There's a new van in my life;-)

[puerco-bellies]

My first cheesey-ass copy-cat thread.

Oh well, here's a picture.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

1. That's great!

Looks like a fun ROAD TRIP vehicle.
Duckie

[democracyindanger]

2. I read a thing about

the old VW Westfalia AWD vans. Those things are badass.

[puerco-bellies]

3. We wanted a Westfalia, but had to settle on the Vanagon Syncro

We will be converting this to a "Westy" over time. This thing can transverse some pretty rough terrain.

[Syncronaut Seven]

4. What do you mean SETTLE for a syncro!

Vanagons Rock! I've owned 1 type 2, 1 air cooled Vanagon (82), 2 water cooled and my last was a Syncro. Do you know what a viscous clutch is? and how to test it?

Finally sold my Syncro cause it was running perfectly! That's the time to sell. ;)

Did you know your van will climb sand dunes? Air down tires to about 18 Psi for best results in loose sand.

Learn to re-pack your own CV joints, you have 8. It is a labor of love, and not really that hard.

My current van is 35' with chasis by GMC and body by Ward. 13 tons of screaming fun! :)

Enjoy!

[puerco-bellies]

5. Viscous Coupling.. Yes I do what one is..

But not intimately.. yet. How do you test it, and what indicates the need?

As for climbing dunes I am counting on it. My dad just moved to the San Luis valley in Colorado near the Great Sand Dunes National Park. I bought it with crossing deep sandy washes, desert wilderness roads, Rocky Mountain road cuts, streams, Baja California, and anything else that the planet (with in reason) throws in my way. PM me with any, and I mean any, Syncro stories, tips, lore or what-ever.

[Syncronaut Seven]

7. There is one or two yahoo syncro groups

Viscous clutch test: Place rear chassis on rolling jacks, with rear wheels in the air. See if front wheels will pull van forward. If silicone shear fluid is low/gone van won't pull.

Put van in tight radius turn at about 3-5 MPH. Very slight binding is normal, heavy binding/hopping is indicative of bound up VC, usually heat warpage of the internal discs, which are packed close so the shear fluid works.

VC is one of the two expensive parts on the van, the other is the AWD transaxle so take care.

Matched, well rotated, properly aired tires are essential. If the tires aren't the same diameter, the difference in rotational speed churnes the VC, building excessive heat, which will destroy the VC.

Syncro has excellent center of gravity, Lots of drive train, way down low, plus lots of iron to protect the drive train. Conversion to a camper will change your center of gravity quite a bit. Transporter is a genuine one ton van, curb weight, ~4,000 Lbs.

Note on rough shifting: Each tranny oil behaves differently in this transaxle. Some are to viscous and the syncros won't work well, catches 2-3 or 3-4. 1 is not (Hehe...) Normally used, but handy. ;o)

http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=syncro

Enjoy!

[MikeH]

6. Vantastic!