Club 80-90 Forums

So.. rescent events have given me some thinking time and directional thoughts..

I was/am contemplating another syncro.. a velle/multivan type affair.. poss a panel or pop top..

Wicb got me thinking..

I have a very good 2wd that I have owned for 13 years.. its in really really good nick and dont want to part with it..
So.. I was thinking.. ..... Syncro it....

But.. its an early bus.. 1983 and I reckon that might cause an issue with insurance.. as they didnt do Syncro's till 1985...
Cant think of many other reasons not to do it tho.. apart fron not being able to get a matching (trim) multivan type rear seat/ bed.
Financialy it prob makes the most sense... and I can do the engine conversion on it too.. ha ha ha ha...

do it

toomanytoys wrote:So.. I was thinking.. ..... Syncro it....

But.. its an early bus.. 1983 and I reckon that might cause an issue with insurance.. as they didnt do Syncro's till 1985...

Unless you were planning to fib to the insurers and claim it was a factory syncro rather than a converted 2wd, I can't see the age of the base vehicle making a big difference.

Exactly what I am thinking of doing to our panel. It is really solid and it seems a shame to sell it to buy a rusty syncro (can't afford a solid one )

Plan is too chat to Jason nearer the time, get a "kit" and convert. Also gonna be rebuilding the AAZ over the winter (hopefully) so will have a nice fresh engine in as well.

Seems like a lot cheaper than trying to buy a clean syncro up front.

Cheers,

MM

Why not just fit a locking rear diff...as most of my problems with 2wd have been one wheel spinning on grass or one rear wheel in the air!

I thought that proper Syncros had a seperate additional chassis, between the floor pan and the running gear - or have I got that wrong?

Yes I think you might be right! but it would be a simpler solution to poor traction!

it's only the front axle that has a subframe installation, you need that and the panel for the steering rack and the connecting rod and the panel with the filler and the prop bar mounts plus the syncro bits to convert a 2wd to syncro, but early chassis will not have the captive nuts in them for the syncro bits to fix to, late shells do have the gearbox mount captives for both in from what we've seen

Already have a front sub frame.. a spair pair of later front arms and uprights... .. might even have a set of springs... have pair of front shocks.. enough wheels to upgrade.. rear disc conversion. Front driveshafts.. prob a few other bits too..

Yes rear locking diff would be good if i want to keep it 2wd.. and actually in the plan for the gearbox rebiuld.. but I want to go offroad.. so need the 4wd capability..

But then.. I prob would heave to sell the doka.........

I have said for a long while.. if the right syncro velle came up.. I might sell the 2wd and the doka.... .. "might"....

I'm going that route soon. Already bought a kit off Jason. Still own the 2wd my dad bought new and couldn't think of a better use for it

Looks like a special delivery from Denmark...

And if you need a new home for the doka !....................................

Unfortunately Baz the Doka went some months ago to fund this project!

toomanytoys wrote:
Looks like a special delivery from Denmark...

Something I had considered, but not for long was the likelihood that the kit was going to require some overhauling. The front end came mostly whole, so was tempting to just out it up as was. In actual fact, however, I have torn absolutely everything down now to bare components and it is all going for either galvanising or powder coating (not exactly cheap). It was simply impossible for me not to justify doing all the preventative maintenance at this point.

Not only that, but Baxter knows when you price up every bush, seal, baring and bit of plastic, the total is eye watering. So syncroizing is certainly not cheap. Quite simply it's the only way to have the best of both worlds - 4WD on the van you want.