Club 80-90 Forums

Thinking about buying a crew cab this year (already own an early bay camper van), not sure what yet cant decide on a spit screen/ early bay or a syncro t25.
I am after advice on what to look for when buying a syncro.
Have seen one for sale its a 2.1 not sure if petrol or diesel, are there certian engines to avoid etc etc.
Any advice would be great.
Thanks Rusty.

Look through the messages on here and you'll see quite a lot of advice about syncros plus get a feel for what goes wrong with them - there's a load of buying info in the wiki too.

The general message is that syncros are great if you need one but can be expensive. Many people have found themselves spending a few grand in the first couple of years to get things sorted, plus generally higher maintenance costs thereafter. Running gear is more expensive than standard T25's and that's the main area that tends to get abused typically due to previous use as a commercial vehicle plus cost/complexity result in DIY bodges. Best bet is to buy off someone who knows syncros and is honest about the vehicle.

2.1 is a fuel injected petrol version - most powerful. Plenty of info about engines on the wiki. All have pros and cons.

At the risk of stating the obvious there's a big difference between Aircooled and syncro crewcabs. My advice would to be go for what you really want - they've got different strengths. If you don't need four wheel drive why not look at a 2wd t25 crewcab? Can be a lot cheaper to buy and run plus still got great load carrying ability (actually deck is easier to load co's it's a bit lower). If you want cool then obviously a syncro, split or bay all have different appeals.

if you have a really nice early bay it`ll be worth silly money i`d sell it and buy a nice westy syncro. dont think you`ll look back. i`ve had bay window vans including a really late westy. they are lovely but as for useabillity a t25 wins hands down. and dont forget t25 vans are on the price rise while splits and bays i think must be close to peaking now.

if you are buying a comercial syncro you need to have a good look at it. if its been worked hard and many were, then it`ll have mud in all the chassis members. there can be corrosion issues where its not been cleaned down in the past, the suspension can be worn out from off roading as can the transmission.

so there is no such thing as a cheap syncro. if you dont need " or really want one " then i`d stick with a 2wd t25 doka especially if you want to mod it.

what will you be using the doka for mainly.

Another here who's gone from an early bay to a syncro (I founded earlybay.com), cerainly a quite different proposition, and as most point out running a syncro can be expensive, but very much depends on what the van has had done to it in the past (ie has it had a new VC, sorted diff locks, etc.), but plenty of good advice to be had on this forum ...

Yep I sold a mint one owner 1970 so69 oslo last summer and bought a 16" syncro high top panel van. I regret selling the bay but it was the only way to fund the syncro.
My advice is look at plenty and take along someone who knows what to look for mechanically, if you want a camper get one of the westys that come along now and again a lot less hassle and cost than converting your own, which is where I am at the moment. http://www.mobile.de" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; seem to be the best place to find campers.
Although I miss the bay, the syncro is great, the only thing thats getting on my breasticles at the moment is sorting out all the badly done jobs that previous owners have done on it, mainly electrical. I would also consider a oil burner as WBX parts/engines seem to be way over priced IMO, or consider a scooby conversion.
All that said great to drive very sure footed and look the dogs IMO.
Noddy from earlybay

Ermmmm, what can I add.................errrr, no t'is all been said.
What are your plans for it?

earlybay wrote:Another here who's gone from an early bay to a syncro (I founded earlybay.com), cerainly a quite different proposition, and as most point out running a syncro can be expensive, but very much depends on what the van has had done to it in the past (ie has it had a new VC, sorted diff locks, etc.), but plenty of good advice to be had on this forum ...

Earlybay.com still rocks a great site set up there.

Will still be keeping the bay in the garage.
I have always fancied a crewie not keen on the standard t25s but think a syncro could be a bit of fun. Its something that we are looking to get in the year so no rush. Another early bay is a poss, i would love to have a splitty but i havnt got stupid money to spend.
The vehicle is going to be used as a daily runner, work and school runs currently have a New Beetle conv. which is great but can only get 4 people inluding the driver in it so will garage the Beetle and let the wife drive it a bit more.
Thanks for all of the advice so far.

You'll love a Syncro but the advice is the same for any old vehicle, spend the money buying a good one and dont spend the money sorting out a bad one

I second that on selling early Bays to fund a Syncro - I sold my October 67 Bay Westy to fund first a single cab Syncro, then a Double Cab Syncro and I have now just bought a twin sliding door panel van Syncro. All need quite a lot of work, but are so much more usable as a day to day van. My daily is now the Doka and I have fitted a 1Z TDI motor to it from an Audi A4. Drivability is so much better over the JX and mpg is better, too!

High is the new low! Keeno

Please fill out your location in your profile, one of us might be around the corner so could meet up and talk you out of it

rustydiver wrote:Thinking about buying a crew cab this year (already own an early bay camper van), not sure what yet cant decide on a spit screen/ early bay or a syncro t25.
I am after advice on what to look for when buying a syncro.
Have seen one for sale its a 2.1 not sure if petrol or diesel, are there certian engines to avoid etc etc.
Any advice would be great.
Thanks Rusty.

If you want to mince around at shows the odd weekend then buy an Aircooled van. If you want to go away when and where you want and be self sufficiant for as long as you want then get a Syncro. I personally woulnt buy another petrol Syncro, and if your after a bit more power an 1.9tdAAZ has proved sufficient this last week my family and I have been wild camping in Wales.


Last nights sleepy spot,







Driving through the mountains,





















Another sleepy spot,







And another by the coast,



And another in the mountains in a forest,












Didnt see any bays or splits up their come to think of it Have a look on my website to see what we got up to last year as a guide, http://babyonboard.weebly.com/2009-adventures.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

jed

Them're some nice photos there, Mr. Jed.