Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 13:55:39 -0400
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Tom Forhan <tforhan@usa.pipeline.com>
Subject: Re: 5- and 6-cylinder VW vans
Well, this is some interesting stuff. It looks problematic for Syncros.
Here are some of my quick observations:
>4 disc brakes recommended DM 3,600.00
A disk brake kit! That is about $2400 (plus shipping, duty, etc).
I wonder what it really is: ideal would be bigger disks up front, and
a drum to disk conversion for the rear!
>I bought the assembling kit from Winkler which costs 2,750 Deutsch
>Marks without shipping.
That is about $1800. Similar to the price for the base MSDS kit.
Some elements in the kit, and comments:
>1 clutch housing (I don*t know, if it is from a Volvo or the VW
>light truck LT 35)
I presume this is a bell housing. Sounds like it it a stock part.
I wonder if it has any part numbers on it.
>1 complete exhaust system without catalyst (which is not yet
>needed in Germany)
Well, it sure is here!
>What you will need additionally is the 240 mm flywheel itself
>and its pressure plate, both parts of an AUDI Quattro. That will
>cost about 600 Deutsch Marks.
I would try to buy the engine out of a quattro, and these parts would
all probably be thrown into the deal.
>The shipped exhaust system will find its place
>underneath the left midsection. Because my vanagon is a camper
>and on that place you will find a 50 liter water reservoir....
I'd like to know if the vehicle being converted is a
Westfalia camper. Sounds like the place where the propane tank
is located on US Westies. So they have the exhaust system
running forward?
More exhaust stuff:
>There have been a lot of plumbing, but it fit into the center of the
>midsection ...
DOH! Syncro owners, this sounds like the place where your driveshaft and
protective bash rails are.
>...and the pipe will end on the Vanagons south east corner.
With respects to St. Muir, I would presume Front is North, and he has
the outlet where is is now, at the right rear.
>In Germany we have to weld some parts like the new support for the
>front transmission mount and square holes for the engine support, which
>altogether allows a 3 cm lowered engine. In this case you have to
>raise the decklid by only 4 cm.
Sounds like a complex problem for Syncros. I don't really want to
lower my engine toward those rocks in the road, there are implications
for the bash rails, etc..
>Without lowering, it will be possible to mount everything without
>welding.
But it sounds like you would have to raise the decklid 7cm -
not good for Westfalias, but Helmut does have a camper. The real
question is how will this affect the sleeping area. Again, perhaps
his layout is different than ours.
Very helpful information, but maybe not for all of us. I want to learn
more about the disk brake kit, though!
Tom F.
90 Syncro Westfalia