What is a VW T3 Syncro?
Introduced for 1986, T3 Syncros featured rectangular headlamps, a tachometer, new fabric choices, a more effective air conditioner and a five-speed gearbox, with first being a crawl gear. A Syncro at the 2017 VW Meet at the Hungaroring. Máté Petrány / Roadrack.
What does Syncro mean?
Syncro is Volkswagen’s name for any of its vehicles using their Syncro AWD (All Wheel Drive) system. It’s also fitted to some VW cars as well as the later FWD T4 Transporter, but was first introduced around 1985. The term ‘Syncro’ evidently refers to synchronisation of the front and rear wheels…
How does VW Syncro work?
The syncro system sends power to the front wheels 100% of the time just as a FWD system does. The rear wheels get the power from the front, through a viscous coupling (VC) which allows a slight amount of slippage. If the front wheels spin excessively, then the VC tightens up and transmits power to the rear wheels.
What year did the T3 Syncro go into production?
| Volkswagen Type 2 (T3) | |
|---|---|
| Production | May 1979–June 2002 |
| Assembly | Germany: Hannover Austria: Graz South Africa: Uitenhage |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Light commercial vehicle (M) |
How does Syncro work?
What is a Syncro transmission?
A synchronizer, or “synchro,” lets the collar and gear synchronize their speeds while they’re already in contact but before the dog teeth engage. The gear and collar synchronize their speeds thanks to the friction between the cone and collar.
What does a viscous coupler do?
The viscous coupling is often found in all-wheel-drive vehicles. It is commonly used to link the back wheels to the front wheels so that when one set of wheels starts to slip, torque will be transferred to the other set. Under normal conditions, both sets of plates and the viscous fluid spin at the same speed.
Who designed the VW T25?
Here’s its story… Its evolution began back in the late 1970s when a member of VW’s R&D department, Henning Duckstein, experimented by fitting a four-wheel drive system in his Type 2 Westfalia Camper.
What are Synchros made of?
A synchro’s inner hub and sleeve are made of steel, but the blocking ring — the part of the synchro that rubs on the gear to change its speed — is usually made of a softer material, such as brass.
How do Synchros work in a manual transmission?
A synchronizer adjusts the speed of the shaft so that the gears align more quickly as you shift. The slider pushes against the keys or balls in the synchronizer, which then push against the blocker ring. That ring then pushes against the gear’s cone, and the friction it causes helps the shaft speeds to equalize.
What is VLSD differential?
V.L.S.D. stands for Viscous Limited Slip Differential. Basically it acts alittle better than open gear, but not as good as regular L.S.D. It acts somewhat like a broken L.S.D.
Why does the VW T3 Syncro have a rear engine?
The rear-mounted engine allows for a huge interior space, with external dimensions similar to that of a Land Rover. The viscous coupling instead of central diff engages the 4wd only when needed, saving fuel on road and offering exceptional traction off-road.
What’s the price of a VW Syncro?
With Syncros becoming increasingly rare, the price you will look to pay depends on how much work you are willing to do and how far you are willing to travel. you can get the bones of a vehicle, working, but high mileage and spartan interior for around £2000, especially on the german or eastern european markets.
Is the VW Syncro a good overland vehicle?
Compact, Economical, and hugely comfortable to live in, couple this with great off-road ability and a fiercely strong following and you have an overland vehicle that is hard to beat. With only around 38,000 Syncros making it off the production line, finding a solid example is about the hardest part of getting a syncro to use as an overland vehicle.
How many Syncros are there in the world?
With only around 38,000 Syncros making it off the production line, finding a solid example is about the hardest part of getting a syncro to use as an overland vehicle. Once you have one though, the rewards are obvious.