[Vwdiesel] Diesel engine in Karmin Ghia VW etc.

Sat Apr 8 16:53:41 EDT 2006

To a wheel, weight is weight.
you move weight by physically moving weight, spring rate changes, shock 
valving changes don't effect the amount of weight on a wheel.
Suspension changes will accomplish a change in the way the chassis rolls 
from acceleration/decelleration or lateral acceleration in a turn, but 
don't confuse this with weight... I know straight line racers talk of 
weight transfer when they launch, but they are using the wrong word- 
it's body roll that they are actually referring to.
To get a KG heavier on the front, you would need to be off the gas 
whenever you turn so the chassis rolls forward (which is unlikely) or to 
physically add more front weight, or decrease the rear weight.

Problem is the Ghia just has a bad push to start with, the balance is 
rear biased... just how much I do not know... but will as I just 
purchased a set of longacre wheel scales for the stock car.... I'm sick 
of guessing with what I have.

The reason I had mentioned the TDI was because a 3 cylinder TDI would be 
much lighter than the 4 banger, the weight is further forward, and makes 
the same power as a 4 cylinder.  The mileage would turn out to be pretty 
good too I would think.
-James

David Cook wrote:
> Interesting.  I have been reading a similar list that
> talks about TDI conversions, with the major emphasis
> on putting them into Vanagons.
> 
> A lot (prob. at least half) of them go with a 50
> degree install, I don't know what they do about the
> oil pan though.  (That is what you were talking about
> having a different bolt patter, right?)
> 
> I doubt a TDI would to into the Karmann Ghia (if I
> even do it...) because that would probably add even
> more weight to the motor.  It would be insanely quick,
> though!  
> 
> Also, I don't really think that the decklid of a
> Karmann Ghia would require a 50 degree install, I
> think it would go in just fine with the "normal"
> angle, is that 15 degrees?
> 
> Is there any way to help deal with the understeer
> issues if adding more weight to the back?  I think a
> post '68 would have more desireable suspension (and
> probably be a cheaper car to buy).  What if you raised
> the back some and lowered the front a little?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> David
> 
> 
> 
> --- pmdolan at sasktel.net wrote:
> 
>> Just in case you want to do such a swap, you need to
>> know that the 50 degree TD pan does not fit the TDI,
>> different bolt pattern.
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: David Cook <vwdieselbunny at yahoo.com>
>> Date: Thursday, April 6, 2006 8:56 am
>> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Diesel engine in Karmin Ghia
>> VW etc.
>>
>>> Or you could just get a '68+ Karmann Ghia and the
>>> adaptor from Kennedy and put the regular 1.6
>> diesel
>>> in.
>>>
>>> I actually think that the oil pan, pump, etc from
>> the
>>> 50 degree vanagon install are getting pretty
>> pricy. 
>>> TDI conversions into vanagons are gettting popular
>> and
>>> you need those parts to do it.
>>>
>>> I liked the K.G. idea over a beetle because I
>> figured
>>> the engine decklid would fit the engine with no
>>> modification.  I don't know for sure, but the
>> beetle
>>> decklid only needed minor mods in the pic I saw
>> and a
>>> KG lid is much more squared off.
>>>
>>> David
>>>
>>>
>>> --- pmdolan at sasktel.net wrote:
>>>
>>>> Oh, and I forgot to mention:  you need the oil
>> pan
>>>> from a 1.6 Vanagon diesel as well.  If you can
>> find
>>>> the bellhousing, the oil pan will be there.  I
>> think
>>>> you need the oil pump too, or maybe just press
>> the
>>>> pickup into another pump.  But, those things are
>>>> cheap and easily bought new.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: 82 Diesel Westy <dieselwesty at yahoo.com>
>>>> Date: Wednesday, April 5, 2006 10:54 am
>>>> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Diesel engine in Karmin
>> Ghia
>>>> VW etc.
>>>>
>>>>> Well, I have a spare gas vanagon bell housing,
>> I
>>>> could
>>>>> see if it will fit on the type 1 resto I have
>> been
>>>>> working on as well.  Not to sure if it will
>> fit,
>>>> but
>>>>> if it does, that is 90% of the battle, then
>> you
>>>> would
>>>>> just have to make the room in the KG engine
>>>>> compartment for Mr. 1.6l diesel.
>>>>>
>>>>> Bryan
>>>>>
>>>>> --- Libbybapa at wmconnect.com wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> In a message dated 4/4/06 9:31:14 AM US
>> Mountain
>>>>>> Standard Time, rjs at bnl.gov 
>>>>>> writes:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Does anybody know of any other off the
>> shelf
>>>>>> tranny adapters?  How about VW
>>>>>>> watercooled engine to VW aircooled
>> transaxle?
>>>>>> As mentioned, I know that the diesel vanagon
>>>> bell
>>>>>> housing will replace the 
>>>>>> 72+ type 2 bell housing and allow any
>> inline-4
>>>> to be
>>>>>> bolted up in the 50ï¿½ 
>>>>>> position requiring the diesel vanagon bell
>>>> housing
>>>>>> and iol pickup tube.  I am not 
>>>>>> sure, but suspect it would also replace the
>> type
>>>> 1
>>>>>> and type 3 bell housings for 
>>>>>> a similar effect.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Andrew
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
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>>>
>>> David Cook
>>> Red '86 Cabriolet Diesel Powered
>>> Red '90 g60 Corrado 
>>> Brown and White '78 Westy Campmobile "Bear"
>>> and others in various states of disrepair
>>> Pictures here:
>> community.webshots.com/user/superdave5599
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>>
> 
> 
> David Cook
> Red '86 Cabriolet Diesel Powered
> Red '90 g60 Corrado 
> Brown and White '78 Westy Campmobile "Bear"
> and others in various states of disrepair
> Pictures here: community.webshots.com/user/superdave5599
> 
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