SYNCRO.CA
1986 Syncro Westfalia Joker Project

 

This vehicle was our 2003 project.  We imported this vehicle from Germany in April of 2003 and turned it into the ultimate off-road camper.

From the factory this camper had a pretty impressive list of attributes:

  • Westfalia camper cold weather camping interior.  Same layout as the North America Westfalia plus you get fully insulated walls, double pane windows and a gasoline powered thermostatically controlled furnace.  

  • Auto lighting refrigerator - this was not found on North American campers until the early 90s.

  • Removable storage bin behind the passenger seat

  • High top roof with storage over the cab of the vehicle.  Much quieter than North American Westfalia and no need to worry about getting wet in the rain!

  • Locking differentials - front and rear

  • 205R14 tires

Before I bought it, the owners spent some time in Finland and Norway and they did some nice modifications to it including:

  • Large LT style mirrors

  • Fimma awning

  • Hella Rallye 2000 lights

  • Reimo dash 'catch all' that holds your favourite beverage and has a fold out map table.

When we brought it to Canada we immediately started to make a good thing better:

  • Wrap around front bull bar.

  • Fast Forward Lift Kit for 52cm between the fender and the center of the wheel (stock is 47cm)

  • Hankook RF-04 215/85R16 tires mounted on original Syncro 16 wheels

  • Fast Forward +25mm trailing arms

  • Old Man Emu front shocks

  • Rancho RS9000X adjustable rear shocks

  • Fast Forward rear bush bumper

  • Ortec rear spare tire carrier

  • The now discontinued Fast Forward cross drilled rotors.

  • Gary Lee rear rack that holds a 20L fuel can, full pioneer kit and 1.5m long aluminum bridges for getting unstuck and over deactivated logging road entrances.

  • Sony MP3/CD player with remote so we can listed to music in bed!

  • Icom 706MKII-G HF/VHF/UHF amateur radio

In 2003, 2004 and 2005 we went to some incredible places including Yank's Peak and the North Arm of Quesnel Lake which require a very capable four wheel drive to get to.  No problem for this van as we have a little over 14" of ground clearance and increased suspension travel!

In 2005 we didn't do too much to the van as we spent time on our TriStar, mods included:

  • Drive Shaft Decoupler with a solid shaft replacing the VC

  • Multivan headlights

  • Recaro seats

If you have any questions or comments about our Syncro Westfalia Joker, I would love to hear from you!  Please contact me at info@syncro.ca 

For 2006 we are installing a high performance TDI engine at our HasenWerk installation facility.

SYNCRO.CA © 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 by David Marshall