Q - Is there a loss in ground clearance?

A - You are looking at the skid plate on a Syncro being about 1 to 1.5"
lower than stock.  Nothing too significant and after polling a lot of
people, much more desirable than modifying the engine cover.

so have you done one on a 2wd van?  am i right in guessing lower than
stock would be 1.5" plus the difference in 2wd and syncro carrier bars
which is around 2".  so that would give a total drop of like 3.5"?

the tdi set up must be much shorter than my digifant II golf engine.  with
no drop of the drive line, protrusion from the engine opening is about
5.5".

jonathan