If my Syncro wasn't in such good condition, I'd pull the tranny out and put
it in my 84' Westfalia in a heart beat.  Besides the locker, I also
appreciate the granny low.  There is many times I could have used both of
these, like the last time I had the Westy loaded with firewood and was
going up a stump strewn 30 deg incline.

Later

> [Original Message]
> From: Clive Smith <clive.harman-smith@NTLWORLD.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
 > Date: 7/17/02 5:40:54 PM
> Subject: Re: Locking differential
>
> I wouldn't, I'd always have the locker in the rear on the rear engined
> Transporter, especially as the steering gets almost impossible with a
front
> locker. From what I hear, the rear locker gets you out of most
situations...
> without losing steering
>
>
> Clive Smith
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jay L Snyder" <Jay.L.Snyder@USA.DUPONT.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2002 5:57 PM
> Subject: Re: Locking differential
>
>
> > This sounds correct.  I know the Suzuki Samurai guys said the same
thing.
> > They also recommended if you can only afford one Locker, put it in the
> > front diff!   Great for off-road and with manual hubs, not a problem on
> dry
> > highway use.  Seeing as I use the Samurai's 4WD less than 100 miles a
> year,
> > I don't think it would be a good investment at this time.
> >
> >                                                       Jay '85 Westy and
> '87
> > Samurai
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>@gerry.vanagon.com> on 07/17/2002
> > 12:42:39 PM
> >
> > Please respond to Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
> >
> > Sent by:    Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
> >
> >
> > To:    vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > cc:
> > Subject:    Re: Locking differential
> >
> >
> >  From what I have heard, the lockright type of diferentials are not
> > really suitable for street use.
> > I know there was at least one listmember who went this route and ended
> > up removing the diff.
> > The reason?
> >
> > Here is a good explaination posted on a 4x4 website:
> >
> > > When driving in a straight line the locker is normally locked. On dry
> > > pavement, when cornering, the outer wheel over-running the speed of
> > > the axle unlocks the outside axle shaft. Power is applied to the
> > > inside wheel only. This can cause a noticeable under-steer.
> > > Additionally, if enough power is applied while in the turn, the axle
> > > will lock up and the vehicle either slips wildly, spins or straightens
> > > out suddenly. These differentials sometimes make a clicking noise when
> > > cornering; some find this objectionable.
> >
> >
> > Todd
> > '88 Westy
> >
> >
> > Fitz-Randolph, Douglas wrote:
> >
> > >Hi all. I have a few comments about this.
> > >
> > >First, about the benefits of a locking rear diff on a 2WD Vanagon...
> > During
> > >one winter I had the driveshaft out of my syncro, effectively making
it a
> > >2WD Vanagon. The locking rear differential made a huge difference, both
> in
> > >overall ability to keep going straight while driving slowly on
> > snow-covered
> > >roads, and in not getting stuck trying to make it up the un-shoveled
> > >driveway after a daytime snowfall. The difference was like night and
day.
> > >I'd have to say that from my personal on-road snow experience, having a
> > >locking diff on a 2WD van would be a nice addition. Mud / off-road?
Maybe
> > a
> > >different story, but having the ability to have power at 2 wheels would
> > >logically seem to be better than having it at just one. In fact, check
> the
> > >link in the next section - they've got a neat illustration of how
having
> > 2WD
> > >and a locking diff can be superior in certain situations to having 4WD
> and
> > >no locking diff.
> > >
> > >Second, about the Lockright diff locker offered by Desert Rat... this
is
> > >different than the stock syncro diff lock - it is not manually engaged
> and
> > >disengaged. It's similar to "posi-traction" (though they say it is far
> > >superior to that), meaning if one wheel slips, the diff will lock to
> > provide
> > >power to both wheels. I've never owned a vehicle with Lockright or
> > >posi-traction, so I can't comment on its effectiveness in any
situation.
> I
> > >also cannot offer any information on what effect it would have on tire
> > wear,
> > >etc. To see what Lockright says about it - which I think is quite
> > >interesting, go to http://www.lockright.com/ . I will add this,
though...
> > it
> > >might be a solution to the problem of what to do about locking diffs on
> an
> > >I4 diesel conversion where, correct me if I am wrong, the starter - or
> > >something - interferes with the operation of the stock rear diff lock.
> > Just
> > >a thought.
> > >
> > >Cheers,
> > >Doug Fitz-Randolph
> > >Freeport, ME
> > >
> > >
> > >Original Message
> > >------------------------------------------------------------
> > >Date:    Tue, 16 Jul 2002 11:21:55 -0700
> > >From:    Michael Ramer <elvisramer@COX.NET>
> > >Subject: Re: Locking differential
> > >
> > >As for the 2WD vans and locking differentials, I believe it was decided
> > that
> > >due to the Vanagons' near 50/50 weight distribution, that a rear locker
> > >would not really be very benefiical. I tend to agree, but my particular
> > >offroad experiences in a 2WD Westy is all I have to draw on though.
> Anyone
> > >have one installed on [any] 2WD Vanagon?
> > >Now if a diff locker were available for my '72 Bus, I might be
> > ineterested,
> > >as I believe it to be better setup for such beatings. I am talking dirt
> > vs.
> > >snow though. Hmmm.
> > >Mike
> > >----- Original Message -----
> > >From: "Ben McCafferty" <ben@KBMC.NET>
> > >To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > >Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 9:07 PM
> > >Subject: Re: Locking differential
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >>It was an option on syncros, and German Transaxles in Bend, OR, will
> also
> > >>install a front diff lock on the syncro for about $500.  I believe
some
> > >>
> > >>
> > >have
> > >
> > >
> > >>put a syncro tranny with locker into a 2WD vanagon with good results.
> > >>bmc  :)
> > >>"Faith will move mountains, but you'd better bring a shovel...."
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>>From: "Nemo, the Bus Captain" <nemobuscaptain@YAHOO.COM>
> > >>>Reply-To: "Nemo, the Bus Captain" <nemobuscaptain@YAHOO.COM>
> > >>>Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 20:57:46 -0700
> > >>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > >>>Subject: Locking differential
> > >>>
> > >>>I remember Lilly saying he had this on his
> > >>>vanagon, but I've never seen them advertised
> > >>>before.  Just the trick for you beach or snow
> > >>>guys?  (Or not?)
> > >>>
> > >>>http://www.desertrat.com/lockright/lockright.htm
> > >>>
> > >>>=====
> > >>>Peace and blessings,
> > >>>Nemo, the Bus Captain
> > >>>
> > >>>74 Westy For Sale:
http://www.geocities.com/nemobuscaptain/index.html
> > >>>
> > >>>__________________________________________________
> > >>>Do You Yahoo!?
> > >>>Yahoo! Autos - Get free new car price quotes
> > >>>http://autos.yahoo.com
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >
> > >
> > >

David Wilhite
86' Syncro GL (For Sale)
01' KLR 650
84' Subaruvanagon