My 'new' Tristar Syncro Doka - The journey starts here...

[mrmule]

Result. Got around to fitting the correct power steering hydraulic pipe yesterday and binned the pipe BeeJay made up, and has totally got rid of the horrendous whine from the PS pump. Touch. I was bracing myself for £250 worth of ZF pump from Baxter.

[mrmule]

Update: A few weeks ago after droppping the fam off at Heathrow, the main crank pulley bolt stripped its thread and fell out. Fortunately the pulley didnt come off, and got me home (didnt realise it was this at the time). Found the bolt lodged in the heat sheilding, and saw that it was far too short with only a few mm of thread in the first place. Not too impressed with this. I searched for weeks for a replacement. Tried everyone, but no luck as its long been discontinued. I ended up trawling fixings suppliers and finally came up trumps. So thats sorted, with the correct spec bolt there.

Got the shot front bearings done (man what a job); used the better FAG ones from Brickwerks. Also got rid of the canopy and had a tonneau made. Valeted the whole thing to get rid of the 30 years of grime in the cab; much better now. Lockers are both working now too.

Next on the list are:

Lift kit
Protection for all four sides (currently hounding Das Mule for bumpers and sliders)
New tyres (still debating whether to get wider rims and tyres or just stick with the current Merc 6J rims)
Undercarriage protection and winch.

[jed the spread]

How are going to mount the winch?

Jed

[mrmule]

Well I have to run a reconnaissance mission around the sutton area to spy out a design I like. I'll post up the spy shots i take

[syncropaddy]

New tyres (still debating whether to get wider rims and tyres or just stick with the current Merc 6J rims)

Dont forget that wider tyres give you less ground pressure therefore less grip in mud ...... but look a lot cooler than skinny ones

[mrmule]

I do still really want something like this:



Couldnt I widen the steels to 7 or 7.5j without running the risk of fouling the arches? I'll be running a 40mm lift kit, which should give me even more clearance...

[jed the spread]

As far as I understand how things are regarding Syncro ownership is that it falls into a few categories.

1, Keep it standard with the odd tweak, it very rarely goes wrong if you dont drive like a div, you go the same places as the top three "modifiers" ...
2, Spend loads of money on things that dont work just to look the part and when its all added up throughout the year it ends up they have spent quite a bit compared to the keep it standard chaps just to razz around a feild. For example a weekend for a standard set up chap (lets call him a number 1) doing exactly the same things as a number 2 chappy does costs "number two" about £800 a weekend more per weekend in trying to look the part but actually being less. You could stay at a really nice hotel for that sort of money in a standard van...

3, Doesnt think off road driving is actually that good and likes to get to hard to reach wild camping spots with their mates and enjoys independent travel in the UK and over seas and does invest money in their vehicle and every spend is necessary and well thought about.
4, The people who copy things others do because they think they should, but they are not quite number two's yet

jed

[joolsvw]

IMHO keep the suspension standard, wherever practical - Puch Steyr werent divs and knew what they were doing even if it was 20 years ago. I am not a syncro engineer, and dont claim to be, but screwing with geometry is changing with the essence of the ride of you very special truck. Some really do know what they are doing with suspension but they are usually the limited number of guys who work with them day in and day out. You also dont hear many people on these forums who say `I changed the suspension and would never go back to standard` - at least I havent, though many say they did a lift kit and usually in 2WD which is a whole different story.

Personally I would pay more for a bus with principally original syncro parts, even if the ones on your bus came from a slightly different version and wasn`t on it at `birth` and thats worth thinking about too.

As for the engine - well that`s a slightly different matter as IMHO whilst being a purest at heart I couldnt afford the thirsty 2.1 and the 1.6td is underpowered. A better debate can be had in this area.

Thats my tuppence halfpenny worth

[mrmule]

As far as I understand how things are regarding Syncro ownership is that it falls into a few categories.

1, Keep it standard with the odd tweak, it very rarely goes wrong if you dont drive like a div, you go the same places as the top three "modifiers" ...
2, Spend loads of money on things that dont work just to look the part and when its all added up throughout the year it ends up they have spent quite a bit compared to the keep it standard chaps just to razz around a feild. For example a weekend for a standard set up chap (lets call him a number 1) doing exactly the same things as a number 2 chappy does costs "number two" about £800 a weekend more per weekend in trying to look the part but actually being less. You could stay at a really nice hotel for that sort of money in a standard van...

3, Doesnt think off road driving is actually that good and likes to get to hard to reach wild camping spots with their mates and enjoys independent travel in the UK and over seas and does invest money in their vehicle and every spend is necessary and well thought about.
4, The people who copy things others do because they think they should, but they are not quite number two's yet

jed

Dont go too hard on yourself mate, number 2 drivers have good qualities too!

I felt like you were taking me on a little journey there Jed, setting up with a big analogy, but then BOMB! Wheres the modern day lesson you're teachin'?

[jed the spread]

jed

[mrmule]

IMHO keep the suspension standard, wherever practical - Puch Steyr werent divs and knew what they were doing even if it was 20 years ago. I am not a syncro engineer, and dont claim to be, but screwing with geometry is changing with the essence of the ride of you very special truck. Some really do know what they are doing with suspension but they are usually the limited number of guys who work with them day in and day out. You also dont hear many people on these forums who say `I changed the suspension and would never go back to standard` - at least I havent, though many say they did a lift kit and usually in 2WD which is a whole different story.

Personally I would pay more for a bus with principally original syncro parts, even if the ones on your bus came from a slightly different version and wasn`t on it at `birth` and thats worth thinking about too.

As for the engine - well that`s a slightly different matter as IMHO whilst being a purest at heart I couldnt afford the thirsty 2.1 and the 1.6td is underpowered. A better debate can be had in this area.

Thats my tuppence halfpenny worth

For the most part I agree jools. However your post as a whole was a bit contradictory. Changing the part with the most moving parts is ok, but altering anything else isnt??

Every manufacturer has to split the difference with most variables which can be altered with few ramifications e.g. ride height, tyre choice, stereo etc; they have to decide on one way to set it up, and sell as. It will not however, be to everyones taste. For example, some will find the suspension too firm, others, too soft. Is it wrong to go out and immediately alter it to suit your own taste? Even if it isnt, does it necessarily mean you have made it 'perform' worse than it was at standard? I say no to both. It simply shifts its area of performance to another area. Providing they weren't complete numptie modifications.

The irony is, I'm considering all of these modifications because all of the Syncro veterans have done them!! So which is it?? Jed thinks I'm a number 2 or 4 driver, but I'm only following suit, because logic says, if others have made these mods, they're probably necessary if I plan on tackling more lumps and bumps!

I'll get my diazepam...

[lloydy]

If you have the money, do what you like. It's hard, maybe impossible not to 'copy' someone else as there is not that big of a choice out there. I've done things to mine which people might think is not necessary, but i wanted them and feel they will make my ownership of my van more enjoyable. which i am sure is the reason you want to do stuff to yours.
As for lifting, i thought 99% of us have a lifted van? especially the 14" ones.
The main thing is, whatever you do to your van, enjoy it

[jed the spread]

Jed thinks I'm a number 2 or 4 driver, but I'm only following suit, because logic says, if others have made these mods, they're probably necessary if I plan on tackling more lumps and bumps!

I am only joshing with you lad

Like Lloydy says if you want it then get it, but dont go on the thought of if others have done it it should be done. Get out and do a bit, if you keep your engine standard then most of the time that will hold you back enough before you break stuff, and that is a good thing in my opinion.


Right I am off to work now for the weekend so I can get some money to buy more bling!!!!

jed

[v-lux]

2, Spend loads of money on things that dont work just to look the part and when its all added up throughout the year it ends up they have spent quite a bit compared to the keep it standard chaps just to razz around a feild. For example a weekend for a standard set up chap (lets call him a number 1) doing exactly the same things as a number 2 chappy does costs "number two" about £800 a weekend more per weekend in trying to look the part but actually being less. You could stay at a really nice hotel for that sort of money in a standard van...

Sounds like a recent trip of mine to Wales.....

[..lee..]

Be realistic as to what you use the van for. My panel van is bog std bar power steering and stupid low profile road tyres. Driving it around town and the welsh lanes it will run rings around my 16 as the 16 has been built for longer hauls. As standard they are a fantastic all rounder. Start improving them in one direction and 90% of the time it will become worse in another area.

When ever you build a car you should have the finished article in your mind.

Just like making a cake. Mess with the ingredients and it rarely turns out well.


Bit like jeds cooking.