Club 80-90 Forums

When my 2wd westy got nicked I was adamant I was going to find a syncro westy. I'm so glad we did, as a family it suits our purpose I've got a vehicle I can go and play in and a vehicle we can go camping in.

Why not lift yours fit AT tyres and add a rear locker?

armyphil wrote:
Why not lift yours fit AT tyres and add a rear locker?

I dont think you can raise them that high due to the engine in the 2wd van being higher and the stress on the CV joint's etc (I would have thought but might be wrong) plus it would never be a syncro, just like it isnt one now

Jed

i`m running my daily syncro around as a 2wd with diff lock and have put it to a test or three. it aint no syncro as is. it`ll do well if you attack stuff at speed but wont crawl over stuff like a open diff syncro will.

syncro`s take a lot of beating as a vehicle once the`re sorted but they are for using not showing.

lee.

jed the spread wrote:

armyphil wrote:
Why not lift yours fit AT tyres and add a rear locker?

I dont think you can raise them that high due to the engine in the 2wd van being higher and the stress on the CV joint's etc (I would have thought but might be wrong) plus it would never be a syncro, just like it isnt one now

Jed

I didn't realise that, everydays a school day.

Your right though ultimately it will never be a syncro. I wonder how many full camper syncro westys there are?

reading this thread with interest, as i to have succumbed to "syncro fever", after three years of westy ownership , we have decided that we would like to build a camper to suit our needs, i.e. full width bed, not so much storage, the ability to go slightly off the beaten track etc, so with this in mind, we have put the westy up for sale, and are looking for a factory high top panel van, or a multivan with a poptop, then custom build around the basic vehicle, what we want. i have spotted a multivan for sale, but need to sell the westy first, as we are also refurbishing our house at the moment. whilst the syncro is being brought up to spec, i will continue to use my single cab as a daily, then when the syncro is finished, it will become my daily driver and recreational vehicle. then we hope to get to some of the syncronaut meets to learn the offroad driving ropes, and then adventures here we come. so watch this space
baldy

I'm a huge Westy fan and won't knock them 1 bit, but as an offroad camper there are improvements to be made. Don't think you can beat a DIY camper for practicality if its done correctly.

Once the doka is done I can see the panel van getting a custom interior specifically for my needs.
Rich is doing the same with his panel even though he's got the reimo high top to use a camper.

Lee.

Again thanks for all the feed-back as it's got me thinking hard about this, Jed you're right I really need to think what I want that the end of this, I'm in no big rush and I have time to make the right choice. what make this even harder is the fact my westy is in VGC and at present has an agreed value of £14.5K hence why I don't what to sale, if money was no object yes I'd go and buy a good doka.
That's why I thought about buy one with a rough body shell and once machanically good transplant the running gear etc, having thought about it I've realised it's not practical or cost effective to buy all the parts separately.

Please keep the feed-back coming it all helps, yes I love the look and height of a syncro and yes I like the idea of going off road / green lane, not sure I'd be up for major off roading but who knows??

Cheers once again
Gary

Hi Jed
You asked what type of off road do I really want to do?

Although I fancy doing some extreme off roading as would most people would, the reality is I see myself doing the sort of stuff in your latest video you posted “Northern Spain” although from what I saw most could be achieved in a 2WD van?? So I believe I’d be better off keeping the westy and converting it to 4WD, especially as I like my van too much and couldn’t see myself selling it anyway.

I know people have converted vans from 2WD to 4WD in the past but has the end result been just as good as a factory built syncro?

Cheers
Gary

Ask Paul (jebiga) about how much fun a syncro conversion is to undertake with all the parts to hand and a garage pit to work in...

silverbullet wrote:Ask Paul (jebiga) about how much fun a syncro conversion is to undertake with all the parts to hand and a garage pit to work in...

.... and someone to give him the correct steering rack panel .......

Someone mention my name mmm don't see what the big deal about Westies is personally I prefer my high top panel van converted with westy bits ( full size bed where it counts ) but then again I prefer stealth look and convenience for camping, the ability to stand up and lots of storage but each to their own although always slightly lusted after a multivan interior. Generally most campers are very idividual spaces and its what suits the the person that counts and I doubt that most Westies are completely stock being personalised to suit the persons tastes, altho they make a great base to work from. Regards your van i would say it may work out a lot cheaper and easier to convert your camper to 4wd and at least your just improving on your van and not having to start again from scratch, it's not that hard and most of the stuff you may end up doing if you do it right, you would end up doing later on if you bought a van, such as putting in new bearings, bushes, renewing brakes cleaning up and painting subframes trailing arms, new nuts and bolts etc. Whether it's a factory Syncro or not doesn't matter regards drivability and performance as Tinkerbelle aka the Horse, shows. I have a write on the "Tinkerbelle project" Thread on here somewhere and don't hesitate to ask me about anything regards the conversion also others on the samba have done it as have a few of the lads in the Uk. Let us know what you decide but do think long and hard about what you want to do and try others vans if possible. Hope that's of help Paul

I totally agree with Paul. I have owned a Syncro Caravelle (converted later with a Westy interior), a Syncro Doka (2wd-4wd conversion) and a 2wd Westy.

All made for great vehicles in their own way.

The RHD Syncro Doka was probably one of the first UK conversions and is still running around. Originally transformed by Mike Ghia, I had it for 5 years and made some improvements to it's performance and looks with no issues other than the usual T3 foibles. The 4wd conversion was as factory and mechanically and visually there was no difference.

This was sold to make way for a LHD Westy as the wife decided we needed one for our regular camping trips. It was good, but ultimately the layout (traditional full Westy 3/4) didn't suit our way of camping/amount of gear and comfort needs. I was also craving for another Syncro. Hence it was sold.

The next van was a LHD Syncro Caravelle, which I converted with a Westy Mosaic interior (w.full width rear bench). This worked out better and we had plans and parts to fit a Westy poptop but the van was stolen before this could happen.

With the insurance payout I picked up a RHD Syncro panel van, ex-ambulance with the high roof. Although we haven't had it long I already know this is going to suit us better. Having a choice on the interior layout, the big storage area over the cab and room to stand easily really makes a difference. The ability to change out of a wetsuit without throwing funny shapes will be wonderful. In this van we are going with a full width Reimo style R&R bed, Westy full width roof rear locker, buddy seat behind a swivelling cab seat base on the passenger side (this makes a great recliner) and a Kuchenblock behind the driver. The table will fold out from the opposite side of the van. As its a hightop I am also fitting a Westy poptop style roof bed for occasional use by my niece or more storage. I believe if you want storage space AND flexibility this is the best setup.

Don't get me wrong - I love Westies. this just suits us better. I suppose the equivalent would be a Westy hightop with the Multivan interior really.

I knew I read about someone converting 2wd to 4wd.
This gives me a bit more info plus the Tinkerbelle project