The Road To Syncro Solstice

[photogdave]

Back home in one piece - what a great trip. It was really cool to meet all the Sambanistas in person and hang out.
Special thanks to Doug for putting me up, and Dave, Brian and Mike for helping me with the coolant leak! Just as I got to the turnoff to the campground my temp light started blinking and coolant was pouring out the front. I coasted into camp and Brian was quick with a tarp and some tools and Dave was at the ready with clamps and zip ties. My rad hose became separated from the plastic pipe...Mike was kind enough to give me the GoWesty brass couplers to take on the trip home in case of further trouble.
Riding along with CV Bill on Hell's Revenge was worth the whole trip but it was also really cool to pilot my syncro on some of the mellower trails, doing some more serious offroading than I had done before.
So according to Garmin my entire trip from Vancouver to Moab and back taking the scenic route, was 3773 miles and about $925 in gas. My max speed was 84 mph, moving average was 52 mph and I spent 72 hours and 23 minutes driving.
The old 2.1 really didn't like the altitude and was really gasping above 5000 feet. After I filled up in a town near 8000 feet the idle suddenly dropped and I had no power. I was really worried that there was a problem and started checking vacuum lines, plug wires etc. but couldn't find anything obvious. When I restarted it ran fine and I didn't have any other problems. Burnt about a quart of oil.
It was a fantastic experience to spend an entire two weeks living in the van on my own. I only paid for camping four times and the more I paid the worse the sight was. Great Basin NP for $6 was the best deal but not as good as camping in the desert for free! I only went out for three meals: one dinner and two breakfasts. Really enjoyed cooking for myself n the van or on the grill the whole time.
If it wasn't for wanting to get back to my family I could have kept doing this indefinitely!

EDIT: Did the final tally and gas came to about $950 and I got almost exactly 17 mpg for the trip.
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[FrankenSubySyncro]

Hey Dave,

Glad you made it home safe and sound, it was fun hanging out at Lone Mesa and Hells Revenge and nice to meet you. Where is the link to all your wonderful pics? I know it takes a week or so to get used to being back home and not totally free on the road. I'm looking forward to them though. It would be cool if you could get a BC contingent to come down for NWMogFest in Sheridan, Oregon.
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1987 Syncro (converted 2WD auto)
2004 2.5 SOHC Subaru
F & R lockers, decoupler, SS, 6.17 R&P
EMPI race prepped 930 CVs and axles
Bilstein coilover front, rear ProComp MX-6066R shocks, hypercoil springs
30x9.5 15" BFG Muds
Custom skid plates
Nose job (custom front bumper) http://www.flickr.com/photos/subyvanagon/sets/72157624970330925/

[joseph928]

Glad you made it home safe and sound, it was fun hanging out at Hells Revenge and nice to meet you. X2 can't wait tell next year! Bill had one hell of a van for 3 wheel drive!
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1987 syncro westy tin top sun roof GW2.3 rear locker decoupler custom bumper roof rack Gary Lee tire rack lift south african grill big brakes rhein alloy 15 BFG AT 617 gears ShadyBoy awning 140 watt rear 85 watt front solar mppt truckfridge automatic fire extinguishing system - 2010 Subaru turbo - 1993 Toyota 4x4 truck - 1999 Harley - Dodge 4500 4x4- 1987 tin top westy Jetta 2.0 ABA 1.8 head, 55 watt solar automatic fire extinguishing system -Just sold my 84 Westy

[itsasyncro]

Hi Dave,
Glad that another member of the hells revenge crew
made it home safe and sound.
It was great to meet you, I look forward to
seeing you soon.
Jeff

[Syncronicity]

Nice to meet you Dave. Glad you had an excellent trip and made it home safe and sound. See you next year. Hope your video post production goes better than mine. Turns out that I need to free up some space on my 1 Terabyte Mac. Too many pics and videos
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Tom, Juanita and Iggy the Dirty Desert Dog
2.1 L 87 Syncro
KD0ALU
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[photogdave]

David: I'll post some photos in this thread soon. Once I edit the video I'll put together a proper movie and give everyone the link. Mogfest is a definite maybe! Hope to see you there.
Joe and Jeff: you guys rocked Hell's Revenge! You're much braver than I. It's easy to go along for the ride but to pilot your rig through that insanity takes guts. Hats off to you guys!
Tom: thanks for the fun canyon run and the driving tips. Time for an external hard drive. I use a LaCie enclosure with two swappable drives with auto backup. I've got some nice pics of your van at sunset which I'll pass along when I can.
Cheers everybody!
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