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benandmj
Samba Member
Joined: October 29, 2012
Posts: 550
Location: Atlanta
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 Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 9:00 am Post subject: Ashland to Atlanta: A Syncro Story |
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Well after fighting the lust for many years I’ve finally given in...
I bought a Syncro.
I’m writing this from the parking lot of GoWesty, waiting for them to open so I can pick up a few parts.
The van has lived in Southern Idaho and Southern Oregon it’s entire life. 2 owners, the second having owned it since 1999.
I’m cruising back to Atlanta and have considered a dozen different paths but settled on a Southern route since the ski slopes of Tahoe and Colorado have little snow so far this year.
Anyone know of a good spot to camp on south side of the Grand Canyon?
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85 Westfalia Weekender
91 Syncro Westy |
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Jake de Villiers
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5911
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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elizer 
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2016
Posts: 1466
Location: Northern Virginia
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 9:57 am Post subject: Re: Ashland to Atlanta: A Syncro Story |
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| That looks great. I need to hurry up and get my cross bars on the roof and my south africa grill looks good. |
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sanchius
Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2007
Posts: 1453
Location: IN
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 9:59 am Post subject: Re: Ashland to Atlanta: A Syncro Story |
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take what ever route avoids salted roads.. and wash that under carriage if you do travel on salted roads.. it's far to nice to let go bad from Brine and rock salt.
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9613
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 10:10 am Post subject: Re: Ashland to Atlanta: A Syncro Story |
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You must be stoked! How many miles? Wonder why there's a hole in the 3rd knob location?
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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joetiger
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5078
Location: denver
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 10:18 am Post subject: Re: Ashland to Atlanta: A Syncro Story |
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Congratulations! That is a beautiful van. Keep us posted on the progress!
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Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
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MsTaboo
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 4097
Location: East Kootenay, British Columbia
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 10:36 am Post subject: Re: Ashland to Atlanta: A Syncro Story |
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Congratulations! Now go out and buy a gallon of Fluid Film to protect that beautiful Northwesty Westy. 
_________________
Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec
The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
Help the fight against Truth Decay.
Defend democracy, support Ukraine. |
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mikemtnbike
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2796
Location: North Carolina
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benandmj
Samba Member
Joined: October 29, 2012
Posts: 550
Location: Atlanta
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 1:05 pm Post subject: Re: Ashland to Atlanta: A Syncro Story |
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Thanks everyone!
It’s got a zillion miles and decent showing of seam rust... that’s first on the list.
A Gowesty 2.4 and a freshly rebuilt Transaxle make it a worthy candidate.
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85 Westfalia Weekender
91 Syncro Westy |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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photogdave
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Joined: April 05, 2004
Posts: 3053
Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
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CessnaJon
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2008
Posts: 677
Location: Senoia,GA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 7:51 pm Post subject: Re: Ashland to Atlanta: A Syncro Story |
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Dang that’s awesome! I’ve got to check out that GW engine. Congratulations!!!
_________________
1973 Westy (shared birthday)
1990 Westy Multivan
2015 Passat TDI 6sp
2015 Sportwagon TDI 6sp
LR-JET, Gulfstream 159 |
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benandmj
Samba Member
Joined: October 29, 2012
Posts: 550
Location: Atlanta
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 11:36 pm Post subject: Re: Ashland to Atlanta: A Syncro Story |
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| Sodo wrote: |
| You must be stoked! How many miles? Wonder why there's a hole in the 3rd knob location? |
Do the panels not typically have a hole? I don’t see any sign of a locker...
_________________
85 Westfalia Weekender
91 Syncro Westy
Last edited by benandmj on Fri Jan 19, 2018 6:57 am; edited 1 time in total |
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syncrodoka
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12006
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 11:54 pm Post subject: Re: Ashland to Atlanta: A Syncro Story |
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| Speedometer cable |
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Alaskaberrys
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2016
Posts: 1001
Location: SE Alaska
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| Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 12:28 am Post subject: Re: Ashland to Atlanta: A Syncro Story |
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Wow! Beautiful van benandmj!
Enjoy the ride home. And remember, any mishaps just make for good stories down the road
edit; and more pictures!
_________________
'91 Westfalia, Bordeaux Red Pearl 2.1L 2wd Auto
'91 T3 Syncro Doka, Escorial Green 1.9L TD AAZ “Gremian” (to provoke, irritate, exasperate, vex...) |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9613
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 9:21 am Post subject: Re: Ashland to Atlanta: A Syncro Story |
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| benandmj wrote: |
| Sodo wrote: |
| You must be stoked! How many miles? Wonder why there's a hole in the 3rd knob location? |
Do the panels not typically have a hole? I don’t see any sign of a locker but I have to admit I don’t know what this is going in to the transfer case... |
The hole in the dash panel suggests that the van (or the panel) had a front diff locker at one time. Those are rare.
That's not a transfer case - it's the front differential (case), and that big finned lump behind it; is where the VC (Viscous Coupling) resides, it's like a center differential in as way but its not geared, it just "slips". Your van has a decoupler on the transaxle (that's sort of like a transfer case). This stuff is kinda hard to learn on TheSamba because there are folks who type a book about every little nuance.  But you'll learn eventually. It's a good system with pluses and minuses, but Syncros are desirable. There are some pretty big minuses to owning a Syncro, which become readily apparent, so try and imagine how big the "pluses" must be. 
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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benandmj
Samba Member
Joined: October 29, 2012
Posts: 550
Location: Atlanta
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| Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 9:52 am Post subject: Re: Ashland to Atlanta: A Syncro Story |
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| Sodo wrote: |
| benandmj wrote: |
| Sodo wrote: |
| You must be stoked! How many miles? Wonder why there's a hole in the 3rd knob location? |
Do the panels not typically have a hole? I don’t see any sign of a locker but I have to admit I don’t know what this is going in to the transfer case... |
The hole in the dash panel suggests that the van (or the panel) had a front diff locker at one time. Those are rare.
That's not a transfer case - it's the front differential (case), and that big finned lump behind it; is where the VC (Viscous Coupling) resides, it's like a center differential in as way but its not geared, it just "slips". Your van has a decoupler on the transaxle (that's sort of like a transfer case). This stuff is kinda hard to learn on TheSamba because there are folks who type a book about every little nuance. But you'll learn eventually. It's a good system with pluses and minuses, but Syncros are desirable. There are some pretty big minuses to owning a Syncro, which become readily apparent, so try and imagine how big the "pluses" must be. |
Thanks for the thoughtful response. I’ve learned a lot from your recent posts. I guess I sounded a little uninformed or maybe naïve but I am extremely familiar with the Syncro platform. What I wasn’t sure about was whether or not the panels had holes whether there were knobs or Not.
I see no evidence of a front locker but I’ve just reached out to the previous owner. He bought the van and 99 from the original owner who was a family friend. I’m sure that the panel on the dash is original so..
How many Syncro Westy’s were sold in the United States with three knobs? Not many I know.
_________________
85 Westfalia Weekender
91 Syncro Westy
Last edited by benandmj on Wed Jan 17, 2018 10:04 am; edited 1 time in total |
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syncrodoka
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12006
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 9:59 am Post subject: Re: Ashland to Atlanta: A Syncro Story |
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The hole in the diff lock panel suggests that it came out of a van with a front diff lock. There is no way the van would have been equipped with a front locker if it is a US spec van..
On the back of the diff lock panel all 3 possible knob locations have a center drill recess so that they can easily be drilled out if desired. |
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benandmj
Samba Member
Joined: October 29, 2012
Posts: 550
Location: Atlanta
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| Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 10:06 am Post subject: Re: Ashland to Atlanta: A Syncro Story |
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That’s what I thought. Just talked to the old owner and it’s never had three knobs so who knows what the story is with the panel.
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85 Westfalia Weekender
91 Syncro Westy |
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