Birth of a Syncro
Posted: 02 Jul 2009, 13:03
I have finally decided that I have too many T3s.
I know most you will find this hard to believe but it is possible apparently.
I have a 2wd Camper, Syncro Doka and Syncro Ambulance.
I have have had lots of fun with the Syncro Doka greenlaning and off roading. But doesn't get much use. What I really needed was a Syncro Camper hence I bought the Ambulance. I was going to convert it into a camper, apparently this is not a good idea either.
So after speaking to MG who said its easy to convert a 2wd to Syncro.
I decided to convert my 2wd camper to a syncro.
I have had my camper for 17 years and is part of the family it was not really an option to sell it and buy a Syncro Westy.
I bought the 2wd drive as a panel van 30k on clock 1 owner, and converted it using a Holdsworth kit and Reimo double glazed windows. A reimo pop top was added a few years later to accomodate the kids.
A deal was done and the Doka went to a new home
The work to convert the 2wd to syncro took 4 days.
Day 1
Work started at about 10.30 on Friday 26th June.
Me and Mike worked all day stripping the vehicle of 2wd stuff by about 5.00 pm we had removed all the front suspension, cut off the 2wd panels. Also we had removed the exhaust and the gearbox was unbolted and ready to remove. The engine had been lowered and the syncro engine mount fitted. Petrol tank was removed.
Day 2
Mike worked on his own as I couldn't get over due to hospital appointment and Jeff Beck gig in the evening. Apparantly things didn't go to well. He spent over an hour trying to get his welder working, then his angle grinder packed up. By the end of the day he had fabricated the new syncro steering rack panel all welded in place and prepared the chassis for the front subframe. Bolted in the new subframe and fitted the front suspension.
The front has been fitted with 2wd springs and the shocks have been modified to give extra clearance. New disc and pads and top ball joints were fitted (from Brickwerks).
Mike also removed the 2wd gearbox.
Day 3
I cycled over to Mikes from my house in Denholme 22 miles, calling at Machine mart to buy some cutting discs. I also brought over some clutch pipe fittings and flaring tool. The clutch pipe was badly corroded where it went through the chasis at the rear. When I got there Mike was busy working away. I started fitting the new stainless exhaust (from Brickwerks) cuting the rear panel that goes under the engine pulley, drilling new holes. There were some clamps missing for the exhaust (a quick call to Simon and the were posted out Cheers). I then made up a new clutch pipe this was fitted and bled. Mike had been working on the water pipes in the engine bay getting ready to take the fuel tank. My LPG wiring was in the way and had to be moved. The syncro tank was then fitted with its straps. This was quite tricky as there was the LPG tank in the van under the seat where Mike was drilling. The centre panel was cut to allow clearance for the prop. Mike fitted the fuel pump and filter. Syncro shocks and springs were fitted to the rear along with Brickwerks spacers.
Day 4
Mike worked all day, I took the afternoon off work and cycled up to Mikes arriving at 2.30.
Mike had been busy altering water pipes. The thermostat top was turned through 90 deg some pipes were cut a tee piece was made. We then realised that the main L - shaped pipe at the side of the engine was badly corroded and leaking. A replacement must be found. (Simon had one in stock). We then fitted the gearbox and drive shafts and some fuel filler pipes. At 5.00 pm we called it a day. The van was back on its wheels. It would have driven home were it not for a corroded water pipe. And some LPG , oil pressure and fuel pump wiring.
My new Syncro was A-framed back to Denholme by Limey
For Photos see Brickyard link
http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/topic ... tml#313136" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I know most you will find this hard to believe but it is possible apparently.
I have a 2wd Camper, Syncro Doka and Syncro Ambulance.
I have have had lots of fun with the Syncro Doka greenlaning and off roading. But doesn't get much use. What I really needed was a Syncro Camper hence I bought the Ambulance. I was going to convert it into a camper, apparently this is not a good idea either.
So after speaking to MG who said its easy to convert a 2wd to Syncro.
I decided to convert my 2wd camper to a syncro.
I have had my camper for 17 years and is part of the family it was not really an option to sell it and buy a Syncro Westy.
I bought the 2wd drive as a panel van 30k on clock 1 owner, and converted it using a Holdsworth kit and Reimo double glazed windows. A reimo pop top was added a few years later to accomodate the kids.
A deal was done and the Doka went to a new home
The work to convert the 2wd to syncro took 4 days.
Day 1
Work started at about 10.30 on Friday 26th June.
Me and Mike worked all day stripping the vehicle of 2wd stuff by about 5.00 pm we had removed all the front suspension, cut off the 2wd panels. Also we had removed the exhaust and the gearbox was unbolted and ready to remove. The engine had been lowered and the syncro engine mount fitted. Petrol tank was removed.
Day 2
Mike worked on his own as I couldn't get over due to hospital appointment and Jeff Beck gig in the evening. Apparantly things didn't go to well. He spent over an hour trying to get his welder working, then his angle grinder packed up. By the end of the day he had fabricated the new syncro steering rack panel all welded in place and prepared the chassis for the front subframe. Bolted in the new subframe and fitted the front suspension.
The front has been fitted with 2wd springs and the shocks have been modified to give extra clearance. New disc and pads and top ball joints were fitted (from Brickwerks).
Mike also removed the 2wd gearbox.
Day 3
I cycled over to Mikes from my house in Denholme 22 miles, calling at Machine mart to buy some cutting discs. I also brought over some clutch pipe fittings and flaring tool. The clutch pipe was badly corroded where it went through the chasis at the rear. When I got there Mike was busy working away. I started fitting the new stainless exhaust (from Brickwerks) cuting the rear panel that goes under the engine pulley, drilling new holes. There were some clamps missing for the exhaust (a quick call to Simon and the were posted out Cheers). I then made up a new clutch pipe this was fitted and bled. Mike had been working on the water pipes in the engine bay getting ready to take the fuel tank. My LPG wiring was in the way and had to be moved. The syncro tank was then fitted with its straps. This was quite tricky as there was the LPG tank in the van under the seat where Mike was drilling. The centre panel was cut to allow clearance for the prop. Mike fitted the fuel pump and filter. Syncro shocks and springs were fitted to the rear along with Brickwerks spacers.
Day 4
Mike worked all day, I took the afternoon off work and cycled up to Mikes arriving at 2.30.
Mike had been busy altering water pipes. The thermostat top was turned through 90 deg some pipes were cut a tee piece was made. We then realised that the main L - shaped pipe at the side of the engine was badly corroded and leaking. A replacement must be found. (Simon had one in stock). We then fitted the gearbox and drive shafts and some fuel filler pipes. At 5.00 pm we called it a day. The van was back on its wheels. It would have driven home were it not for a corroded water pipe. And some LPG , oil pressure and fuel pump wiring.
My new Syncro was A-framed back to Denholme by Limey
For Photos see Brickyard link
http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/topic ... tml#313136" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
