[Vwdiesel] [TDI-conversion] What engine would you want?Terry Briggs vbriggs at stny.rr.comSat 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 > > > > __._,_.___ > Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic > Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Polls | Members | > Calendar > Community email addresses: > Post message: TDI-conversion at onelist.com > Subscribe: TDI-conversion-subscribe at onelist.com > Unsubscribe: TDI-conversion-unsubscribe at onelist.com > List owner: TDI-conversion-owner at onelist.com > > Shortcut URL to this page: > http://www.onelist.com/community/TDI-conversion > MARKETPLACE > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > ------- > From kitchen basics to easy recipes - join the Group from Kraft Foods > > Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! 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