My Westfalia Syncro!

[Christian P.]

well I just received an update from my friend (email - he does not have a cell phone) and he is on the 40 somewhere in Arkansas on his way to the Grand Canyon. Apparently everything is good with the Syncro so far, except that it's really hot. The A/C is one of the things I want to fix...

 

[T.Low]

Sweet Syncro! Always had a crush on them.



In 1991, I was struggling with a way to afford an '86 Syncro. They were asking $14,000. I just couldn't come up with the money as I was going back to college and was a bit (more of) a kayak bumb at the time.

Now it seems they are going for $15,000 to $20,000.


I thought long and hard about getting a Syncro last year. The thing I really like about the forward control is that with a wheel base 11" shorter than the Chevy Astro, it has 16" more interior room from the back of the front seat to the rear door.

I may still get one. In the end, I chose an AWD Astro to modify. I would love to see how my modified Astro compares with a Syncro regarding off pavement performance. And for that matter, how the Vanaru's (as they call the Suby swaps) compares on the freeway. If I had the money, (and if I look hard enough, I just might find it!) I'd love to get a Westy, do the Suby swap, and drive both for a couple years until a clear cut winner forces the other one out of the garage.

Yes, I've been lurking for a while on (among other forums)

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewforum.php?f=20

Nice van!

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Nice!


With these Syncro prices now even exceding $30,000 ...........is it possible to install 4x4 Syncro running gear onto a standard Westfalia?



Check this one out!

I would love to have this!


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=638992

1992 Syncro Doka turbo diesel Price: $18,500



1992 Syncro Doka

1.6 Turbo diesel / new injection pump.
200k KM
4wd (no lockers)
3/4 bench up front, no walk through.
New treasure chest doors
Ex railroad maintenance vehicle.
very little rust.
Sliding rear side windows
Alloy wheels
Swedish roll bar
rubber mats
Runs great.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Or............


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=622831

 

[Christian P.]

Nice!


With these Syncro prices now even exceding $30,000 ...........is it possible to install 4x4 Syncro running gear onto a standard Westfalia?

Yes it is totally possible. Several people have done it.

A couple years ago I did it the other way around. I bought a straight Vanagon Syncro passenger from a yard in the bay Area for $1500 and put a poptop on it and a Westfalia interior.

But if I had to do it again, I would buy a nice 1990/91 Westy and put the Syncro running gear from a donor Vanagon Syncro. it's not a weekend project but can be done.

 

[MuddyMudskipper]

Very nice Westy Syncro you have there Christian. I live near Kennedy Engineering who makes clutches for aircooled Germans as well as the conversion kits for the Sube into Vanagon swap. The last time I was out there I was buying a 92' GLI from one of the employees and Hobert, the owner, had four Westy syncros (and other Vanagons) lined up in the back of his shop. He wouldn't part with any of them.

I have much love for the Vanagon and all of its variants.

 

[T.Low]

Yes it is totally possible. Several people have done it.

A couple years ago I did it the other way around. I bought a straight Vanagon Syncro passenger from a yard in the bay Area for $1500 and put a poptop on it and a Westfalia interior.

But if I had to do it again, I would buy a nice 1990/91 Westy and put the Syncro running gear from a donor Vanagon Syncro. it's not a weekend project but can be done.

What about lifting them a bit? Don't think I've really seen one lifted at all?

 

[ntsqd]

What about lifting them a bit? Don't think I've really seen one lifted at all?

Been done. Try some of the videos on youtube from "Syncro de Mayo", a Syncro-fest at Hollister Hills OHV area in CA.

 

[Christian P.]

What about lifting them a bit? Don't think I've really seen one lifted at all?

Funny you mention this...One of the first upgrate I am doing is a suspension job.

I just bought a set of springs from SmallCar last night.
It should give me about 1-2" lift. I still have the original springs on it with over 200000 km...actually one in the back has been broken (at the top) for several years now - so that should be a huge improvement.

http://www.smallcar.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=7

http://www.syncro.org/springs.shtml

 

[T.Low]

Funny you mention this...One of the first upgrate I am doing is a suspension job.

I just bought a set of springs from SmallCar last night.
It should give me about 1-2" lift. I still have the original springs on it with over 200000 km...actually one in the back has been broken (at the top) for several years now - so that should be a huge improvement.

http://www.smallcar.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=7

http://www.syncro.org/springs.shtml

How tall of a tire can you run with that lift?

How tall of a tire will you run?

Tall enough to warrant a gearing change?.

 

[jammyauto]

They biggest tire you can possibly run is a 245 75r16. Thats what I run on my syncro. Any bigger and your hitting the frame. That size tire requires extending the rear control arms like the 16" syncro. With the stock engine anything over stock should be regeared IMHO. Unfortunatly the ring and pinion supply for these vans has really dried up in the last couple years. I run 6:17 gears in my van and really like them. I also have a subaru 2.2 but recently got to drive a good friends TDI conversion and I must say that if I had to do it again I'd go this route. The low end torque is killer off road. 30 mpg is pretty nice too.

See my van in action here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIii6Mo2fso
My van is the orange one.

Here's the van before being painted orange http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1848353

With any luck it'll be the first syncro to attend the Expedition Trophy this year.

 

[Christian P.]

How tall of a tire can you run with that lift?

How tall of a tire will you run?

Tall enough to warrant a gearing change?.

The tires will stay the same as I have not - I think they are 215/75/15.
I may get 1" or 2" inches higher.

The goal is not to build a rock crawler or anything. I just want a good suspension so the Westfalia handles better.

 

[Christian P.]

They biggest tire you can possibly run is a 245 75r16. Thats what I run on my syncro. Any bigger and your hitting the frame. That size tire requires extending the rear control arms like the 16" syncro. With the stock engine anything over stock should be regeared IMHO. Unfortunatly the ring and pinion supply for these vans has really dried up in the last couple years. I run 6:17 gears in my van and really like them. I also have a subaru 2.2 but recently got to drive a good friends TDI conversion and I must say that if I had to do it again I'd go this route. The low end torque is killer off road. 30 mpg is pretty nice too.

Seth

you're one of the rare person I know who's driven both a Subaru 2.5 and a TDI.

Could you elaborate a bit more on the difference in driving? I am more interested in highway speed and hills climbing - not so much about low end torque for off road.

Would you say the TDI is a better choice on the freeway to drive up to Tahoe for instance?


thanks

 

[jatibb]

http://theautobahnsociety.com/
forget the subaru, go here instead.

 

[Christian P.]

Well I just got another update from my friend.
He is in Arizona now, getting closer to Grand Canyon.

He said he got delayed because of a truck who caught fire on the 40 and created a traffic jam for a few hours. He said he met a bunch of Native Americans on their way back to California after finishing to walk across America and had dinner with them. I guess it's this group - they must not be that many people walking across America right now...



http://www.longestwalk.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=787&Itemid=121

pretty funny...

he is still hoping to be there by Friday night in time for Happy Hour...

:friday:

 

[jammyauto]

Christian, It's hard to really make a comparission subaru vs. tdi as they are so different. Subie is much faster off a light and likes to rev. It's really nice and smooth. With the TDI you can feel the whole van vibrate a little when it runs. The TDI is way easier to drive off road in technical stuff. The TDI pulls the hills really nice but is way more particular about the gearing as the power band is 1/3 what the subie has. For me I'm currently lusting after a TDI but I'm not going to take apart my running perfectly good syncro, I'm going to build another one! I've been wanting a Doka anyway so my plan is to build one with a pump duse TDI. The newer TDI won't lay over in the van engine compartment but will go in a transporter no problem. I have the trans and front diff with all the trick stuff, just need the truck and the motor! One other thing to consider is that the subaru is about 1/2 the cost up front as the TDI and parts are much cheaper down the road. Still diesel is always cooler that gas IMHO. Either way you can't go wrong.