Funny you should ask. I had a conversation with Daryl about this very thing. It was about $3500 outright with a 5-speed for a 2wd including the linkage. But Syncro, since thas what you have, might be a different story. It might even be less. Call the man and find out firsthand.

BenT
sent from my electronic leash

On May 16, 2011, at 4:03 PM, Mike Miller <mwmiller@CWNET.COM> wrote:

> The word was that the taller R&P’s were NLA pretty much. I don’t know about
> the problems getting going. The TDI has serious low end torque. But the
> brakes? I have G60s in the front and Audi 5000 turbo rear disks in the back
> so I should be good.
> 
> The real answer is the 5 speed transmission but I don’t have the courage to
> ask how much one of those is. Do they fit in syncros?
> 
> Mike
> 
> 
> On 5/16/11 3:53 PM, "Jake de Villiers" <crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> If you could fit tires that big under your van, which you can't, you'd find
>> yourself with seriously under-performing brakes and you'd probably have to fry
>> the clutch getting it underway too... A taller third and fourth is a more
>> intelligent solution, along with a taller R&P.
>> 
>> On Mon, May 16, 2011 at 3:25 PM, Mike Miller <mwmiller@cwnet.com> wrote:
>>> Thanks
>>> 
>>> Right now the hope is for a TDI. Price of the labor for conversion is the
>>> same, about, for either a TD or a TDI and I've had a TDI and liked it.
>>> 
>>> I guess the Tire Rack would know this, and then I can calculate the percent
>>> change in rpm. The gearing change is 25% and I kind of doubt tires can make
>>> that much difference but maybe?
>>> 
>>> Mike
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 5/16/11 2:43 PM, "Scott Daniel - Turbovans" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>>> hi ..
>>>>> 'which diesel' engine is a factor...
>>>>> 
>>>>> a strong running tdi ?
>>>>> or  a conventional pre-chamber style engine ...1.9 TD at least I would
>>>>> expect ?
>>>>> 
>>>>> if running a conventional pre-chamber TD engine ..
>>>>> those are 5,000 rpm engines .........and more or less like the stock
>>>> syncro
>>>>> gearing.,
>>>>> 
>>>>> on the other hand ...a tdi will have more power at lower rpm, and for
>>>> those
>>>>> you want higher gearing for sure in 3rd and 4th.
>>>>> 
>>>>> depending on how wild you want to get, some pretty large and tall 15 inch
>>>>> tires will fit on your syncro van.
>>>>>   If the trans does not need rebuilding current..
>>>>> the less expensive route for now is to play with 'rubber gearing'
>>>>> improvements.
>>>>> 
>>>>> for a stock 75 hp 1.9 TD AAZ engine ..
>>>>> stock syncro gearing could be all right .................and it depends on
>>>>> *what use* you have in mind ..
>>>>> from dead slow rock crawling, to mud prowess, to highway cruising..
>>>>> that needs to be spoken to also, for people to be able to make intelligent
>>>>> comments about gearing and tire changes.
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Mike Miller" <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
>>>>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>>>> Sent: Monday, May 16, 2011 2:13 PM
>>>>> Subject: FW: Tire question
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Subject: Tire question
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Vanaroonies,
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> I feel the list has been too quiet lately so I thought I'd bring up a
>>>>> tire
>>>>>>> question.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Converting a van, 87 syncro, to diesel [if the money falls from heaven,
>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>> is]. The advice is to change 3rd and 4th so that the diesel operates in
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> right rev range on the highway.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> This will increase the gap between 2 and 3, which is already too large
>>>>>>> really.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> So I wondered how much the revs could be decreased at highway speeds
>>>>> [and
>>>>>>> all others] using the tallest tires? I have 15" rims and since it's a
>>>>>>> syncro
>>>>>>> and a westy I need Light truck tires.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Any ideas?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Mike
>>>>>>> Flame suit on
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> ------ End of Forwarded Message
>> 
>>