TheSamba.com :: View topic - Westy-->Syncro Build. Help from expirenced strippers want

Tue Dec 11, 2012 11:00 pm

I'm hoping this will become a good how to build thread for anyone looking to save Syncro parts and keep this dying breed alive. :D
I love Vanagons. I grew up riding everywhere from being a baby to learning to drive in vans. My favorite was always the Syncro! My dad would always pull the locker and pound through giant snow banks in the winter time.
I pulled the first van that I owned out of the woods in Zigzag Oregon. It was pretty beat up and had seen much love, but it had been run hard and put away wet. I have done a ton of work on her and we have gotten way more back in enjoyment from this old girl. I want to slowly work through converting the 2wd trans to a full syncro with a rear locking differential. I found a pretty good deal on a full vanagon syncro in my home state of New Hampshire. My plan is as follows:
I am going to return to New Hampshire for Xmas :wink: and visit my family for two weeks. During this time I am going to strip down the syncro of all good parts and ship them home to Oregon. I want to fit all the important parts on one pallet. I am planning on paying most of the shipping with the body which is apparently pretty much dead. Phase two is adding the rear gas tank and transmission to my westy. The last phase will be to rehab all front suspension parts and install the front end components.

She is a '87 westy weekender. 8)

He's a '86 Syncro Tintop. :?

I have read a bunch from many threads and have read through some documents on the Syncro yahoo site. Here are the links:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=349105
By: bmwmangon best how to with pictures out there?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=401176
By: Zimzam great list of parts needed

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=183667&highlight=vans+syncro+2wd+conversion
good link to syncro yahoo description of the project.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=366145&highlight=vans+enter
good pictures....

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=535730&highlight=black+diamond
Another brave sole few weeks ahead of me.

I am well aware that it is advisable to have both vehicles side by side, but it's a not go where I live. I also have a few great people that live in the area that have syncros, done this conversion and or know it inside out. Thank god I live in PNW, the Portland area is great!
--ANY New Englanders give me a shout! The van has been pretty stripped of misc. parts other than syncro stuff, but I might be able to find you something. My folks are right around Portsmouth so any local people are more than welcome to check this out. I would love some help and some extra vanagon eyes on this project.

I pulled the list off the zimzam thread with the following parts, it seems pretty good. I am planning on removing the frame section where the transmission mounts, the sheet metal around the gas filler to the running light, and the cross member in the front.
the front subframe and everything attached, including
upper and lower control arms with ball joints
front diff with mounts
front axles with CV's
steering knuckles with bearings
front brakes
radius rod arms
shocks and springs
prop shaft
skid plate and rails
front exhaust header
muffler brackets
gas tank with vent lines
the gas filler neck and associated parts
transmission with mounts
shifter assembly and linkage
engine carrier bar (important not to forget this)
power steering rack with the metal it attaches to.
speedometer, cables and the little black box in between
if a rear locker you'll need the vacuum tank, all the lines and the controls on the dash.

:idea:
-Anything missing from this list?
-Any advice would be greatly appreciated....
-Anyone know about how much this all would weight? I am guessing about 8 hundred pounds all in all... is that light?
:?:
Thanks a bunch for any input, I am taking delivery on Sunday and thing will hopefully move forward quickly. Lots of work for xmas!
Cheers
:popcorn:

Tue Dec 11, 2012 11:47 pm

There was also a very pic intensive 2wd to 4wd swap thread on the brickyard forum a while ago. I was gearing up for this but my $1500 donor syncro has turned into my daily driver for the time being. As long as you have syncros to look at I don't think not having the donor next to your camper will be that big of a deal....Best of luck to you !

Wed Dec 12, 2012 3:41 am

many years ago I dated a very experienced stripper, just like a synco, I found out I couldn't afford her.

Wed Dec 12, 2012 6:25 am

Wellington wrote: many years ago I dated a very experienced stripper, just like a synco, I found out I couldn't afford her.

LOL. That's pretty funny. :lol:

Jahbah-

A couple things I noticed with a one read through. The steering shaft - from the column to the rack. Also the cooling hard lines that run over the trans bellhousing. Also, may want to include the syncro air cleaner. Did you mention the rear springs?

Wed Dec 12, 2012 7:38 am

don't forget the metal mounting for the fuel tank up over the trans.

as for the steerign shaft, the Syncro one is shorter, so if you can weld, you can modify a 2wd one to suit.

best of luck and I've bookmarked this thread.. :wink:

Wed Dec 12, 2012 8:51 am

danfromsyr wrote: as for the steerign shaft, the Syncro one is shorter, so if you can weld, you can modify a 2wd one to suit.

I've had converters weld there 2wd shaft, get wobbly steering and buy the Syncro specific one from me.

As with many of the Syncro parts and build...if the tolerances are just OK and a bit off...you will surely feel it while driving :!:

Wed Dec 12, 2012 9:03 am

don't forget fuel filter and bracket, thermostat housing is aluminum, grab that also.
Have Fun, David C
1987__ gl Syncro country homes with Westfalia interior
Wolfsgurg (newly acquired)
gl with Hightop set up as work van

Wed Dec 12, 2012 10:19 am

Wellington wrote: many years ago I dated a very experienced stripper, just like a synco, I found out I couldn't afford her.
and you couldn't let her go either, right?!?

Wed Dec 12, 2012 10:25 am

Wellington wrote: many years ago I dated a very experienced stripper, just like a synco, I found out I couldn't afford her.

:-) You beat me to it! I wonder if Betty could help - she blows trannies! :-)

Wed Dec 12, 2012 11:46 am

Wellington wrote: many years ago I dated a very experienced stripper, just like a synco, I found out I couldn't afford her.

Ha! Well I don't know about you, but when you find something so awesome affording it is an after thought. You also tend to slide your standards down hill. :shock:

Anyway thanks for the info on the steering shaft, it was on my mind but omited on the list. I hope to pull anything that is valuable, it only has 113K so I have my fingers crossed on CV's, blower motors, etc. I'm not so sure about bothering with stuff like rear trailing arms, wheel bearings and other wear parts that could well be toast.

Little more about my Van. I replaced the Waterboxer with a 2.5L subaru engine out of a 02 impreza RS. I used the excellent Rocky Mountain Westy kit with SS coolant lines. There Engine carrier is made to fit 2wd and 4wd's so I'm good with the carrier bar.They only sell Syncro style coolant lines as well. My sister also has a westy that I can pull into the driveway and compare with!
- The Samba Rules! -

Wed Dec 12, 2012 3:58 pm

Check your PMs...

Wed Dec 12, 2012 4:17 pm

danfromsyr wrote:

best of luck and I've bookmarked this thread.. :wink:

I like a glutton for punishment to! :lol:

How do I bookmark?

Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:05 pm

Wellington wrote: many years ago I dated a very experienced stripper, just like a synco, I found out I couldn't afford her.

Dang, That is pretty funny

Thu Dec 13, 2012 12:17 am

Rocky Mountain Westy wrote: Wellington wrote: many years ago I dated a very experienced stripper, just like a synco, I found out I couldn't afford her.

Dang, That is pretty funny sh!t.
Another thread to follow.

Thu Dec 13, 2012 12:23 am

carterzest wrote: Rocky Mountain Westy wrote: Wellington wrote: many years ago I dated a very experienced stripper, just like a synco, I found out I couldn't afford her.

Dang, That is pretty funny sh!t.
Another thread to follow. where is ZimZam?

Thu Dec 13, 2012 12:23 am

carterzest wrote: carterzest wrote: Rocky Mountain Westy wrote: Wellington wrote: many years ago I dated a very experienced stripper, just like a synco, I found out I couldn't afford her.

Dang, That is pretty funny sh!t.
Another thread to follow. where is ZimZam? confused

Thu Dec 13, 2012 9:02 am

Syncost Alot. wrote: danfromsyr wrote:

best of luck and I've bookmarked this thread.. :wink:

I like a glutton for punishment to! :lol:

How do I bookmark?

:?

Thu Dec 13, 2012 9:15 am

OK OK
at the bottom of the thread here, on the left is 2 links
Watch this Topic
and
Bookmark this Topic

then to view your SAMBA bookmarks you'll need to follow the link inthe upper forum tool bar to your Control Panel and on the left are your bookmarked and watched threads

Or you can just use the Bookmark function in your web browser if it has one..

Syncost Alot. wrote: Syncost Alot. wrote: danfromsyr wrote:

best of luck and I've bookmarked this thread.. :wink:

I like a glutton for punishment to! :lol:

How do I bookmark?

:?

Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:45 pm

Good luck Jahbah!

I'll be towing a donor syncro shell to my house Dec 22nd... Looks like a run on 2wd -> syncro conversions.

Thanks for the lists.

I'll be a busy boy over xmas break as well. :D

Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:50 pm

Youse guys rock!

Sure wish I had the skilz and $$ to do that to my '84...she so BADLY wants to be a syncro!