On Mon, Dec 1, 2008 at 11:22 PM, nerdnetty <amortensen@westnet.com.au> wrote:
which is amost a mudflap topic.
Also they did make some syncros in SA in 1993 i think with big windows
Regards Pete
Ive been thinking of getting some 16 in extryded flares>Hey Guys,
which is amost a mudflap topic.
Also they did make some syncros in SA in 1993 i think with big windows
Regards Pete
CHANGED Subjectline. BenT
Hello Pete,
The Syncro 16 polyurethane arches are getting difficult to obtain new. Some of pieces (oit of the six) has been NLA
in VW's worldwide inventory for some time. I probably got one of the few complete sets still kicking around in the VW
warehouses a few years ago. Back then I was able to get them from a very friendly VW parts manager and fellow Syncro
enthusiast named Rennie Wibble. IIRC, independent dealers in US and Canada were selling them for $1000-$1200 (USD)
for the set. He sold me two sets at $479. Imagine my amazement when my old arches sold for $400. Last I heard those
same beat-up arches sold for over $650.
After that experience, I decided to undertake a project to replicate some arches in fiberglass. I got as far as making the
front arches before financing hassles stopped my project short. For the record, the problem was not mine but rather the
banker I was using at the country of manufacture. Anyway, the front arches are simple enough. There are 2 pieces which
are riveted to the front doors. They swing out with the door and cover the stock steel arch.
Just a few words of caution. There are 3 types of factory arches. The Syncro 16 which I believe Phill Landers has on his
Syncro are made of poly. They require the cutting of the lower rear section of the front arches. Or to be exact, they were
designed to conceal where VW cut the front wheel arches for tire clearance. The rears are single arch units but also requires
cutting of the wheel opening. Again this was to accommodate the slightly longer wheelbase and larger tire.
I realize you did not ask about the two other types but let me mention in here lest you make the same mistake I made before.
Bought a set on German Ebay thinking I was getting 16" arches. They turned out to be Tristar rear arches plus ABS front
arches for the German Post Office vans and trucks. The Tristar arches are amde of the same material as the 16 arches except
they do not require any wheel steel arch cutting. In fact, they appear to have been designed to make the wheel opening to
appear smaller. The top portion drops the opening size by about 2 inches. Even here are differnt ones as well. The 2 rear pieces
for the front 2-piece set comes in either Syncro or 2wd on the right side. 2WD versions have a cut-out for gas filler hole. As for
the Bundespost vans, they got arches made of the cheaper ABS Plastic. The exterior was a stippled (pebblegrain?) finish. I have
only seen the 2wd version so not sure if they are available w/o the gas filler cut-out. Again, these do not require any cutting. My understanding is they were designed to cover the steel arches so the local postal worker did not get their trousers dirty when they
get in and out of the vehicle.
BenT
ps: beware of aftermarket arches or flairs which widen the wheel opening. most will not clear sliding doors w/o any modifications.