Mark,
Why not use a Turbo Diesel?  Both the 1.6 and the 1.9TD came equipped with
AC and PS - not that difficult to interface with the Vanagon stuff.  I have
a complete 1.6TD here with AC and PS in case you may be interested in it.
Pmail me for more info on it.

I also offer custom gear reduction starters that will work in a 091 / 094
transmission so starting your TD won't be an issue.  It even fits Syncros
with differential locks!  I have tried the stock Vanagon starters with a
Diesel - just not enough poop to turn the 23:1 compression ratio motor over
fast enough.

David Marshall

Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
4356 Quesnel Hixon Road
Quesnel BC Canada  V2J 6Z3

http://www.fastforward.ca    mailto:sales@fastforward.ca
Phone: (250) 992 7775        FAX: (250) 992 1160

- Vanagon Accessories and Engine Conversions
- Vanagon, Transporter and Iltis Sales and Importation
- European Lighting for most Volkswagen models

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of mark drillock
Sent: December 21, 2002 7:11 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: stretch Syncro/Vanagon lives!

Today I took the first test drive in my new stretch. It drove even
better than I had hoped for. The turning radius was fine and the ride
was a little smoother than that of the normal length models. I drove
around my local area for about half an hour waiting for something to go
wrong but everything was fine. No leaks or rattles, just a few waves and
stares. Tomorrow I may take it out on the freeway if the rain stops long
enough. A photo of it just after the welder finished is on Otmar's site
under "Other Stretches". Since this photo I have added the taller Syncro
springs to level it out and installed the custom windows in the smaller
openings.

http://www.evcl.com/vw/index.html

Now I have some decisions to make regarding the final engine I will use.
I plan to keep it diesel though a Subaru conversion is not out of the
question. I want to have power steering and dash A/C so I need to use an
engine configuration that has this capability. The Vanagon diesel
engines do not support both of these. I may use an Audi 5 cylinder turbo
diesel as this will allow all VW/Audi parts and not interfere with the
Syncro fuel tank. The other choice is a 4 cyl TD VW engine but mounted
at 15 degrees using a Kennedy adapter and flywheel. I may wait a few
weeks before deciding. The starter motor is still an issue with the
Kennedy setup as diesels need a stronger starter and Kennedy's reduction
starters don't fit with the Syncro diff lock. I may try it with a gas
Syncro starter just to see how long it lasts if it will even do the job
at all. Anybody solve this yet?

Mark Drillock
86 Syncro front/83 diesel rear
25 inches added behind the front seats