[Vwdiesel] [TDI-conversion] What engine would you want?
Terry Briggs
vbriggs at stny.rr.com
Sat Mar 14 05:24:51 PDT 2009
I was checking out a web site several years ago when I still had my
wasserboxer '86 vanagon and came across a web site in Australia that
were converting vanagons to a 3.8 ltr v-6. Apparently they have an
engine variant of the buick 3.8 that has an alum block.. A good bit
lighter than the American version. Anyways they had good luck with the
conversion, very simple to do. Apparently the vanagon automatic tranny
can handle the added torque. I considered doing it with a regular 3.8
and just beefing the rear suspension but got t-boned before I ordered
the adapter plate for the tranny.
On Mar 11, 2009, at 3:48 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
> Engine conversion in a 78 Bus..........for this big South American
> trip........
> what immediately pops into my mind is your generic Rabbit/Golf/Jetta
> 1.8 liter inline 4 gas engine.
>
> 3 possible fuel systems - carb, EFI or CIS and CSI-E.
> I recommend the EFI 1988 jetta for example..........1.8 liter,
> hydraulic valve lifters, 8 valves per cylinder...........
> about 100 hp. Easy fuel system to live with.
> Has a nice 'real head gasket' ( unlike joke waterboxer vangon 'not
> really real head gaskets ) cast iron block, very common engine, cheap
> to buy used.
> One vanagon guy claims 23 mpg with his in a manual trans Vanagon, and
> a high of 27 mpg once.
>
> I'd probably go for installing it pretty upright in your van. If you
> know about the Mexican Bay Bus.........that they made up
> until.........
> 2002 or something ............those have a radiator on the nose, and
> an inline four standing straight up and down in the back........
> There might be lot of those in Mexico.........and very, very related
> to what you could build your 78 into........
> thus parts would be readily available...........some creativity might
> be needed there............but you'd be right in the genre of inline
> four water-cooled VW Buses this way, for that part of the world.
>
> it's one of VW's better engines.
> 'ALL' ........of VW's air-cooled engines, their diesels ( later ones
> are better - but I've seen countless blown to shreds 1.6 NA diesel
> vanagon engines ) and their water boxer vanagon
> engines...............all weak compared to benchmark long-liffed
> engine like Toyota's have.......
> or even fords or Volvos, Nissans etc.
> But their inline four rabbit / golf engine isn't bad at all.
> No particular weakness.....nothing 'fundamentally' lame or weak. You
> can over head it, or neglect the timing belt forever , sure .......but
> if you have take care of it............darn good engine. Not the most
> power in the world........
> in a vanagon a 100 hp 8 valve 1.8 is 'ok' .............not rippin'
> powerful, but more or less adequate.
>
> Done deal in my mind...........if I think of a non-stock engine for
> what you're thinking of.
> All VW related too.........that can't hurt.
>
> I'm gonna pick up my 'new' 87 jetta 16 valve 1.8 with CIS-E fuel
> injection Friday, that will find it's way into my personal vanagon,
> when I find time, whenever that might be. 123 hp at 5,800 rpm
> ..............should make a nice little engine.
>
> Them's my thoughts !
> Scott
> www.turbovans.com
> Vanagon engine conversion specialist, Baja veteran.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Dave Cook
> To: vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines at googlegroups.com
> ; TDI-Conversion Group ; VW Diesel Group ; Audi-VW-Diesels Group ;
> Buskatiers Group
> Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 9:41 PM
> Subject: [TDI-conversion] What engine would you want?
>
>
>
> First, sorry for those of you who get this in more than one group,
> but I figured the varied groups would yield varied results and
> thoughts.
>
> Anyway...
>
> A few years ago, buddy and I attempted to drive my '78 bus to Alaska
> after graduating from college. After a couple breakdowns, we ended up
> turning around and coming home, vowing to do it again sometime.
>
> Well, we both are currently looking for work, and the conversation
> has gone back to the idea of another trip, and to do it right this
> time. For the past couple years or so, we've talked about the
> Pan-American Highway, going deep into South America.
>
> The bus does still have the stock, 2-liter, fuel injected engine.
> That runs pretty well (assuming I figure out why it currently won't
> start...) though I'm sure it is probably pretty worn.
>
> So, an engine conversion isn't out of the question. The question
> would be, what engine? I would prefer it to be something out of a VW,
> mostly because I'm pretty familiar with many different VW engines, and
> have all sorts of manuals.
>
> Things to consider (that I've thought of so far) would be:
> *Reliability!
> *Ease of repair, and finding parts in South America if necessary
> *Ability to limp along for awhile if necessary
> *Fuel availability
> *Power and Economy
> *Other considerations I haven't considered?
>
> Also, we were talking about selling sponsorships/ad space on the
> side of the bus. Of course, there will be a blog with lots of pics,
> including pics of the bus. If anyone has any leads here, that would be
> much appreciated!
>
> Thoughts?
>
> If nothing else, hopefully this will spur on some conversations in
> some otherwise quiet groups.
>
> Dave Cook
>
>
>
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M.I. 6
Custom Design and Fabrication
2576 King Circle
Corning, New York 14830
Vbriggs at stny.rr.com
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