Club 80-90 Forums

Thought you might like a few photo’s of our 4 day trip last week down in the South West of Western Australia. I’d been having doubts about the syncro so it was good to get it out again and into some tough terrain.
The pictures don’t do it justice, they shorten the angles and you don’t get any idea of the space around you but I hope you enjoy them. I’ve got some video which gives a better perspective but it’ll take months for me to E D I T it.

Entering the sand dunes after a frustrating morning on forestry tracks many of which were closed due to recent bush fires. Tyres down to 12PSI, a major climb to get up there, 2 attempts by the Landcruiser, 1 attempt by the syncro.



After a few KM’s you eventually drop down and finally get to see the ocean, this is a steep slope and in deep sand







Camping in the dunes





Bit of beach driving



Views of the dunes





Whilst waiting at the top of the hill in the last photo I noticed water dripping from my oil cooler, it was a single track and about 5kms from a gravel road. We pushed on steadily.
Just as I made it off the dunes water poured out of the engine, I stopped immediately, on a single track and let it cool down, not a great place to stop. Refilled with water and there was no leak when cold. We decided to try and make it to the gravel road, about 1km away. Made it to the gravel road just as the water burst out once again.
Water was coming out of the oil cooler (2.1litre MV) and one of the oil cooler hoses had burst.



I bypassed the oil cooler to get us back on the road. A familiar picture below for all T3 owners



Only a 400km journey home with no oil cooler. I was a bit concerned about oil pressure and had a few frights as oil from the cooler made its way to the expansion tank so the level sensor kept playing up.
Camped up with 300km’s to home, checking the engine over again before making the decision to drive.


A fantastic few days, slightly spoiled by the oil cooler/hose issue but once again totally amazed about what my syncro can do. Many land cruisers Land rovers and Patrols were struggling on the tracks, so much pleasure when the syncro steadily cruises by. Definitely double diff lock territory but fantastic fun.

Great photos, thanks for sharing. That hose had certainly seen better days!

Bit annoyed at myself about the hose. Actually got two new hoses a couple of months ago but one was incorrect, so only fitted one new one and meant to order another. Of course forgot, only realised last night when I was checking my spares. Hence I paid the price.

The US & Oz, the perfect countries for a syncro. Lucky bu88er!

Wicked pictures.
Thanks for sharing.
Its always good to hear about syncros out performing other vehicles .
I always imagine it will but have yet to get the chance to prove it.

What wheel and tyre sizes are you using? What are the wheels off?

Wheels are 15inch Mefro, imported as a group buy from Germany last year. Spent way too much on them (Freight is a killer). Tyres are 215/75/15.

Prior to that I was running Mercedes rims but I bent a couple 4wd'ing.

When I bought the van it had T4 Rims, good and strong but horrible offset.

Not much choice of rims in Western Australia and they can be expensive. Mefro's are the best choice in my opinion.

syncropaddy wrote:What wheel and tyre sizes are you using? What are the wheels off?

Bullifamilie wrote:Wheels are 15inch Mefro, imported as a group buy from Germany last year. Spent way too much on them (Freight is a killer). Tyres are 215/75/15.

Prior to that I was running Mercedes rims but I bent a couple 4wd'ing.

When I bought the van it had T4 Rims, good and strong but horrible offset.

Not much choice of rims in Western Australia and they can be expensive. Mefro's are the best choice in my opinion.

Reason I asked was that they looked different - wider in fact, to the one I had fitted to mine.

Oh for Green lanes and remote places like that!