My Westfalia Syncro!

[ujoint]

Nothing as fine as progress!!!

 

[JED THE SPREAD]

Hi,

Thought I'd jump aboard the thread and say hello! I am a fellow Westy Syncro owner over in the UK. My van is my daily driver, my holiday machine, my weekender and my overland machine!

. I have a few large trips in mind once i have some work projects out of the way. A group of 3 of us drove our Syncro's down to the Western Sahara from the UK last year, not a mechanical issue of for me in a 5,000 mile round trip - and I averaged 31mpg!! I also travelled for 2 weeks offroad around the Pyrenees last month.

Mine has been loved-up with Seikel Springs (lift and stiffer), Old Man Emu Shocks, 235/75-15 Goodrich Mud Terrains, Heavy Duty Steel Wheels, the engine is a 1.9TDi, which has been fitted with a hybrid mechanical pump (no electronics :smiley_drive To reduce the engine sweat there is a 19-row oil cooler up front and a Chargecooler for the turbo. The standard Steyr-Puch drivetrain copes fairly well offroad with Front/Rear Difflocks as standard. The mechanical achilles heel is the weak gearbox

For me there is no other vehicle like it, The Westy Syncro does everything well! The bed in mine is so comfortable it'll get use instead of the bed at home on some weeknights! (Even the Wife-to-be agrees!!).

A very good friend of mine runs http://www.syncro-nutz.com up in Scotland. They are absolute pro's at these things. He builds custom versions, think his last beast had 235-85-16's on - not bad for a camper!

I have had and driven various engine conversions on these, Subaru, VW I-4 (tiico), Audi 5-cyl - favourite is definately the TDi, the torque is loverrrly.

Let me know if you ever ship over to the UK/Europe.....

A few pics:

Hehehehehe..... small world hey!!

jed

 

[JED THE SPREAD]

I was just looking at a review for a roof top tent on this forum via Google sat in my house in London UK and had a quick look through the site after, when i noticed this thread.

This van looks familiar i thought to myself.

The blue Doka is mine by the way next to Syncroand101's Westy

Syncros do rock but i cant believe how much you fellas pay for them.

jed

 

[JED THE SPREAD]

And again in Wales

 

[Christian P.]

just posting an update with more pictures for future references...



More Syncro pics here:

http://2aroundtheworld.smugmug.com/g...24278143_nurA8

 

[FourByLand]

That's it, I am hooked.

More pics!!!

 

[Christian P.]

a few more then...

 

[BlueBomber]

hey 2aroundtheworld,
you said you could use some more power, are you planning on bumping the HP and torque up any? A cold air intake (AKA snorkel:sombrero, aftermarket exaust, webber carb (do you have a carb?????) would help and should keep it reliable. You could also look into water/methanol injection (might help keep things cool while going up steep hills...in traffic...when its 105 degrees outside) just some thoughts.

awesome VW

EDIT: also, wrapping your exaust will not only cut under-hood (ummmm "under-butt" in your case) temps but aid in exaust scavenging. POWER!!!!!! MUAHHHHHHH HA HA HA HA

 

[mcgovski]

Dang

Well, I got through the tread. Thanks for bumping it. Inspired~!


Chris

 

[Christian P.]

BlueBomber

the most common way to increase power in these vans is to installed a bigger engine. there are several conversions possible - Subaru, VW, etc

Here are some examples:

TencentLife 2.2 and up:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=514460

Go Westy 2.4 and 2.5

http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=4041&category_id=82&category_parent_id=

Subaru 2.2, 2.5 and SVX 6 cyl:

http://smallcar.com/index.php?act=viewDoc&docId=9

http://www.rockymountainwesty.com/index.htm

Zetec Engine:

http://www.bostig.com/

Also not sure if i had posted this video before...

God is a Syncro:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX1iiqgkILQ

 

[syncroand101]

Just put a rebuilt box in mine, with longer 3rd and 4th gear to take advantage of the mTDi Powerrr. 0.71 4th gear, can cruise happily now at 65-70mph.

Just did long drive and got 460 miles out of the tank, to be fair, we drove at a chilled 55, so the revs were right down low.

In for a respray next month, just sourcing all the original decals to put back on once it is finished, then a full underside waxoyl and powdercoating all the exterior bits...

No wonder my wife wishes she was a syncro...:costumed-smiley-007

 

[JED THE SPREAD]

Just put a rebuilt box in mine, with longer 3rd and 4th gear to take advantage of the mTDi Powerrr. 0.71 4th gear, can cruise happily now at 65-70mph.

Just did long drive and got 460 miles out of the tank, to be fair, we drove at a chilled 55, so the revs were right down low.

In for a respray next month, just sourcing all the original decals to put back on once it is finished, then a full underside waxoyl and powdercoating all the exterior bits...

No wonder my wife wishes she was a syncro...:costumed-smiley-007

Who is the long haired handsome chap with you in the standard 2.1 petrol engine keeping up with you highly modded fellas then :wings:

Starting off with two videos from a four day wander around north Wales wild camping followed by hooking up with some pals just after in oxfordshire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6hjWctPQHI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNzUOSuv0Ps


I am the blue double cab and syncroand101is in the white westy...

jed

 

[syncroand101]

Who is the long haired handsome chap with you in the standard 2.1 petrol engine keeping up with you highly modded fellas then

That'll be the same handsome long haired chap using drinking nearly twice as much fuel as my frugal Tdi...:ylsmoke:

 

[blupaddler]

Christian well done!:drool::drool::drool::drool::drool:

I may have read over it but did you rebuild the engine or put the old one back in?

I have heard people saying westys can get 20mpg or more with the gas engine? Is this true or more urban legend? I'm also curious what kind of MPG you received on your trip out to the Overland Expo.


Thanks!

 

[BlueBomber]

I know motor swaps are popular, just giving you some thing to think about. thanks for all the links. I dont know too much about VWs. good read!

edit: the engine cradle/tire carrier combo at Rocky Mountain Westy is cool!