[Vwdiesel] 83 Westfalia air-cooled, conversion options

[Harmon Seaver]

On Tue, Jul 13, 2004 at 07:41:39PM -0400, Fernando Fiore wrote:
> I found an 83 Westfalia w/an air-cooled engine.  It does not start.  I was 
> wondering if anyone has done an air-cooled to diesel conversion.
> 
> Or alternately, does anyone own this van stock, air-cooled fuel injection? 
> Would a 1600 cc single port engine bolt up to it?  (I have one laying 
> around)

   I had an '81 aircooled vanagon, and also put an '81 engine in a '73 bus, and
yes, you could put a 1600cc engine in it, it would bolt right up. And would
probably give you about 50mph top speed on flat ground and last about 1000 miles
IF it were in top shape when you put it in. 
   Don't bother. I had a brand new '68 bus with a 1600cc engine, it was
glacially slow and even with the dealer's loving care it only made it to 25,000
miles before needing a valve job. The vanagon, especially the westy vanagon,
weighs one heck of a lot more than the bus and has significantly greater frontal
area. The 2L aircooled engine is a major improvement and I had no real
complaints about power with it -- in fact I could buzz along at 85 in my bus
with bigger wheels and a rebuild "freeway flyer" tranny. 



-- 
Harmon Seaver	
CyberShamanix
http://www.cybershamanix.com
Hoka hey!