+Saxon Mosh Been held up with some other (home improvement) projects that I had to get finished before the winter, and which have taken up most of my time just recently. Won't be long now and I will get the van into the garage to start the conversion, I just need to finish rebuilding the front hubs and driveshafts. Thanks for the interest :-)
Hi Tommy, used parts are hard to find but are still out there. You can also get the 16" driveshaft parts such as CV joints new from several sellers. Try the likes of Gowesty and Burley for what you need. Thanks for the positive feedback, appreciated and all the best 👍
Hi Mark, unbelievably helpful vid. About embark on this myself. If like to keep the van mobile as long as I can. If I do the work on the rear only in "phase 1", so filler, tank pillow, tranny mounts and syncro tranny, etc, will shifter still be happy and compatible with the rest of the up front 2wd stuff? Thanks!
Hi thanks, I would have thought so as it would be no different from running a syncro with a decoupler of propshaft removed. So.... I can't think of any reason why not. But I would ask around on any forums/Facebook etc. I would recommend joining this group on Facebook "VW T3 Vanagon Syncro Conversion Group" Cheers
That could have been an option but if I were doing it again I would use the right size tubing to repair the arms and not scaffold tube. Then the bushes would fit.
Is it possible to convert to syncro an 2WD based van? Mine is 2WD, and when I bought it I didn't have a clue of what a Syncro was, if were to buy a now, I would boy a Syncro without doubt. So I was doing some research about if it was possible a conversion. Does it work?
Exactly the same. It behaves in exactly the same way as the donor vehicle that I removed the parts from. In the end it depends on the level of detail that you put into the conversion, this is easier when you have a donor vehicle to take the parts from as you can take measurements from the donor chassis you are taking it apart.
Yes the conversion is not cheap to do, I was lucky and found a fairly cheap donor Syncro to use which already had some good things on it like the Subaru engine, although it was very rusty and took a while to strip down. If I weigh it all up I could have bought a Syncro probably for less. But it would not have been exactly how I wanted it, I know every inch of the van and I wouldn't have had so much fun building it! :-)
Hi yes with the right bell housing you this has been done. If you search out Mike Ghia in the vanagon section of the Samba forum you will see his projects where he has done this.
These images and your descriptions are very useful. Thanks for posting.
+Kevin Hornbuckle
Feedback appreciated and very glad the vids are useful. Nearly finished now and last updates to follow soon. Cheers Mark
Enjoyed the video subbed
I'm interested to see how far you have got since August.
Let's have an update video Mark.
+Saxon Mosh Been held up with some other (home improvement) projects that I had to get finished before the winter, and which have taken up most of my time just recently. Won't be long now and I will get the van into the garage to start the conversion, I just need to finish rebuilding the front hubs and driveshafts. Thanks for the interest :-)
Hi Mark, would you know where to buy the 16” rear axel housings? Thanks so much! Love this project!
Hi Tommy, used parts are hard to find but are still out there. You can also get the 16" driveshaft parts such as CV joints new from several sellers. Try the likes of Gowesty and Burley for what you need. Thanks for the positive feedback, appreciated and all the best 👍
Hi Mark, unbelievably helpful vid. About embark on this myself. If like to keep the van mobile as long as I can.
If I do the work on the rear only in "phase 1", so filler, tank pillow, tranny mounts and syncro tranny, etc, will shifter still be happy and compatible with the rest of the up front 2wd stuff? Thanks!
Hi thanks, I would have thought so as it would be no different from running a syncro with a decoupler of propshaft removed. So.... I can't think of any reason why not. But I would ask around on any forums/Facebook etc. I would recommend joining this group on Facebook "VW T3 Vanagon Syncro Conversion Group"
Cheers
@@MarkHalligan
I was mostly wondering about shifter linkage compatibility, path, etc.
Thanks for the info!
Why is there a track for a sliding door on the drivers side, but no slider door?
+Jacob Norton that is how the right hand drive shells were made.
you could have made your own bushings using the polyurethane and make a mold
Is that a texture coat paint job on the recipient vehicle? If so, what did you use?
+Kurt Kinscherf - Hi it is matte Dark Olive Drab military paint
have you galvanized the parts?
Yes all of the suspension components
@@MarkHalligan Yes, all right, well done
cant you thin the powerflex bushes a bit on a lathe? they seem hard enough😉
That could have been an option but if I were doing it again I would use the right size tubing to repair the arms and not scaffold tube. Then the bushes would fit.
Mark Halligan
Is it possible to convert to syncro an 2WD based van? Mine is 2WD, and when I bought it I didn't have a clue of what a Syncro was, if were to buy a now, I would boy a Syncro without doubt. So I was doing some research about if it was possible a conversion. Does it work?
Yes this is what I have done. My van was a 2WD originally
But how is the result? Is it exactly the same than a Syncro 4WD or there may be some differences on the results, behaviour of the van, etc...
Exactly the same. It behaves in exactly the same way as the donor vehicle that I removed the parts from. In the end it depends on the level of detail that you put into the conversion, this is easier when you have a donor vehicle to take the parts from as you can take measurements from the donor chassis you are taking it apart.
I love it. The doubt now is if it is more expensive to do the conversion or find another Sycro on sale
Yes the conversion is not cheap to do, I was lucky and found a fairly cheap donor Syncro to use which already had some good things on it like the Subaru engine, although it was very rusty and took a while to strip down. If I weigh it all up I could have bought a Syncro probably for less. But it would not have been exactly how I wanted it, I know every inch of the van and I wouldn't have had so much fun building it! :-)
can i use a stock transmission with a AUDI A6 engine
Hi yes with the right bell housing you this has been done. If you search out Mike Ghia in the vanagon section of the Samba forum you will see his projects where he has done this.