position overcome the perennial problem of condensation under the mattress. This allows me to stop, pop the top and have the bunk ready for use in two minutes, without having to relocate everything downstairs and still have access to everything.
If you want pictures, let me know.
In my first camper, I just used two chests of drawers bolted along the right side. This took care of just about everything and we used two big plastic containers with lids for the soft bulky stuff. I had a two burner / griller stove on top of the drawers and found that to be adequate. I also have a 30 litre Engel fridge that freezes everything rock solid if it is turned up a smidgen too much.
Les
----- Original Message -----
From: nickbellau <mailto:nick.bellgrove@tafesa.edu.au>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:07 AM
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Camper conversion parts wanted
Anyone out there know of any T3 campers being wrecked/ parted out as I would like to finish
my conversion. It currently has a Trakker pop top and custom fold down bed but would like a
proper interior.
>I would like to finish
> Anyone out there know of any T3 campers being wrecked/ parted out as
> my conversion. It currently has a Trakker pop top and custom folddown bed but would like a
> proper interior.Did you fit pop top to your syncro, if you did perhaps you
>Hey Nick,
On 1/30/08, nickbellau <nick.bellgrove@tafesa.edu.au> wrote:Anyone out there know of any T3 campers being wrecked/ parted out as I would like to finish
my conversion. It currently has a Trakker pop top and custom fold down bed but would like a
proper interior.It's sad that shipping cost so much. I have a full Westy interior including galley for US$750. Shipping will probably cost as much if not more.BenTSan Francisco, California
----- Original Message -----From: BenT SyncroSent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 5:55 PMSubject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Camper conversion parts wanted
On 1/30/08, nickbellau <nick.bellgrove@ tafesa.edu. au> wrote:Anyone out there know of any T3 campers being wrecked/ parted out as I would like to finish
my conversion. It currently has a Trakker pop top and custom fold down bed but would like a
proper interior.It's sad that shipping cost so much. I have a full Westy interior including galley for US$750. Shipping will probably cost as much if not more.BenTSan Francisco, California
On 1/30/08, Les Harris <leslieharris@optushome.com.au> wrote:Umm....but it is the opposite hand to our camper conversions. Our cupboards, etc, are fitted to the right side of the vehicle, opposite the sliding door, which is on the left side.LesGood point. The galley should be the same or easily adaptable. Same with bed except cabinetry is flip-flopped. Front seat swivels are the same. Table are the same. Upper bunk is the same. Rear cushion is the same.BenT
----- Original Message -----From: BenT SyncroSent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 6:20 PMSubject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Camper conversion parts wanted
On 1/30/08, Les Harris <leslieharris@ optushome. com.au> wrote:Umm....but it is the opposite hand to our camper conversions. Our cupboards, etc, are fitted to the right side of the vehicle, opposite the sliding door, which is on the left side.LesGood point. The galley should be the same or easily adaptable. Same with bed except cabinetry is flip-flopped. Front seat swivels are the same. Table are the same. Upper bunk is the same. Rear cushion is the same.BenT
On Thu, Jan 31, 2008 at 6:28 PM, Les Harris <leslieharris@optushome.com.au> wrote:
Ben,I have the Australian Trakka conversion, which has a two place seat that converts to a fold down bed - which I don't use, for the reasons outlined in a posting today. In Australia, such seating has to comply with the ADR (Australian Design Rule) relevant to the year of manufacture. The Trakka conversion complies with these requirements. I am not familiar with the camper conversions sold in the US. Do they have to comply with any vehicle safety rules?LesSent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 6:20 PMSubject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Camper conversion parts wanted
On 1/30/08, Les Harris <leslieharris@optushome.com.au> wrote:Umm....but it is the opposite hand to our camper conversions. Our cupboards, etc, are fitted to the right side of the vehicle, opposite the sliding door, which is on the left side.LesGood point. The galley should be the same or easily adaptable. Same with bed except cabinetry is flip-flopped. Front seat swivels are the same. Table are the same. Upper bunk is the same. Rear cushion is the same.BenT
--
Regards
Mark
Mark Kofahl
Solutions Outsourced Pty Ltd
Main: 1300 33 1000
Direct: 02 9375 2747
Mobile: 0419 275 259
16 View Street, Camden, NSW, 2570
PO Box 658, Camden, NSW, 2570
www.solutionsoutsourced.com.au
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----- Original Message -----From: Mark KofahlSent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 6:33 PMSubject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Camper conversion parts wantedHi Les,
as the Westfalia is a 'factory' conversion sold by VW (albeit in Germany, USA etc) but still from that year of manufacture, would that help?
Regards
Mark.
On Thu, Jan 31, 2008 at 6:28 PM, Les Harris <leslieharris@ optushome. com.au> wrote:
Ben,I have the Australian Trakka conversion, which has a two place seat that converts to a fold down bed - which I don't use, for the reasons outlined in a posting today. In Australia, such seating has to comply with the ADR (Australian Design Rule) relevant to the year of manufacture. The Trakka conversion complies with these requirements. I am not familiar with the camper conversions sold in the US. Do they have to comply with any vehicle safety rules?LesSent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 6:20 PMSubject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australi a] Camper conversion parts wantedOn 1/30/08, Les Harris <leslieharris@ optushome. com.au> wrote:Umm....but it is the opposite hand to our camper conversions. Our cupboards, etc, are fitted to the right side of the vehicle, opposite the sliding door, which is on the left side.LesGood point. The galley should be the same or easily adaptable. Same with bed except cabinetry is flip-flopped. Front seat swivels are the same. Table are the same. Upper bunk is the same. Rear cushion is the same.BenT
--
Regards
Mark
Mark Kofahl
Solutions Outsourced Pty Ltd
Main: 1300 33 1000
Direct: 02 9375 2747
Mobile: 0419 275 259
16 View Street, Camden, NSW, 2570
PO Box 658, Camden, NSW, 2570
www.solutionsoutsou rced.com. au
============ ========= ========= =========
This e-mail, including all attachments, may be confidential or privileged. Confidentiality or privilege is not waived or lost because this email has been sent to you in error. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure or copying of this email is prohibited. If you have received it in error please notify the sender immediately by reply email and destroy all copies of this email and any attachments. All liability for direct and indirect loss arising from this email and any attachments is hereby disclaimed to the extent permitted by law. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Solutions Outsourced Pty Ltd.
On 1/30/08, Les Harris <leslieharris@optushome.com.au> wrote:Mark,There were some Westfalia Kombis kicking around in Australia from the very early days. At that time, I was into improved performance Beetles and didn't take a lot of notice of them, more's the pity. My question to Ben was more oriented towards the regulatory side in the US.As an aside to anyone who wants to build up a camper, it is possible in Australia to have the seating certified as complying with the Australian ADR's, thus circumventing any insurance problems.LesLes,The Westfalia Campers were sold directly by VW as finished vehicles. To my knowledge the US DOT (Department of Transportation) regulates restraints such as seat belts and airbags but not much tinkering with the type of seat. The Westfalia seats must conform to US regulations as they came stock in vehicles delivered to the US. We do not have any specific rules about swapping seats from year to year that is enforced. In other words, put any seat in as long as you have a certified passenger restraint system in place. It is not unusual here for folks to add seats to their campers for added seating. The later model Carats and Wolfsburg Edition vans came with folding and removable rear facing seats. Those are popular add-ons. The center bench from the van can also be retrofitted into tracks in most T3 Westfalias. Then there's the rare singleseat box which accepts a seat similar to the front ones which also slide into the same middle bench track. Any of the abovementioned seats can be retrofitted w/o any legal hassles that I am aware of (in the US).BenT
On 1/31/08, Martin Henning <martin@easy2design.de> wrote:I suggest you take a pen and write down a list of wishes for your
interior. Then you come up with a design to fit all these wishes and
just build it yourself. As long is it's only the cupboards, a bed and
some storage facilities, it shouldn't be that hard and will most
certainly satisfy you much more than any other commercial stuff that
has in bin and out of 5 busses before your own. Honestly... try
yourself! Some suggestions from Germany as attachments... :) One more
argument for the selfmade variant: i have seen many couples/families
putting all members' ideas into such a project and thus having more
fun in the end. or for example the oh so common "wife with different
hobby"... building her ideas into the interior, too, could smooth many
corners :D
.martinMartin,Around my area, parts vans are so plentiful that it is not cost effective to build it yourself. The only "hassle" is removing them. I pay a local mechanic to remove the pieces for me when I need them. Contrary to your assumption, most will come from the very first bus the parts were installed in when they left the factory. It is not unusual to find a non-rusty aircooled Westfalia camper here with a bad engine for sale for less than US$300.The reason for this is the average cost of rebuilding an aircooled motor here is about $3500-$4000. Once done the camper is worth between $2500-$3500. This will change later as the supply is depleted. At the moment, I still have difficulty driving a few minutes w/o seeing a T3 of some sort.BenT
On 31.01.2008, at 12:48, BenT Syncro wrote:
> On 1/31/08, Martin Henning <martin@easy2design.de> wrote:
> I suggest you take a pen and write down a list of wishes for your
> interior. Then you come up with a design to fit all these wishes and
> just build it yourself. As long is it's only the cupboards, a bed and
> some storage facilities, it shouldn't be that hard and will most
> certainly satisfy you much more than any other commercial stuff that
> has in bin and out of 5 busses before your own. Honestly... try
> yourself! Some suggestions from Germany as attachments... :) One more
> argument for the selfmade variant: i have seen many couples/families
> putting all members' ideas into such a project and thus having more
> fun in the end. or for example the oh so common "wife with different
> hobby"... building her ideas into the interior, too, could smooth many
> corners :D
>
> .martin
>
> Martin,
>
> Around my area, parts vans are so plentiful that it is not cost
> effective to build it yourself. The only "hassle" is removing them.
> I pay a local mechanic to remove the pieces for me when I need them.
> Contrary to your assumption, most will come from the very first bus
> the parts were installed in when they left the factory. It is not
> unusual to find a non-rusty aircooled Westfalia camper here with a
> bad engine for sale for less than US$300.
>
> The reason for this is the average cost of rebuilding an aircooled
> motor here is about $3500-$4000. Once done the camper is worth
> between $2500-$3500. This will change later as the supply is
> depleted. At the moment, I still have difficulty driving a few
> minutes w/o seeing a T3 of some sort.
>
> BenT
>
>
>
--
Martin Henning, DM5OY
martin@easy2design.de
http://log.tigerbus.de
On 1/31/08, Martin Henning <martin@easy2design.de> wrote:Hi Ben,
my argument is different one: Once you built is yourself, you'll most
likely be happier with the result. The words "economic" and "syncro"
don't combine very well anyway... i abbondoned that dream long time
ago - you MUST be crazy for such hobby :D
.martinHello Martin,I had fourteen T3's of one sort or another at the beginning of last year. I've finally gotten around to downsizing to five. Economic is a relative term. In my part of the world, you could not get a new vehicle as compatible as a Syncro for half the amount of money. Under those terms, Syncro can be economically practical. You can't tell an alcoholic, the martini he wants to drink cost too much at $10 as long as he still has $11 in his wallet.Besides, comparable parts for some of my other cars cost susbstantially more than Syncro parts. =)BenT
Anyone out there know of any T3 campers being wrecked/ parted out as I would like to finish
my conversion. It currently has a Trakker pop top and custom fold down bed but would like a
proper interior.
Make the switch to the world's best email. Get the new Yahoo!7 Mail now.
----- Original Message -----From: Gary CooksonSent: Friday, February 01, 2008 10:01 AMSubject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Changing a speedo cable on a syncroHi guys
My speedo died today, I pulled the cable out of the dash instruments and it isnt rotating while driving so I assume the cable inner has broken at the other end.
I had a look in Bentley but it doesnt seem to cover the Syncro speedo cable, just the 2wd. I do find it difficult to find anything in the Bentley manual at the best of times though.
Has anyone changed one here? Does it involve pulling out the inner only assuming I can find the broken bit or the entire cable? What should I lubricate it with if just the inner?
Gary
Thanks Les, I had a quick look under the van last night but I’ll have a better look at the weekend. I thought it might drive from the front diff so I’m hoping it has just worked loose.
The propshaft has the usual vibration problem so maybe that has shaken it loose. Needless to say, propshaft has been removed and is job number 47 on the list after the VC, aircon, new bumpers, wheels, dents, gas leaks, etc....
I seriously have spent a good hour trying to find a picture in the Bentley so now I have the reference I’ll look tonight. I’m more used to Haynes manuals which I’m sure are easier to follow. Might see if there is a syncro version.
Gary
Gary,
The Teutonic logic behind the manual escapes many people, myself included. The speedo drives from the front diff and is pictured on Page 39.34. It sounds like a broken cable but it might also be that the diff end has come undone enough to disengage the cable.
Les
----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Cookson <mailto:gary@twentytwentyone.net>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 10:01 AM
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Changing a speedo cable on a syncro
Hi guys
My speedo died today, I pulled the cable out of the dash instruments and it isn’t rotating while driving so I assume the cable inner has broken at the other end.
I had a look in Bentley but it doesn’t seem to cover the Syncro speedo cable, just the 2wd. I do find it difficult to find anything in the Bentley manual at the best of times though.
Has anyone changed one here? Does it involve pulling out the inner only assuming I can find the broken bit or the entire cable? What should I lubricate it with if just the inner?
Gary