axeman wrote:got too ask the question andrew if your always putting a questioning peoples wanting to change/upgrade there vans, why did you spend your hard earnt money on a s/a break kit (that your now selling) , and why have you bought a aaz engined car for it's engine? surly i could argue that vw never intended for a 1.9 oil burner to be installed in our vans? they only saw fit for the 1.6 turbo.
neil
OK, there's a few questions there.... when someone asks for advice on this forum, more often than not, they get it. They get good advice, bad advice, biased advice, non biased advice, advice based on experience and advice based on fact.
This post was asking what one should do to up grade a Syncro and good advice was posted on ways to upgrade. One of the questions was about a de coupler and I gave my opinion on de couplers as I was specifically asked, which just happens to conflict with opinions of others. But there you go, no body's gonna get shot over it. There was also a question on oil coolers and I gave my opinion on oil coolers which everyone seems to agree on. I rarely question peoples wanting to change/upgrade their vans but if asked then I will speak!
So why did I go out and buy a SA Big Brake kit? I made a list ages ago (which included a 2.1DJ Syncro) and on the list was a SA Big Brake kit and six Mefros and BFG MTs amongst many other things. The DJ Syncro is gone cuz I reckoned a diesel one would be better, the Mefros/BFG MTs are gone cuz for my type of usage they are unnecessary and after refurbing my brakes for 25, I think the standard set up is fine. So I'm selling the SA kit.
Why did I buy an AAZ engined car for its engine? Isnt it the best way to find out if its a good engine or not? I drove the mebs off that poor Passat for 2000 miles and the engine never missed a beat or overheated. To my mind the JX is a great engine but not suitable for the Syncro, its just not powerful enough and as the AAZ is based on the same family cylinder block, its the quickest way to more power and torque whilst staying within the transmission limits.
"surly i could argue that vw never intended for a 1.9 oil burner to be installed in our vans? they only saw fit for the 1.6 turbo"
Well yes you could argue that and according to Wiki the AAZ unit was first produced in early 1992 and the T25 production was, for all intents and purposes, finished with the T4 already in production so at the time VW didn't have a 1.9 unit available. But how would you know that VW never
intended to fit a 1.9? They might have but never got around to it in time. Dont forget the amount work needed for a manufacturer to change an engine during the production life is huge and if the product is due for replacement, well why bother.
Its well know here that I like the 'keep it standard' approach but there are upgrades and mods that make sense, and there are upgrades and mods that are simply a waste of time and money. The list for each category grows with time and experience but its my list, you have your own!
My upgrades are simple and reversible - suspension lift, long studs and upgraded dampers, 15" alloys, rack poly bushes, a pair of age appropriate driving lamps, a big reversing lamp and a pair of rear lamp guards. I also changed the final drive ratio when Aidan did the box and front diff to suit an engine upgrade. All kept simple and my Syncro is a very nice vehicle, reliable and clean!
Things that I would consider a waste of time and money include galvanising parts and de couplers .......... !!
