blabla on AWD

[Per Lindgren]

Jens wrote:

> Hi PerL!
>
> > No VW model has had the syncro viscous coupling located next to the tranny, it
> > always sits on the "other" diff, i.e. rear diff on front engined cars (Golf,
> > Passat), or front diff on rear engined cars (Caravelle T3 aka Vanagon)
>
> 'nother 100 points for you!
> Well, go to
> http://www.audistory.com/pics/syncro.jpg
> to see, what picture fooled me. It is from a lecture at my university
> and says "press material of VW" (!)
> The words from top right to bottom left would translate as follows:
> visco-coupling
> driveshaft to the rearaxle
> front diff
>
> But looking more closely, I now doubt that this is the front end.
> Can you help me?

What you see is the front differential, and the outgoing axle for the rear axle
drive.

>
> Even if it was, it would be a stupid thing to draw the visco directly to
> the front diff, if it is 2 metres away!

I totally agree, it was stupid. They should have included the parts of the prop
shaft in-between.

> BTW: Did the T3 really have a Visco coupling?

Oh yes! There were a few cars (read: less than 20) that had an open/closed system
which was operated by a vacuum switch on the dashboard, but all T3 Syncros has Visco
Coupling (from now on, shortened to VC)

>
> Do you have a pic of the drivetrain? Really would be interested in the
> exact setup. As I always thought it would be like quattro or Porsche.

At this URL, you can see Steve X. Schwenk replaces the VC in his 1991 Westfalia
Syncro.
 http://www.photoloft.com/album.asp?s=brav&u=362052&a=276659&p=0

>
> Was the T3 syncro available with all engines and all bodystyles?

Yes, it was available with all bodystyles, and almost all trim levels. You could get
Transporter, Caravelle C, CL and GL. The Carat was never available as Syncro, nor
the Blue-, Red-, or Whitestar. The engines were 1,6TD, 1,9 Vergaser and 2,1 FI with
cat (stock US spec, 95 hp) and 2,1 FI (Euro spec, 112 hp)

>
> How was the front axle constructed?

Center differential unit, regular CV joint type axles, Coil over shocks, and dual
wishbone suspension. The suspension is almost identical to the regular T3.

>
> (Gee, I know you wish you had never mentioned the T3 ;)

Why? They are certainly cool cars! I know, I had two of them (both Syncros) Believe
it or not, they are one of the better off road vehicles you can get! Don't believe
me? Check out the Syncro madness area: http://www.tiu.net/~des/vw/drew/index.html
Offroading in a T3 is sooo fun, people give you the strangest looks when they meet a
VW bus in the strangest places :-)

For plenty of information on the T3 and Syncro, here are a few links:
http://www.syncro.org/
http://www.volkswagen.org/syncro/ oder vielleicht
http://hometown.aol.com/syncro16/homepage/start.htm Not to mention
http://www.vanagon.com of course

PerL
92 Cab 2,3