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

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

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

Sent you a PM 5.25pm

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

just buy this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3202234215...

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.

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

i have heard the diffs are $$$$ killers
Plus it will be a manual

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

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/ 

Great information Steve thnks for that.

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

Brendan