[Vwdiesel] Jetta Engine in "The Thing" ?

[mark drillock]

For the US market the Type 4 'pancake' motor was fitted to Vans
beginning with 1972 models. The displacement increased a couple times
and FI was added in 1975. The same basic 2.0 configuration was used from
1976 - 1983. The 1983.5 and later watercooled gasoline vans have an
entirely different engine. The flat 4 cyl block is waterjacketed as well
as the heads and the internals are more closely related to the old 1600
aircooled engine than the Type 4 aircooled. Inline 4 cyl 1.6 NA diesels
were available from 1982-1983.

Other markets had different Van bodies and engines at different times
than the US info above. The Eurovan appeared in Canada starting in 1992
with a 5 cyl gas and diesel but the US had no 1992 VW Vans of any type.
The US got the gasoline version in 1993 but it was so widely dissed in
the US automotive press as underpowered that it was withdrawn for a
couple of years until the VR6 engine version was ready. US sales of VW
Vans peaked in 1986-1987 IIRC. I have owned dozens of them in the model
years from 1966-1988. I consider the better years to be the 69-71 ,
76-78, 85-87, and BEST of all the rare 1983 5 speed DIESEL Westfalia.

Mark

TexasTDI wrote:
>
> It was sometime in the 70's that VW started using the Type 4 Porsche
> "pancake" motor.  1983 was the last year of the air-cooled bus.  1984 used
> the same motor, but started using water-cooled heads.  1991 was the last
> year of the rear engine Vanagon.  There was not van in 1992.  1993 was the
> first year of the front engine Eurovan.
>
>