Club 80-90 Forums

Daft question, but I'm assuming its the wheel size, or is it the ride height? I have looked at the Syncro Story, but no mention of telling them apart.

For those of you unfamiliar with the vehicle, it is fairly easy to spot once you start looking (hard). It sits about 25cm higher than a normal van (55cm if you are lucky enough to have a 16” Syncro). This is because the vehicle has its own sub frame to carry its 4-wheel drive system. Over the years this has confused many people who have not seen Syncros before & believed them to be customised vehicles. It is nice to be able to look down on Range Rovers!

Thanks in advance!

Busman has got info on his website

http://www.busman.be/pagina24.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There is some more detailed info on Ig 16, but I cant find it.

Thanks, will take a look

What makes a Vanagon or Transporter syncro a 16"?

The 16" version differs from the 14" in a lot of details. To follow the flow of the manufacturing process we have to start with the bodywork. As the T3 Van has no seperate chassis-frame, additional reinforcements had to be integrated into the bodywork sheet-metal structure. This means thicker or more rigid material for the b-column, the shock-absorber flanges, suspension hinges. Gear-box and transmisions may differ from the 14" in their ratio according to the engine version in combination with options like high-roof etc. A rear diff-lock was included in the package, for some countries even the front diff-lock. There are e.g. also some special air tubes for the transmission and friction housing in order to avoid to sucking water while wading. The front suspension of the later models was changed from welded sheet-metal to a more rigid and corrosion-resistent steel-cast part, the CV-joints are covered by a special PUR protection shield. The rear half-axles have a bigger flange-diameter (108 instead of 100 mm). The filling of the visco-coupling is said to be slightly different in order to accelerate its traction control function. The 16'' package includes also enlarged brakes from the VW LT 3,5t light-truck - conventional drums at the rear, 280 mm disk-brakes in front. Factory tire size was 195 R 16, the 205 R 16 or 7.00 x 16 were also available with a new car, aftermarket suppliers enlarged the choice up to 31x10,5x16 or 245/75 R 16. Clearance between rear-suspension and the 16" tires seemed insufficient, so a modified suspension was designed, which also enlarged the wheelbase for another 20mm. More clearance is the reason for the modified wheel-wells. As the sheet-metal would otherwise interfere with the enlarged tires, the 'fenders' are modified and covered with these typical black extensions molded in polyurethane.
How can I figure out if a syncro is a stock 16"?

First of all it is not very likely to get in touch with one outside of Europe or the states around the Mediterranian Sea. Have a look at the numbers at the sticker near the fuse-box near the drivers-doors or in your service booklet. You will find one number starting with e.g. 253 for a Kombi based vehicle, 255 for a Caravelle or Vanagon GL (see also production figures above and the dictionary at vanagon.com) The three digit number that follows tells you about the stock engine, body, tire & rim combination. The first two digits are quite complicated to structure, the last one tells you factory tires for your model were 185 R 14 tyres if '7', 205 R 14 if '5' and finally 195 R 16 if 'A'. The optional 205 R 16 tires were encoded M 855.


taken from: http://www.vanagon.com/syncros/syncro16/index.htm

Many thanks, just reading up on it now.

16" wheels are usually a give away... although not exclusive to 16s these days and tricky to tell apart from 15s at a distance.
the black rubber wheel arch trims are the most obvious difference although again these can be put on any vans but i dont imagine many people do put them on because of the rather high price they fetch.

if you start with the wheels and the trim, then it very well could be a 16 but you will then have to have a good crawl around it to establish beyond doubt.

There are some errors in those 16" Vs 14" difference descriptions I'm afraid... excuse some corrections, but for proper rigour it's necessary.

14" Syncros also can have none, rear or both difflocks as standard. In fact all 14's inported into the UK by VW UK had both, so no difference there

All the diffs and transaxles were vented regardless of 14" or 16" from what I've seen too

The cast or forged front arms are common to all models, 14" & 16" from circa 1988 onwards.

Don't think the 16's had any additional CVJ protection, unless specially odrered (in which case, front outer protection only)

The viscous couplings (despite persistent rumours to the contrary) were the same from the factory, 14" or 16" (it's all a myth , honest)

Thus the source, http://www.vanagon.com/syncros/syncro16/index.htm is quite ill-informed

Many thanks for clearing things up a little there.

The 16" is just an optional extra, and the body strengthening's were also available without the bigger wheels on a 14"

syncrosimon wrote:The 16" is just an optional extra, and the body strengthening's were also available without the bigger wheels on a 14"

How can I spot that then? Mine is an old police car and i suspect that.

Take the interior panels off to inspect the strengthening.

BTW, Im collecting my very first Syncro Wednesday! Excited.!

Or measure the thickness of the rear driveshafts and compare to a 14".. ?
Check the rear brake size, the fron disc size etc

The grin is slightly bigger

Mudlark wrote:The grin is slightly bigger