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What Is 4Wd, Has 4.85 Gears, 6.03:1 Low Range, And A Rear Locker?


Sir Sam
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This guy does:

 

syncro1.JPG

 

So long story short I've had this thing a few years and haven't gotten around to working on it, back in Dec I finally ordered a new clutch for it and spent the time to get that in. During the process of getting the clutch in it kind of snowballed and I ended up needing something else and then something else and so on. So after fighting little thing after another little thing I finally got it back on the road today.

 

New clutch, new starter, resealed cooling system, new clutch slave and master cylinders, new locker actuator and one solid test drive later and it looks like I'm gonna start rocking this thing tomorrow.

 

Working rear diff locker!

(unfortunately my van didn't come with a front locker or decoupler).

 

IKOpEVc.jpg

 

I had to JB weld in my starter pilot bushing, this should have been a press fit but because of how the bellhousing bolts broke I think the starter ate away the bushing and wallowed out the hole.

 

PwC1J2l.jpg

 

Rebuilt bosch starter, I've had to strike it with a hammer twice already.

 

bYioKQf.jpg

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Those vans have always amused me. They are just different enough to catch my attention.

 

It's always nice when a project gets back on the road.

 

Yup, they are tons of fun in a camper version. We have a 91 that we converted to a camper and took up to alaska and back, I have an 86 weekender I am fixing up right now as a flip, and then I have this 87 syncro and 87 westy that are going together.

 

This is what you can do in a lowered 2WD van with crappy street tires:

 

Yukon River:

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Further north:

AK_0304.jpg

 

Man made river of oil:

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The copper river:

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But another van beat me down to the river:

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The bearing sea/port of valdez during the salmon run:

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Then again, maybe a frozen river is better:

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Nah, lets go back to the ocean:

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And lets say hi to captain jim:

AK_1601.jpg

 

Of course there are always more glaciers around:

AK_1649.jpg

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AK_0001.jpg

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I'd love to go on a trip like that some day. I've been thinking about trying to do the run to Inuvik or Prudhoe Bay over Christmas break, but I've had trouble finding people to come with me... seems like everyone else wants to go the other direction... and I'm almost too busy in the summer.

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I'd love to go on a trip like that some day. I've been thinking about trying to do the run to Inuvik or Prudhoe Bay over Christmas break, but I've had trouble finding people to come with me... seems like everyone else wants to go the other direction... and I'm almost too busy in the summer.

 

Show em some pics for motivation:

http://colorado4wheel.com/content/ak/

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Who displays jealousy with a question and an arrow made of text?

 

<----- This guy!

 

My brother had an '82 Westy that we were looking in a V6 swap shortly after we did his VR6 Cabby. His was in awesome shape! Low miles... all original... stupid clean... his daughters loved it... but the problem was that it sat just too much. He sold it almost without telling me. At the time, I found nice Syncro for sale very close to me that had a trashed interior. Perfect! The stars seemed to be aligned to put the two together right up until he sold it.

 

Good find!

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Man if you can find a good deal on a syncro grab it. There are always cheap old air cooled westys that come through, good cheap syncros are hard to find. Get a cheap camper for the top and cabinets, then new carpets and some interior. And you can be rocking a nice van.

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I thought that too but it was over a year ago now. I got a call from the seller a couple months after I looked at it asking if I was still interested... guess I left an impression on him. I really don't have time for something like that let along another camper build. I see it still sitting through the garage windows everytime I drive north of my place. I'm sure he'd jump at the thought of me buying it... whenever that might be.

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I'm sure he'd sell it if I went and asked about it. Like I said, it was just a year ago and he knows my truck... he even waved at me the last time I went by in it a few months ago! It had a little rust around the rear wheels and the rockers under the front doors were a little beat up. At the time, he had it at the end of his driveway asking $5k. I stop and we talked for a while and, without even asking about price, he just comes out and says that he'd like to get $3k for it. Eh... I really didn't need it and I really, REALLY don't need another vehicle. That aside, I'd still love to have it.

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