Time to dig out the spare wheels and do some shuffling. The problem with the Syncro system is keeping all 4 corners within a certain working radius to stop the system from winding up and going pop!

I've had the current BFG's on for quite a few years now. They are brilliant! The fronts are down to 8.5mm but the rears were just over 10. The two spares are just over 11mm so to keep everything nice and even, the two front are coming off. Also, I've had a super slow leak on the back for a while now. Every time I get home, I'm pumping it up for almost flat!

Handy when your mate does tyres

He's got the same alloys but are diamond cut so they look amazing!

 

Back again from Norway for a few days so took Syd with the lads up to Tan Hill for the bank holiday Saturday. We thought it might be packed but there was plenty of parking left up there. A good few nice vans up there too. Quality night there with great beer and live music too. Only a tenner for the camping spot and paid for a full English breakfast too! Can't beat it!

It was my mate's first night sleeping in his T5. It's a steep learning curve for him be he managed.

The full line up!

 

Managed to make it back from Norway to get to Dubs in the Dales this year at their new location. Not bad weather for the time of year but it got quite cold late on. The heater got a good bit of work. Lots and T5's & T6 there with loads in total. The new site was quite different to the old site near Bedale but at least this one is actually in the Dales.

 

Back out for 2024!

 

Syd now has a older brother. I picked up my second Syncro from eBay from a nice chap up in Nairn just outside of Inverness. It needs some work but the engine is brilliant. An Audi 2.3 5-cyl conversion which sounds amazing! We took them both down to the Volkspower festival down Redcar which was a brilliant weekend out.

 

Just worked out we did a little over 4000 miles there and back

Untitled by Matt Wilde, on Flickr

Untitled by Matt Wilde, on Flickr

 

Blue dials are now in and working after a lot of fiddling and head scratching. The new loom is making it a little harder to work out but I'm pretty much almost there.

I made a little earthing chock-block that was linked to the main circular earth rail on the side of the fuse box hanger. I earthed the ABS (I've got ABS but thats got a separate light, I'll fiddle with that later). I also earthed the airbag and the second handbrake warning that sounds the buzzer to begin with. I did make a boo-boo to begin with when I thought the back-light illumination didn't work. I spent ages testing the voltage from PIN 14 on the fuse box and it wasn't there. I then realised I needed the headlights on I:

Now when I start the beast up, I get all the proper lights. The oil light comes on if you don't blip the throttle to get the rev counter going. My mate says its just the old type of alternator does this. The service indicator is on and I don't know how to get rid of that just yet. The indicator lights aren't working too but thats a separate plug that i've missed out with the universal loom so i'll get that sorted tomorrow. The engine management light also shows until you start the engine but thats ok. Also I followed the loom back from the diagnostic lead next to the hazard warning light and tied the TV14 wire to the grey middle single plug at the fuse box.

I've now gone back in milage but still not as far back as the 40k mile jump it had back in 2011 when its original speedo packed in. I've worked out I was on 167k but I should be on 130k but now I'm on 156k but thats less than last years MOT so will I get pulled for that on the next MOT?

 

Box of bracketry ready to the smuggled back from Norway to blighty. Gonna see if I can carry back the carrier back via special luggage. 11.5kg of pure gold!![emoji16]

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

Liking the new format ??, should lead to more frequent posts

 

I bought it just before Xmas. I am going to reshell it, I've bought another shell which is now stripped. I'm going to have a go at painting it then rebuild the syncro.
It's a lot of 1st times for me so wish me luck haha

 

Looks good Matt, I'll be getting a sun canopy in the not to distant future

 

Check out the amazing ford we found over the River Coquet just up from the campsite. Hours of endless fun!

 

You've been busy Matt, new rear set up looks good! Camping set up looks spot on too, can't wait to get an awning and have some proper camping time.
Fording looks a cracking bit of fun, how many times did you go through it?

 

Chees Aye, it's about time the interior had a bit of attention. We went through the ford a few times as it was a shortcut into the village. I kicked her out to take a photo from the footbridge. Someone took an articulated truck over once and got stuck

 

Fantastic scenery and cool videos Matt

 

Looks good Matt, cracking views and weather

 

Love this van. What a setup

Cheers. Its all appreciated.

 

Love this van. What a setup

 

Van looks awesome Matt,

And some brilliant pictures, (These are the type of piccy's that should be on the forum banner).....

Well done mate, thanks for sharing.

 

Kind words are much appreciated. I take too many van photos . Our lass says i'm nuts

 

Is that just surface rust, my side bars were that rusted they broke in half when trying to remove them 😕

 

Aye just surface rust thankfully. Structural integrity is still ok but pretty much all the coating came off when I took them off. My mate bought the same and his went like that. The bars are a pretty good fit which is why I wanted to keep them. Costing me £140 to have them re-done.

 

Nice work there Matt, I only ever use Halfrauds as a very last resort, and never ask the workers for help or advice.

Reminds me I could do with giving my bases a lick of paint, or quite fancy carpeting them.

 

Aye, I just used them as they were cheaper and it easy to send stuff back. I needed some extra leads too so I don't mind them for that stuff.

I never realised how scruffy the base was until I took the seat off. Its a custom lowered base for swivels but without the swivel to make it more comfy for my long legs

 

I need one of those to rest my glass on 👍

 

Folding SHELF & Bracket Caravan Campervan Motorhome Furniture T5/6 Grey/Hacienda

 

Some stunning views there Matt

 

Looks great Matt 👍 .
Is it just me that thinks the sierra is definitely the ugly one in that shot ? .

 

Looks great Matt 👍 .
Is it just me that thinks the sierra is definitely the ugly one in that shot ? .

Aye, I was obsessed with both the XR4i and the Cosworth when I was a nipper. I had a matchbox model of the XR4i that was always my fav. That grille only looks good on the Cosworth. I lad I worked with back in 2001 used an XR4x4 for work. Wonder how many of them are left 🤨

 

Nice collection of old school motors, that's quite a cb antenna the pick up has got 🤓

 

Via Martin Gunther on FB T4 Syncro Owners Group:

"I have again made a small series of high-quality cardan shaft bearings. They fit without modification for the T4 Syncro. The cages are hot-dip galvanized, black powder-coated and sealed at the fold with cable grease, the bearing shells are yellow galvanized and standard bearings are used, which can be replaced for a few euros. All are handmade with the best corrosion protection. One bearing is 85 €"

Needless to say, I bought two. For the spares bank

 

Looks like you had a great trip Matt, the campsite looks decent enough for a farm site, certainly can't complain wit those views!

 

Aye the view were just amazing. It looked directly up to Helvellyn at the far end of the lake. I'd never seen it from that far away as there is usually always cloud and rain!