VIC T25/3 Leirsure Drive Camper

[ragat3]

Hi I am very new and have purchased an old lemon. I have just towed it to mechanic in Thomastown. He is suggesting a full reco and he's probably not wrong..Have brain stress should I redo or buy another t3 should I utter it air-cooled......Mechanic said If I reco the motor etc I should get 400,000k have other people had this experience

[sVWatt]

Was thinking of getting a T3 myself. What mileage has yours done? Had one back in the UK - synchro model - 2.1lt loved it. It had done 120,000 miles.

[ragat3]

Its a bit unknown as the electrics are not working, I was told 81,000 after reco motor, unfortunately it broke down while driving it back from Nhill (country Vic ) so I think I might not be the best used car buyer.. I do love it though, its a moonraker. It was imported and has a devon fit out. I looked for a syncro but very hard to find. My engine is the DG prefix so I think its not a 2.1. I do want to travel I am thinking, spend the big money now and get everything running spot on.. I saw a few t3's spread out all over australia, some quite expensive, some expensive and rusty.

[sVWatt]

I know. There are some well used and well abused ones out there. I think it will be a manual for me. I remember the Devon conversions well. Loved them. What's your mechanic quoting for the work, and what's he doing? Presume he is experienced with the VW boxer engines?

[ragat3]

The mechanic says a full recondition of the engine and look at the clutch. that's taking the engine out and reworking all the parts, about $5,000..to me who knows nothing it sounds reasonable, but I think with all that I would get the brakes and gearbox done as well. and maybe parts that I don't yet know about, I believe from what I have read, he is experienced he only works on VW and he is German born, wm motors or volks court. He has a big yard with wrecking parts vw as well. He is not stuck on only air cooled motors either, he said to me that once reco he would expect a good 400,000k out of the motor if serviced properly etc. How does that sound to the more experienced vw driver? I did contact another vw mechanic and he suggested that I should scrap it or put in a subaru motor, he seems to favour air cooled vintage only vw.