My 1990 Syncro 16" high-roof project - finally under way, after a four year delay!

After cleaning out the many boxes of new parts destined for the project, I started removing the old Reimo interior.

Look at all that room! Nothing like a clean slate to start a new project! Well, a clean slate with many holes to repair, that is.

Next, out with the old kitchen unit. The cooktop/sink combo, propane tank, faucet and water pump have already been recycled into my 'micro apartment' at the shop. The original Electrolux 3-way fridge and the Truma propane furnace were removed and sold early on.

Five large holes to close, plus a little rust as the bottom of the lower old fridge opening. I will remove and replace this entire panel, do it up right.

Set the rare Westfalia full-width bed unit in place. (thanks, Craig!)

Original Reimo water tank still fits, great!

11.04.2010:

Gotta love it when there is a perfect spot for one of the key parts in a project: here is the tentative location for the Espar D5 water heater - fits with no room to spare!

Interior of the high roof - next up to be ripped out.

12.04.2010:

Never allow these folks to build your camper - unless their workmanship has improved since 1996. I am blown away by the amount of 'hack' work I found in removing the interior of this van. Nice moldy wood where the window leaked over the years. Yuk.

17.04.2010

More great work by German accessory installers. Glad they don't work for me, my customers would kill me if I did this to their vans. Note the nice hole sawed from the rear inner metal to access the jerry can carrier bolts. More road dirt and moisture pathways to the interior! Grrr.

24.04.2010: Gathering the bits in the van to take it to the cabinetmaker:

Xantrex charger-inverter plus charge controller

Scandvik marine sink and extendable faucet with shutoff feature for showering

Vitrifrigo 90 liter stainless steel fridge

Webasto diesel cooktop with altitude switch

Recaro seats with 3-bladder power lumbar, tilt , heat, and many manual adjustments

Momo mahogany steering wheel

First drive in four years! Surprising how well it runs for a teeny 1.6 JX 70-hp turbodiesel, as it's driving through the AA Transaxle - rebuilt tranny with 5.43 R&P and .70 fourth gear. The camper is now spending some time at the cabinetmaker's, 100 miles away. More progress once it returns...