Prerunner vans

psych-illogical · Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 3:29 pm Post subject:

Bump!

Just hoping a few more folks might post some pix of their faux Syncros for added inspiration.

I'm going to be doing some upgrades to my Westy this summer. 90% of the time mine serves me very well. It's just getting down some of the rougher forest roads finding a place to camp when I wish I had just a bit more ground clearance and better traction. I'm definitely going to go with some lift springs and new shocks. Maybe some trans mods too. I'd like to go with an LSD and wouldn't mind a slightly lower 1st gear to ease the banging on rocky roads. I don't really want to go with a granny gear 5 speed though. Does anybody offer something like a 5 or 10% lower first?

Anyway, how's about a few more prerunner van photos?
_________________
83 1/2 Westy waterboxer
'57 Beetle-sold Sad

Coupla '81 BMW motorcycles (R80G/S; R100RS)
'96 BMW R1100GS

914 mike · Samba Member Joined: May 03, 2005 Posts: 431

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Not super high up. I am running 27/8.50/14's and a couple of spacers above the rear springs. It sits noticably higher up than my 83 westy. With the suby motor and the clearence it has, I feel comfortable taking this thing just about anywhere.....and I have.

This spring I am installing 85 front springs, syncro rear's and 15" tire and rims.....

j_dirge · Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 4:49 pm Post subject:

Van Cafe / Syncro.org spring set. with Monroe coil-overs in the rear and Bilstiens in the front.
~17-3/4" in front and 18-1/4" in the rear.. overall ~3inches taller including tires.

MBZ knock off steelies 16x7 ET37
Loogy's front stud converters and lugnuts all around

BFG Radial Long Trail T/As.. 225/75r16... ~29"
Temporary 10mm spacers in front.

Those tires sure do fill up the wheel well, though..

Passeneger side front still rubs on deep compression with slgiht steering angle and someone in the passenger seat.

A second set of rear control arms sit on my work bench.. cut, grind and weld.
G60s in the works for the front...
New drum rebuilds soon, too. Parts sit there waiting for me to get motivated

Bought a flaring tool and will be fabbing up all new brake lines.. yippee!

Maybe I'll get some wintry shots this weekend.
First road trip with the new shoes.
_________________
-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.

-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5

ANGOVAY · Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:56 pm Post subject:

J D that's a great shot of your van and the BFG Long Trails. I really like the black wheels and the outlined white lettering.
_________________
Mark
90 Westy 1.8T Sold
2016 Sprinter Field Van

jacob. · Samba Member Joined: August 10, 2009 Posts: 802

j_dirge, thats a hella nice van. Good work.
_________________

j_dirge · Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 2:58 pm Post subject:

Hey.. Thanks guys!

I'm not much of a motor head.. yet.
But this van is a fun project *most* of the time.

I'm trying to get amped up to start the tear down on the SVX.. and I may even try my own transmission rebuild adding a Peloquin and regear.. we shall see.

The interior is morphing into a modular system, where I can swap in and out the kitchen unit for a middle bench seat.. seating for 6!
Daily driver/kid hauler ---> camper and back again.

A couple minor tweeks and I think I can get the interior swap down to 15-20 minutes at most. Am looking into some quick dis-connect systems for the propane...
At the same time I will be building a new water cabinet box that should allow the kitchen to move back 3 or 4 inches... That makes for much more comfortable driving position for my string bean body.

Occasionally I suffer a bout of Syncro envy.. and then I look at that poor SVX in my garage.. a pity to gut it.
But... <shaking my head>
Laughing

_________________
-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.

-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5

chimivee · Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 3:09 pm Post subject:

You sound plenty motor headed to me.

allsierra123 · Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 3:51 pm Post subject:

Im so glad other people are doing this too there 2wd vans. Mine is getting setup up prerunner style little by little. Hopefully someday to make a baja trip but for now It just sees the sand dunes around here. I want to go 5 speed with a locker eventually but until then it is staying auto. Great thread and nice pics guys.
_________________
95 GMC Yukon 6.5 TD 2 Door Tow pig/ Daily driver.
91 Vanagon GL. 1.9TD Conversion Sold
81 Vw rabbit 1.6 Diesel. Sold

JeffRobenolt · Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 11:58 pm Post subject:

225 75 15's, stock front springs with Ford Bronco shocks, 1.5" of cutting board in the rear with Chevy Astro van shocks.

19" to fender lip empty.
_________________
--------------------------------------------------------

the stormtrooper · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:45 pm Post subject: 27+ tires in stock 2wd

loads of people have posted with tires overall diameter greater than stock. 225/75r15 and up, do these require modification to the supsension? do they rub or interfear with turning if you don't?

any recommendations for an A/T tire r15 that's as close as possibel to stock diameter? I'm installing a zetec now, and plan on big brakes so r15 will be my min.

thanks!
_________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~
87 2WD GL Automatic Bostig Zetec

Team WorldTour · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:44 pm Post subject:

I have upgraded to 205/70r15 Cooper Discovery A/T Sport. It's a Mud+Snow all season. Not a bad tire. This is yet another pic of us out Geocaching in Domo. We (I) don't hesitate to drive him ANYWHERE in Germany so far!

_________________
1990 Feldjäger Syncro AAZ
Click to view image
H6 Subaru Engine Swap Thread
WV2ZZZ25ZFH094138(x)/ WV2YB0257LH057308(x)/ WV2ZZZ25ZLG113270/
"Where am I going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?" -Nicodemus Jordan
When All Else Fails: Lather, Rinse, Repeat!

fastwagens · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 3:38 am Post subject:

very cool buses, Just picked up wheels and tires and now waiting for the first dry day to lift my van from a lowered suspension to a lifted one.

BillM · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:39 pm Post subject:

I have been watching the 2wd lifted van threads pretty close. I plan on lifting my 87 Westy. I am looking for clearance not traction. We often travel well packed dirt roads but have rocks that can cause clearance issues and we also park on grass fields quite a bit during the summer to vend at farmers markets. Sometimes the fields have hidden objects and this is where the clearance comes in. The rear can be lifted like a syncro as I have read and done in the past. Is there any differences besides springs on the rear of a syncro vs 2wd?
For the front is where I am not sure what route to take. I like the Burley arms he offers (his welding skills friggin rock!!) and willing to pay for safety,but what springs would be reccomended? What about shocks?

Bill
87 Westy
Zetec Turbo

FrankenSubySyncro · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 5:22 pm Post subject:

BillM · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 5:57 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info Frankinsuby. I do have a skid plate for the engine. It's a bolt on from Bostig to protect my Zetec. I am waiting for their transmission skid plate next. I really like the way their skid plate is seamless with the engine cradle. You might know the answer to this question. Is it possible to put just the front syncro suspension without the front differential and still leave them front gas tank in place?

Bill
87 Westy
Zetec turbo

FrankenSubySyncro · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 6:19 pm Post subject:

cmvan · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:13 pm Post subject:

88 Westy with BFG AT, GW lift springs (notice the sag), Bilstein HD shocks, and Peliquin LSD. Super happy with the off road capability... the rear end sag not so much, but GW is sending me some spacers. LSD and tire combo gets me up to the mountain with out chaining up. I hate chains! TDI installation next month! Syncro conversion after that?

_________________
81 westy
88 westy ahu e-tdi
11 tdi jsw

Corwyn · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:46 pm Post subject:

Those are all "pre-runners"?

All I see is tires and lift kits. Where are the bull bars, ladders, lights, skid plates, racks, rocket launchers, etc?
_________________
'90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

Prerunner vans
Page: Previous 1, 2, 3, 4 ... 26, 27, 28 Next Jump to:

	Forum Index -> Vanagon	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time Page: Previous 1, 2, 3, 4 ... 26, 27, 28 Next Jump to:
Page 3 of 28