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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 19072
Location: Retired South Florida
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 Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2024 4:01 pm Post subject: Re: 2WD to 4WD conversion... |
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| Each conversion would get faster. I spent a lot of time with the syncro transmission mounting that I wasn't expecting. If I had decided to do them, I'd have made a template at the time for future installs. You won't believe how many parts are slightly different untill you do one. I enjoyed the project. Same old story wanting vs having. I find wanting is often more enjoyable. |
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shagginwagon83
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016
Posts: 4399
Location: SWVA
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| Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2024 3:24 pm Post subject: Re: 2WD to 4WD conversion... |
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| SCM wrote: |
Perhaps your current van, along with the time and money that could otherwise be spent on trips, is already as badass as they come?
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This is a very solid point. Enjoy what work I have put in and enjoy it now.
However, there is the enjoyment of building something that I enjoy.
I also have a dream to do the Pan Am highway and would like to be well-equipped. There are plenty that make this trip with 2wd correct?
| SCM wrote: |
It would be interesting to see a thread full of photos of Syncros making it to camping spots that 2WD can't get to. I've personally only given up once on making it to a camping spot when I think 4WD may have made it there. |
In Baja, there were only a few scenarios - one being able to get through soft sand and being closer to the ocean.
| PDXWesty wrote: |
| A friend had a 2wd-4wd conversion done at Smallcar in Tacoma. It was very expensive but turned out amazing. He did an engine conversion and total body restoration at the same time so that added a lot of expense. I'm sure the 4wd portion was at least $25k. |
Yes Small Car's recent Instagram stories were about a 2wd->4wd conversion. It all seemed super straight forward and they were able to knock the project out in a short amount of time. Now given - that was a team working on the project.
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"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin |
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SCM
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011
Posts: 3477
Location: Bozeman MT
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| Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2024 12:28 pm Post subject: Re: 2WD to 4WD conversion... |
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| shagginwagon83 wrote: |
If I plan on keeping it forever it might as well be built as badass as they come.
I also went to Baja and back with no problems with a 2wd with a Peloquin - it did great! |
Perhaps your current van, along with the time and money that could otherwise be spent on trips, is already as badass as they come?
It would be interesting to see thread full of photos of Syncros making it to camping spots that 2WD can't get to. I've personally only given up once on making it to a camping spot when I think 4WD may have made it there.
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'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 19072
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2024 12:12 pm Post subject: Re: 2WD to 4WD conversion... |
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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
It's common place now so I was told. I did one, but was not brave enough to disassemble our 82 2wd camper. I used an 87 donor syncro tintop and an automatic 90 camper. Once I completed it and took mrs markward for a ride, we decided we like our old van more and I sold it on. Its a lot of work and I had access to everything I needed. It did end the syncro fever which was worth it.
What really scared me off was 1 just about everything is 2x difficult. 2 More parts to leave you stranded and hard to find and expensive when you find them. For our use, a 2wd with a Peloquin is adequate for us. 200 hours sounds about right spread over 6 months. |
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6344
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2024 12:08 pm Post subject: Re: 2WD to 4WD conversion... |
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A friend had a 2wd-4wd conversion done at Smallcar in Tacoma. It was very expensive but turned out amazing. He did an engine conversion and total body restoration at the same time so that added a lot of expense. I'm sure the 4wd portion was at least $25k.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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shagginwagon83
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016
Posts: 4399
Location: SWVA
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| Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2024 11:27 am Post subject: Re: 2WD to 4WD conversion... |
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| mikemtnbike wrote: |
Brandon, I think it would be the replacement of all the other front end stuff that's not the same- when I've looked at the ads for this, I was really surprised by how many different parts there were.
Mark Ward did this and said it was a real PITA, maybe PM him? |
Hey Mike! Yes it looks to me this project can be a 200 hour pain and probably at least 200 hours worth of work. I would need a rusty donor for the upgrade.
The whole front-end assembly for suspension and diff housing needs to be changed, probably shift rods, relocate gas tank, vacuum setup, and knobs inside.
I realize this is not the most practical and economical decision to upgrade. Let alone Syncro trans parts are super expensive and becoming more and more NLA.
However, Jo Ann the van has sentimental value to me and I never plan on selling it. If I plan on keeping it forever it might as well be built as badass as they come.
I also went to Baja and back with no problems with a 2wd with a Peloquin - it did great!
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"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin |
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mikemtnbike
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2954
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2024 10:26 am Post subject: Re: 2WD to 4WD conversion... |
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| shagginwagon83 wrote: |
| What's the worst part of a 2WD to 4WD conversion (besides spending money to rebuild trans/diffs)? Is it installing the gas tank? Can that be done without a lift? |
Brandon, I think it would be the replacement of all the other front end stuff that's not the same- when I've looked at the ads for this, I was really surprised by how many different parts there were.
Mark Ward did this and said it was a real PITA, maybe PM him?
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled  https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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4Gears4Tires
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 4391
Location: MD
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| Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2024 10:10 am Post subject: Re: 2WD to 4WD conversion... |
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Is it possible to drive a 4wd conversion on the street with that much grip? Will it tear up the asphalt?
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'87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 10809
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2024 9:48 am Post subject: Re: 2WD to 4WD conversion... |
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| shagginwagon83 wrote: |
| What's the worst part of a 2WD to 4WD conversion (besides spending money to rebuild trans/diffs)? Is it installing the gas tank? Can that be done without a lift? |
Yes the tank can be done without a lift. Engine out.
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'90 Westy EJ25, NEW oil rings (!) 2Peloquins, 3knobs, SyncroShop pressure-oiled pinion-bearing & GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox.
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered original gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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shagginwagon83
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016
Posts: 4399
Location: SWVA
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| Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2024 9:37 am Post subject: Re: 2WD to 4WD conversion... |
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What's the worst part of a 2WD to 4WD conversion (besides spending money to rebuild trans/diffs)? Is it installing the gas tank? Can that be done without a lift?
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"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin |
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campism
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007
Posts: 4711
Location: Richmond VA
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| Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2023 5:16 am Post subject: Re: 2WD to 4WD conversion... |
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| GundyAE wrote: |
| Does anyone know if you can put a Subaru legacy L awd transmition into a 2wd 1990 VW Vanagon? |
Welcome! I think you've already received one smartass answer to your question, but I believe the Subarugears conversion lets you use a Sube engine and trans in a Vanagon.
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'87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic, tragically crushed by a falling hickory tree in my own driveway and now gone, leaving me Vanagonless and with no plans to replace it, alas. |
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ALIKA T3
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2009
Posts: 7300
Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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GundyAE
Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2023
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: 2WD to 4WD conversion... |
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| Does anyone know if you can put a Subaru legacy L awd transmition into a 2wd 1990 VW Vanagon? |
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Portiesyncro
Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2013
Posts: 28
Location: South Australia
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| Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 8:23 pm Post subject: Re: 2WD to 4WD conversion... |
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| insyncro wrote: |
Buying ala carte Syncro parts will cost more and allow for more problems.
Buy a complete donor....and be ready to pay, they are not cheap and a line will form fast, full of interested parties, some tired of searching and ready to kick down big dollars.
Then be ready to spend twice what you pay for the donor to have the transmission properly rebuilt and front locker assembled.
The cost of these two parts of the procedure may make you rethink the project entirely.
$yncro |
I have to agree with you insyncro.
I have a parts syncro that i purchased for $3000 Aus (which is pretty good cause they dont come up very often here in Australia) which I planned to use converting my auto DOKA, but the cost of the repairs/rebuild of the transaxle and front diff aren't cheap. after I killed my other syncro van transaxle as well I have decided to go the reversed subi 5spd route on the DOKA, which although not cheap in itself, should give a reliable, strong nice driving ute. |
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insyncro
Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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| Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 4:55 pm Post subject: Re: 2WD to 4WD conversion... |
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| I have not found a better snow tire than Nokian. |
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Mountain1.8t
Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2013
Posts: 340
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| Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: 2WD to 4WD conversion... |
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| dobryan wrote: |
| IIRC the Geolanders have very little siping. They sucked in snow or wet grasss compared to Nokians due to not enough siping and too hard a rubber compound. 😀 |
I can confirm the Geolanders do not perform well in ice and snow. I'm going with Nokians the next go around. |
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dobryan 
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17296
Location: Brookeville, MD
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GreggK
Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2008
Posts: 1023
Location: Colorado/Philidelphia
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| Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 2:13 pm Post subject: Re: 2WD to 4WD conversion... |
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| Yes I was in the snow. |
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GreggK
Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2008
Posts: 1023
Location: Colorado/Philidelphia
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| Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 2:08 pm Post subject: Re: 2WD to 4WD conversion... |
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I was backing out of the drive way and got stuck in a drainage rut. It was a bit icy but the ground was flat. I did go at it pretty slow but its hard to see the traffic coming. Ive been in and out of that driveway a number of times when the van didn't have the peloquin and probably got stuck a few times too.
I had to beat it up pretty good. Forward/reverse/forward/reverse with the parking brake on a little bit until I got the momentum to go forward. Then I just backed out with some more speed and made it.
From the looks of the Geolander I figured it would offer better traction. Last winter I had the peloquin with Nokian WRC tires. I never got stuck but I was here on the east coast and my snow experiences were minimal. |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17296
Location: Brookeville, MD
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