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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


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