Thinking about first T25 Syncro - some questions

[Winchweight]

Hi guys, just registered here, but I'm a regular on the T4 Forum and have a very nice T4.

However, my wife and I have decided to supplement our lovely T4 with a T25 Syncro. We want to learn to off road properly in it, take it into the Highlands in winter to prepare for a couple of trips to Norway, Sweden, Iceland and maybe Eastern Europe.

I am sure I want T25 Syncro, with twin diff locks, ideally a 16 inch and preferably a bit of a project van. Maybe a high top or pop top as head room would be nice for a change. It must be roadworthy and useable, but ideally I'd like to do some work on it rather than get a fully spammed up 4x4 gin palace.

But I have several questions:

Was there ever lWB version?
Which is the best engine (modified or original)?
What must have mods are there (decoupler etc)?
What about under body protection? Is there anyone who makes off the shelf guards etc?
What's the PCD for the wheels. I have 4 new 16" steels with off road tyres waiting. Just need a van
What are the gotchas?
What price should I expect to pay?
Where us the best source for vans?
What about importing? Where's good to look?

That'll do for a start..



Thanks,
WW

[Fabzzz]

Hi guys, just registered here, but I'm a regular on the T4 Forum and have a very nice T4.

However, my wife and I have decided to supplement our lovely T4 with a T25 Syncro. We want to learn to off road properly in it, take it into the Highlands in winter to prepare for a couple of trips to Norway, Sweden, Iceland and maybe Eastern Europe.

I am sure I want T25 Syncro, with twin diff locks, ideally a 16 inch and preferably a bit of a project van. Maybe a high top or pop top as head room would be nice for a change. It must be roadworthy and useable, but ideally I'd like to do some work on it rather than get a fully spammed up 4x4 gin palace.

But I have several questions:

Was there ever lWB version?
Which is the best engine (modified or original)?
What must have mods are there (decoupler etc)?
What about under body protection? Is there anyone who makes off the shelf guards etc?
What's the PCD for the wheels. I have 4 new 16" steels with off road tyres waiting. Just need a van
What are the gotchas?
What price should I expect to pay?
Where us the best source for vans?
What about importing? Where's good to look?

That'll do for a start..



Thanks,
WW

well i have a 16 inch and i wouldnt swap it for anything else mate ! to my opinion u need front and rear difflocks. they are loads of option of what you can and can't do. if you stay on this syncro forum you will get an answer for 99% of your questions. Do some research.
About import some people do some don't, i didn't so i dont know the implications.
Price .... mmmmm anything is possible, depend on the state you want the van. i'd say expect to spit out arround 6000 quid first for a 16inches (maybe i'm wrong)
you can find protecting guard done after market or factory stuff, again depend on how much you want to spend, or if you have fabrication knowledge you can do it yourself. the syncro is a suepr versatile vehicle you can spend thousand of quid or thousand of hours doing urself, it depend which side you are.
and my gozer is 2.1 engine, i havent modified it yet but i'm seriously thinking on putting a Sub engine on it (again that's my opinion). wheels spec are on here some where.
Hope this help. have you checked the t4 syncro , maybe an option you can consider too ?

fab

[Winchweight]

Thanks Fab.

I have considers the T4 Syncro, but dismissed it because its not quite such a versatile beast as the T25. I will eventually get a T4 Syncro when the urge to go rugged subsides, but not yet.

I am keen on a 16, but don't find many around. Happy doing some work myself, but don't have the time and fabrication is not an area I have any expertise in.

eBay throws up a few vans, but can you recommend any other sites, preferably specialist T25 sites? I have Syncronauts and Campervan Culture.

Nice van by the way

[Fabzzz]

Thanks Fab.

I have considers the T4 Syncro, but dismissed it because its not quite such a versatile beast as the T25. I will eventually get a T4 Syncro when the urge to go rugged subsides, but not yet.

I am keen on a 16, but don't find many around. Happy doing some work myself, but don't have the time and fabrication is not an area I have any expertise in.

eBay throws up a few vans, but can you recommend any other sites, preferably specialist T25 sites? I have Syncronauts and Campervan Culture.

Nice van by the way

thanks. yes 16inches are quite rare, you gonna have to be patient. stick around and i'm sure you'll find what you want. as the opinion of others as i'm still a newby and i have a hangover.

[hugomonkey]

just get a 14 with the rough road option ands lift it a bit, you will never ever be able to feel the difference

[Winchweight]

I thought the 16 had beefier suspension parts?

[axeman]

i would not get too hung up on a 16inch van, the springs are the same but the shocks are different (and very expensive if you can find them new).
your already looking at buying a van that was only available in limited numbers and a 16 inch is rearer of the bread. if one comes along that fits you requirements then go for it but there are a lot more 14inch vans out there to choose from.

dont get me wrong the 16inch vans are grate but you can be opening a can of worms with regards to parts availability and the cost of them.

neil

[Winchweight]

Ah ok, that's a good point.

Can I fit my 16" T4 5x112 wheels to a 14" without major surgery?

And can anyone answer the question regarding a LWB T25 - does such a thing exist?

And engines, what's regarded as the best option?

[hugomonkey]

no lwb and a lot of people put 16´s on a 14 syncro it just requires a tiny bit of surgery to the rear of the front wheel arch and if you want then get a set of longer trailing arms from Dai and hey presto you´ve got yourself a 16´´ syncro, the rough road package was very popular in scxandanavia and basically gave a 14 all the extra strength of a 16
i do think that the ET on t4 wheels is all wrong though, should be 30

[Winchweight]

Ok, I'll check the ET, I think it's higher. I do have two spares with a lower ET though...


Is the rough road package available after market, or was it factory fit?

[hugomonkey]

factory fit

[syncropaddy]

Was there ever lWB version? No, only one wheelbase
Which is the best engine (modified or original)? Diesel 1.9 AAZ or 1Z
What must have mods are there (decoupler etc)? 15" wheels and a 2" lift.
What about under body protection? Is there anyone who makes off the shelf guards etc? Standard is best so keep it that way
What's the PCD for the wheels. I have 4 new 16" steels with off road tyres waiting. Just need a van T4 wheels will fit with surgery
What are the gotchas? Spending loads of money on useless junk that everyone else has
What price should I expect to pay? No matter what you buy you will end up spending at least £12k so buy a good one thats done
Where us the best source for vans? Here on this site/Brickwerks and in Germany but good, unmolested ones are getting harder to find. Be careful you dont end up buying someone else's junk!
What about importing? Where's good to look? Mobile.de and German E Bay

Stuff you dont need include 16" vans, Front difflock, de couplers and MT tyres.

[Winchweight]

Cheers Paddy. Food for thought.

[syncron ice]

Mine coming up for sale very soon.
Don't mind that Paddy lad!

Tony

[hugomonkey]

do yourself a favour and go and look at this before it goes
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=120898" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;