another newbe

[Buckly]

Hey folks, I've had a couple vanagons in the past, one of which was a 2.0 aircooled, the other i traded off really fast and did very little to it. I have several air cooled, a couple splitty's and a couple things to name a few. I do all my own work.

I've been looking at an 87 syncro, passanger. It seems like a good deal, but its missing the main drive shaft to the front. I can't get a completely straight answer, I don't believe he's trying to deceive me, just the circumstances make it so he's unable to tell me why the drive line was taken out. Some story about his son having problems, or doing something with the four wheel drive so he removed the drive line and set it behind his front door and never put it back in and moved and forgot it was back there and left it behind. and and and. He says his son had the engine rebuilt about 7000 miles ago. The power steering system started leaking so his son just took the belt off and has been driving it that way.

It runs and drives great, no body damage, interior is clean, no middle seat, has AC

I looked around for a drive line and can't find one.
What are anyones thoughts on this one?
What does a driveline go for?
Where does one find drivelines and other hard to find parts?
What about the front diff, or what other problems could it be?
Any and all info is appreciated, Thanks
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Cool runnins,
_______________________
Bucky

[DanJReed]

Syncro (Or $yncro) parts are and can be pretty rare, there are very few places that dell new parts for them, and most bits can be had on e-bay.

Try - http://www.volkscafe.com/ or www.vanagain.com for parts for Syncros.

When someone pulls out that part they are trying to do 3 things.

1 - Remove the 4WD to save fuel on the HWY.
2 - Because some other part broke
3 - The transfercase is shot

Good luck, I am not a $yncro owner, but have been around long enough to know that parts can kill you- if you wife does not...
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-Dan
(87 Westy Vanagon, 98 Jetta GLS 2.0, 95 Golf Sport)

[mightyart]

This is one thing I know about syncros (and not much else). People ussually take the drive shaft out because the u-joints are going out or gone. This is not a easy fix like u-joints in an american car, they have to be balanced or it will vibrate you to death, A correct one will run you 500.00 if you can get one. They seem to be on backorder.
http://www.gowesty.com/syncro_driveshaft_replacement.htm
http://www.gowesty.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Scre...o-mec-axle
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My Art:
http://www.instagram.com/flynn8552/

[Captain Pike]

Get a good set of tire chains and !BAM!... just as good.
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LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current.......................

[buspor63]

I've got a '87 $yncro. VC is "agressive, 3-4 slider is cracked(trans locks in gear sometimes) and all five tire are bald. I could bypass the $1100 VC by taking out the driveshaft ($800 rebuilt) but that would still leave me with a s@#*canned transmission($2000 rebuild) and five bald tires($500).

But still, I like that bus. Someday if I win anything on the lottery.........i'm givin' it away and buying a Hummer, now theres a Mallroad machine!!!

Still, VW made fewer Syncro's than type 3 ghia's, you know the "razor" one. It will cost you , but they are really unique.

[mlf]

here you go , fast forward ca ,they do syncros drivelines ans accesaries.

[mjamgb]

The power assist on the rack and pinion steering is largely redundant so I'd just e-bay the pump and plumbing and refresh the boots (with new oil in the rack case).

Driveline is a bummer, man.

Mike!

[Buckly]

Thanks for the great replys. I'm still looking into the driveline and u-joints. hoping to find used replacments. I have talked to a driveline builder/rebuilder and he thought it may be possible to put something together with a driveline from a different vehicle. Like a toyota or subaru and of course some modifications to the donor driveline.
Any thoughts on this, or has anyone done such a thing and might know if there is a good different make driveline to use?

Since the Syncro is in such great shape, with a recent rebuilt engine I have decide to buy it. I figure I can drive it for now and work on the driveline over time. One is bound to show up sooner or later.
I paid $1500 for it, and figure its worth it even if I have to put out a few hunder more to get the 4wd working.

Thanks again
_________________
Cool runnins,
_______________________
Bucky

[Ericthenorse]

you could have a shaft made, but you would still need to find the flanges that attach to the trans and diff...... I think I still have the one out of my syncro. When I got the van, it had no transmission or front diff, but the driveshaft was still laying in the tunnel. If I find it(it's in storage somewhere) I will let you know and we can work something out.
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'69 bug--rusty as hell
'91 vanagon carrat-slammed,5 speed,4 wheel disks,17x8.5's

[buspor63]

If you've not done so already, go to syncro.org and sign up for the yahoo group. There are atleast two driveline rebuilders that contribute. Daryl of AA transaxle and "Storm" is another. I believe both are NorWesters.

[mlf]

go westy has drive lines ,and van-again has u joints

[Buckly]

I like the look of the driveline gowesty makes, with the splined yoke instead of the rubber donut. They claim the u-joints are easy to get. Since I don't have a core I would have to pay about $500 for one flange to flange.

Any one ever had one, or have one in use right now? What do you think?

thanks again, the links were very helpful.

cool runnins
_________________
Cool runnins,
_______________________
Bucky

[mightyart]

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=99793&highlight=joints
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[Buckly]

Thank you mightyart. Thats one good thing said about gowesty's prop shaft.

I wonder if anyone else has had luck with this shaft? I'd love to hear it.
_________________
Cool runnins,
_______________________
Bucky

[mightyart]

Now you know exactly as much about it as I do about the Gowesty syncro drive shaft.
_________________
My Art:
http://www.instagram.com/flynn8552/