SUSPENSION
I got a p-mail from a listee who  is on a NASCAR team regarding the
recent spring wars.  He discussed how the stock cars have pre-load
adjusters on the upper spring perch, and that they are used to do
exactly what I had been explaining I wanted to do with the spacers.
That makes everybody who has actual experience tuning suspension
agreeing with me re the effect of the spacer.  nana na na na

The NASCAR list member did not want his post sent to the list because of
how nasty the debate had gotten.  Nevertheless, he did provide me with
some info that I did not consider.  On the motocross biks, spring
pre-load is set by measuring the sag of the bike under the weight of the
rider.  I was going to attempt that with the syncro, but our friend
informed me that on cars you instead weigh the weight on each wheel, and
make the initial adjustment on that basis.  This makes sense since with
4 wheels the sag of any given wheel is going to be affected by the 3
other wheels and the sag they have.  Accuracy becomes imposssible trying
to measure.  So...I am looking for a place where I can get my vehicle
weiged and set the pre-load based on the weight at each wheel

SYNCRO TRANSAXLE AND VC

In my continuing saga to have my transaxle rebuilt, I stumbled upon some
interesting info.  Weedle Engineering informed me that in their view,
using mis-matched tires can not only kill the VC, but the transaxle as
well.  They have not figured this out beyond noting that when they get a
bad VC, invariably or frequently, the tranny is toast too, or ends up
failing prematurely.  Mis-matched tires is apparently the no.1 cause of
death of the VC.  What happens, according to weddle, is that the VC
fluid becomes contaminated...not sure if just by heat or heat and leaks
with the front diff.  Once this happens, the VC is history...and starts
binding sooner and sooner.

Weddle DOES rebuild VC.  They are the only place in the country I am
aware of.  They import, at great expense I am told, the VC fluid, which
they change and which fixes the problem.  It seems other parts must get
replaced, too, as the cost is about $1400 + core charge for this.

Weddle also said they cannot keep up with syncro transaxle rebuilds.
They use all VW parts...they said the parts alone for a syncro transaxle
rebuild come out to about $1300.  As a result, some syncro owners just
throw in a regular 4 speed tranny and give up the 4 wheel drive!

Anyway...just some info to pass on.  I am off-list so will not get any
posts to the list.
steve