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xoo00oox Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2010 Posts: 2672 Location: East Nassau, NY
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 7:05 pm Post subject: Project Quattro-Syncro. 1.8t, 5speed, AWD, ABS,EDL |
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I have had a Syncro van sitting in my lot for many years, parked because of a broken transmission like many others out there waiting for the day the affordable syncro trans will come along.
I'm hoping to make it happen by attempting to use the very affordable, available, and reliable 01A transmission and front diff used in the Audi and B5 4motion Passat.
The engine I'll be using is the AEB 1.8t used in the Audi A4 and B5 Passats.
The wheel base of the Vanagon is 96.7", the Audi A4 is 103.0". The A4's with Tiptronic transmission had a driveshaft that was four inches shorter because the manual trans was shorter. If I use the shorter driveshaft, that will bring my front CV to rear CV length down to 99" or just 2.3" of the vanagon length. I believe the CV's will allow for that difference.
I'll first focus on making it drivable, then look into adding the ABS brake system from the Audi as well. The reason I want the brake system is more for the traction control than the antilock breaking. With this Quattro system, the brakes can grab a wheel that has lost traction so the wheel opposite it can drive or as Audi puts it, EDL (electronic diff lock).
Here is the Syncro being towed in the shop by our trusty "lot pusher" A6
This poor syncro has seen better days.
That's a 2001 inspection sticker, last time on the road was 12-13 years ago.
Andrew-
Last edited by xoo00oox on Fri Aug 30, 2013 2:52 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Syncroincity Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2007 Posts: 1557 Location: New York City
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shadetreetim Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011 Posts: 1994 Location: Riverside, California
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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Geez, you sure know how to make a guy jealous. _________________ Tim Potts
Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!
'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5 |
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Zeitgeist 13 Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 12115 Location: Port Manteau
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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I'm as useless as testicles in a bra, but I'm all over this thread. _________________ Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10379 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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Zeitgeist 13 wrote: |
I'm as useless as testicles in a bra, ..... |
ha. Reminds me of an old joke, which I won't tell, b/c it involves the pope. The punch line is "viola solo".
Andrew, this post made my day.
I know you know what you're doing, but for me to envision things.....
In terms of the CV's, could one ballpark by measuring the angle at CV's on a lifted Syncro, and its' CV lifespan, against the 2+" difference? (or is it more like 1+" per set of axles?) ..... if that makes sense.
Way to rock the VW thing man.
Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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hans j Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2006 Posts: 2715 Location: Salt Lake City UT
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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Why not just have a propshaft shortened/lengthened to the exact length? All they do is cut out a section and weld it back together. That's what I am doing for my CV conversion. I'll be using a B6 propshaft with the center CV joint and carrier bearing, it's much lighter than the u-joint driveshafts.
Definitely looking forward to the conversion! _________________ 1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181 |
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shadetreetim Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011 Posts: 1994 Location: Riverside, California
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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Will you be using the Quattro rear diff in the front of the Syncro? _________________ Tim Potts
Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!
'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5 |
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xoo00oox Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2010 Posts: 2672 Location: East Nassau, NY
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Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 2:32 am Post subject: |
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'nut-
Looking at my blue van with the 2wd version of the same transmission, there is plenty of room to move the axles back a couple inches.
Hans-
I know that is an option, I always try to use stock parts when I can. I'm hoping if I plan ahead I won't need the expense or have to rely on someone else to get it done. Thanks for suggestion.
'Tim-
Yes, the Audi rear diff will be my new front diff.
Andrew- |
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chojinchef Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2011 Posts: 1539 Location: Central Massachusetts
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Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 6:18 am Post subject: |
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Gonna need lots of it for this thread.
LP _________________ Its a mistress; an expensive, whiney, needy bitch of a mistress. She is a chunky, dirty girl with bad skin, little motivation and yet she always makes me smile. She sure has been around before shacking up with me. She has a direct line to my wallet, plays with my emotions, is consistantly jovial yet with a sarcastic and sardonic side, is consistant in her inconsistancy, and every once in a while gives me a great ride and a fantastic memory. |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15144 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 7:14 am Post subject: |
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This I have to see.. there's not alot of room up front and I'm curious to the fitment of the Trans with the Syncro fuel tank.
xoo00oox wrote: |
Yes, the Audi rear diff will be my new front diff.
Andrew- |
*subscribed _________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 7:17 am Post subject: |
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Spacing the driveline for more wiggle room is not a huge issue...as long as everything is equally spaced.
Looking forward to your project Andrew.
Will this need to retain 14" wheels and stock tire diameter as well? |
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dixoncj Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2004 Posts: 1083 Location: Charleston, SC
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Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 7:26 am Post subject: |
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Could be a magical project. |
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rs4-380 Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2006 Posts: 449 Location: Maine
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Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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so are you going to spin the engine backwards? _________________ Dave
87 EJ25 Syncro GL |
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xoo00oox Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2010 Posts: 2672 Location: East Nassau, NY
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Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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rs4-380 wrote: |
so are you going to spin the engine backwards? |
yes, engine running backward. |
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xoo00oox Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2010 Posts: 2672 Location: East Nassau, NY
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Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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I was able to spend a few hours today on my syncro. I actually have very little syncro experience, almost all the vans that come here are 2wd. I had never dropped the front sub-frame from one before. It is really neat that in just a few hours even with very rusty hardware you can drop this down like this.
here is the Audi rear diff compared to the syncro front diff
and here is the Audi diff in place on the Syncro sub-frame
The axles just bolt right on! I measure the distance between the left and right CV flanges, there is only 1/4" difference in that the Audi diff is narrower. This is all very good news.
The next step is to pull the springs off the struts and wheel this back under my van and bolt the frame back up. by having the springs remove, I can still bolt the top of the struts on to the body to locate the suspension correctly and be able to easily move the suspension up and down as well as steer the spindles left and right to check for and see if I have all the axial movement I need from the CV joints.
Andrew- |
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SCP_Austin Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2009 Posts: 366 Location: Tacoma, WA
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Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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This is totally rad! |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16504 Location: Brookeville, MD
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Zeitgeist 13 Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 12115 Location: Port Manteau
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Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 8:42 pm Post subject: |
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This thread is moving too fast. Slow it down _________________ Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10251 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, slow it down some - I'm dizzy! Based on the pace of this thread, someone with a vinyl sign cutter needs to already start making a Quattro nose sticker in the Syncro font, 'cause by the time you make it and mail it, he'll be driving this thing! Heh.
So will it be a "SynQuatt", or a "Quancro"? Either way, one of those front to rear Audi emblem fades along the lower doors would look great.
DougM _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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kirsplat Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2008 Posts: 412 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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I'd just call it SQuatt
What an awesome project you've started here...
I'm really looking forward to watching this come alive! _________________ 86 Syncro|EJ253|Carat |
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