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T3 Transporter Help

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Special Air Service Chief "Gunna"

1,769 posts · joined Oct 2004 ·

#636550
Hi all,
Still trying to sort out a new vehicle for myself while I take the beetle off the road to fix it up.
Looking at a '89 T3 transporter (7 seater) on the weekend, I know nothing about them, so what do I need to look for & where do I need to look.
Thanks for your help as always.
Cheers
Brendan
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greedy53 Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,062 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#636616
brendon these are very well made with rust not being a worry and usually caused by a prang or a repaint the engine is a type1 with a few extra goodies and water cooled heads the water should have THE CORRECT ADDERTIVE IN IT AND is a blue colour although there is a new one i don't know what colour it is
and auto should change without any stuffing around very smooth and a 5 speed will have a weird 1 st gear the rest will be condition of the rest paint etc
and look for water leaks from the motor there should be NONE
👍👍😂🙅🥷😬🤓

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#636618
G12+ is pink

Personally i think the auto is the pick
They can stick in low and bang into 2nd after 10mins but when that happened to mone it was only a simple clean. Easy fix. had put it off thinking it was the gear box.
never driven a manual but have heard that 1st is too low.

NO leaks is the go.
Ask them how often the fluid was changed. Should be at least every 2nd year.
Make sure you get one with power steer.
I "think" transporters come with it. I have seen utes etc without and they are heavy to steer.

parts arent plentiful - so make sure things like all the lights dont have cracks in them, you have end covers to the bumpers etc etc
Futue te ipsum!!!

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#636675
greedy53 wrote:brendon these are very well made with rust not being a worry and usually caused by a prang or a repaint the engine is a type1 with a few extra goodies and water cooled heads the water should have THE CORRECT ADDERTIVE IN IT AND is a blue colour although there is a new one i don't know what colour it is
and auto should change without any stuffing around very smooth and a 5 speed will have a weird 1 st gear the rest will be condition of the rest paint etc
and look for water leaks from the motor there should be NONE
actually the engine is ether t4 or 5 mate, the t4 is the aircooled and the t5 is the watercooled but both are good motors so long as you use the right stuff for both
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
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syncropro Casual Dubber

44 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#636708
Sent you a PM 5.25pm

greedy53 Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,062 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#636715
what this about a t4 t5 crap a t3 is a t3 or t25 if ya a pommy the t3 had in the first of the new shape were air cooled than the shape stayed the same but with a radiator under the top one and went to 1.9 soon after the 2.1 arrived
the t3 t4 t5 are all very differant a t4 you cant give away
👍👍😂🙅🥷😬🤓

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#636722
its the motor types ie type 4 (air cooled kombi and vanagon) and 5(watercooled or wasserboxer) so therefore its not a type 1 motor as you said do a little searching and you will find im right mate.
as for giving away a type 4 i believe they are getting more and more popular
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

Special Air Service Chief "Gunna"

1,769 posts · joined Oct 2004 ·

#636757
syncropro wrote:Sent you a PM 5.25pm
If this is for me I didnt get anything in my inbox.

Thanks for the help guys,
I had a look & a drive of the 89 transporter on thursday arvo, drove really well (to me anyway), the owner said the guy he got it off 5yrs ago was getting rid of it becuase it had a whine in the gearbox/diff but that it hadnt gotten any worse since he has owned it. I could really notice it because I'm used to cars that have a lot more noises going on than a whine in the gearbox. Loses a bit of water, unsure of quantity & from where, owner has just kept topping it up & has never had an issue. What are the likey places to look for leaks & what is the worstcase scenario? Heads stuffed? How exy are heads to replace if thats the problem? If I bought it I would be getting it pressure tested & new coolant put in straight away anyway.
Corner if rear bumper has been crunched,alloy bull bar at front in place of standard bumper. Car has been a coastal car most of its life, paint is thinnig, couple of small rust spots behind bull bar.
I reckon i can get it for $2200 - $2500 which I think is not to bad considering that I'm not after a pristine example, more after a worker.

Any more advice would be appreciated

Cheers
Brendan

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Spook Driving the 64 wheeler

1,168 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#636759
3 types of rear engine van.

While I grant you, I've often heard of it being refered to as a type 4 engine. It's a t3 van.

If you get a good'n you"ll be well pleased, but if you have problems, they are not like any other VW to work on.

Oh, & bay owners won't wave to you any more.

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Well my friends are gone & my hair is grey, I ache in the places where I used to play.

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#636761
hey brendan go down and talk to my old man hes got 2 there that hes working on at the moment. he will give you an idea about price also he might look at it for you as well
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#636766
Maybe contact Dave Becker.
He "might" have a spare motor.
If its loosing water i would be a little cautious

I have a NOS front bumper if you are interested.
Futue te ipsum!!!

syncropro Casual Dubber

44 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#636817
Special Air Service wrote:
syncropro wrote:Sent you a PM 5.25pm
Must have done something wrong with PM. Anyways, I was going to ask about your budget,
because I am considering selling my '89 Caravelle Syncro 4WD,
but for considerably more than $2200-$2500.

If water is leaking mysteriously then probably head/studs problem, can be pricey, diff can be pricey also.
Good luck, they are a good vehicle, hope you find a good one.

Kom81y Commited Dubber

72 posts · joined Jul 2006 ·

#636830
Common rust spots are under bottom corners of windscreen, gutters, bottom of slider, seams at back behind wheel arches. Check that it doesnt smell of petrol after you have done a couple of corners - very common to find the breather pipes have perished on top of fuel tank - not a major thing but it is a pest if you find you can't fill your tank without losing petrol and have to keep it only half full.

Its worth that price in parts alone - try pricing a rear window for your tailgate!!! Parts are NOT that hard to get - especially if you are willing to get stuff sent from the UK or US - I recently replaced the front grille on my 83 aircooled one - VW wanted almost $700 for genuine (no headlights- just plastic) but getting one from the UK from Just Kampers cost me $165 from their Oz agent. We also own an 85 twin slider from the UK - a 1.9 with carbies. We did have an 85 a few years back and the headstuds went on it - it cost us $3100 for the rebuild- that was before GST - I think my mechanic will charge about $5500 for it now - ouch.

Special Air Service Chief "Gunna"

1,769 posts · joined Oct 2004 ·

#636874
syncropro wrote:
Special Air Service wrote:
syncropro wrote:Sent you a PM 5.25pm
Must have done something wrong with PM. Anyways, I was going to ask about your budget,
because I am considering selling my '89 Caravelle Syncro 4WD,
but for considerably more than $2200-$2500.

If water is leaking mysteriously then probably head/studs problem, can be pricey, diff can be pricey also.
Good luck, they are a good vehicle, hope you find a good one.
I've sent you a PM regarding the price of yours

Cheers
Brendan
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vwtyp2 Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,504 posts · joined Sep 2003 ·

#636946
just buy this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320223421557&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=011

I used to own it, so I can vouch for it.
The reason it's for sale again is the guy is going back O.S.
The only thing it needed when I had it was a little bit of rust removed and a touch up with the spray gun.
Now it's half way there, if you don't like the colour combo, you've got the perfect opportunity to change it.
Most people seem normal, till you get to know them.

Special Air Service Chief "Gunna"

1,769 posts · joined Oct 2004 ·

#638681
Looking at an ex-Telstra Syncro on Sunday,'92 model, auto, a/c, power steer, mags, roof racks, tow bar, panel van with window in sliding door. Is there anything peculiar about syncros I need to check? Do these vans have the mounting points for rear seats & seat belts? How easy are seats to come by & how exy? Is it possible to put put another window in opposite the slider? Or would I be devalueing the vehicle by doing this?
Comments ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks again
Brendan
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Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#638686
i have heard the diffs are $$$$ killers
Plus it will be a manual
Futue te ipsum!!!

Special Air Service Chief "Gunna"

1,769 posts · joined Oct 2004 ·

#638724
I forgot to ask, how easy to come by are lowered springs for all models of the T3 series? Where are they available from? How much do they cost? Would I have to change shock absorber lengths to suit? Are they all coil springs?
Ideally I want to end up with a slightly lowered van so I dont want to buy one that does not have springs readiy available, & I want to factor some of the cost into my purchase price.

Cheers Again.
Brendan
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1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#638727
barls wrote:its the motor types ie type 4 (air cooled kombi and vanagon) and 5(watercooled or wasserboxer) so therefore its not a type 1 motor as you said do a little searching and you will find im right mate.
as for giving away a type 4 i believe they are getting more and more popular
Hi Barls

What Greedy meant when he said it was Type 1 based is true.

The crank and rods are Type 1 shaped, meaning that you can fit a Wasser crank & rods into a Type 1 case with a little work and you can fit stroked performance Type cranks into a Wasser as well, the cam is identical to a Type 1 cam although its hydraulic the lifters are Type 4, the majority of the main bearings are Type 1 and the big ends are Type 1, the cam bearing are the same as a Type 1 but use a double thrust and can be used in a Type 1.

The intake ports on the head a Type 1 style only larger and a Type 1 exhaust can be made to fit without much work.

So VW basically bored, stroked and water cooled a Type 1 motor to make the Wasser which by the VW part numbering system as known as 251 xxx xxx.

Steve

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#638749
They are springs all round
You can pick us 2nd hand occasionally springs all round for say $200-$300.
Then plus fitting
A LOT of info on the Brickyard.

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/
Futue te ipsum!!!

Special Air Service Chief "Gunna"

1,769 posts · joined Oct 2004 ·

#638763
Great information Steve thnks for that.

Barry, thanks for the link, I'll do a bit of research there.

Brendan
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Menangler Custom Title Time!

1,991 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#638975
Special Air Service wrote:Looking at an ex-Telstra Syncro on Sunday,'92 model, auto, a/c, power steer, mags, roof racks, tow bar, panel van with window in sliding door. Is there anything peculiar about syncros I need to check? Do these vans have the mounting points for rear seats & seat belts? How easy are seats to come by & how exy? Is it possible to put put another window in opposite the slider? Or would I be devalueing the vehicle by doing this?
Comments ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks again
Brendan
Brendan,
If it is an ex Telstra Syncro, it won't be an auto, Syncro's dont come in Auto, just 4 speed + the Granny gear. They don't have seat belt mounts in the back or mounts for the rear seats, these will all have to be fitted (engineer certificate required) You can put in an after market rear window on the drivers side, but I think they stuff a good panel van.

I think you would be better off looking for a Caravelle if you want seats in the back.
Dave
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A feeling experienced by Volkswagen Drivers.

Special Air Service Chief "Gunna"

1,769 posts · joined Oct 2004 ·

#639126
Menangler wrote:
Special Air Service wrote:Looking at an ex-Telstra Syncro on Sunday,'92 model, auto, a/c, power steer, mags, roof racks, tow bar, panel van with window in sliding door. Is there anything peculiar about syncros I need to check? Do these vans have the mounting points for rear seats & seat belts? How easy are seats to come by & how exy? Is it possible to put put another window in opposite the slider? Or would I be devalueing the vehicle by doing this?
Comments ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks again
Brendan
Brendan,
If it is an ex Telstra Syncro, it won't be an auto, Syncro's dont come in Auto, just 4 speed + the Granny gear. They don't have seat belt mounts in the back or mounts for the rear seats, these will all have to be fitted (engineer certificate required) You can put in an after market rear window on the drivers side, but I think they stuff a good panel van.

I think you would be better off looking for a Caravelle if you want seats in the back.
Dave
Yeah I got my wires crossed on the auto bit, like you said Dave no seat or seat belt mounts & window can only be put in the rear. Driving it seemed really heavy & really low geared compared to the 5 speed transporter I drove earlier on. The transporter seemed more car like to drive compared to the syncro. So yes I have narrowed the field down to carravelle or regular 2wd transproter.

Thanks for your help.

Brendan
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