Date:         Mon, 22 Oct 2001 15:35:24 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert S Keezer <warmerwagen@JUNO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert S Keezer <warmerwagen@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Tiico into Diesel
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

Bill,
I did my swap in 1995 before the Tiico kit was a vailable. The kit or
some of the essential components would make it very fast compared to
converting from the original Diesel to a 91 FI Golf(Jetta ame difference)
engine.

If you were to do a Tiico even though you already have the hardware from
your present Diesel to do a "scratch " swap like i did, you could sell
your Diesel hardware and use the nice shiny new Tiico stuff, much of
which is the same.
There are variances though , like installing on a automatic, which only
requires an adapter plate.

SInce your Diesel has manual trans, at the time of the swap it is better
to change over from the Diesel trans to a Air-cooled Vanagon trans rather
than a WBX trans for these main reasons:

1. The shift rod at the transmission end lines up with the
Air-cooled(80-83) Vanagon trans. If you use a WBX trans, you have to
lengthen the shift rod about 6 inches.
2. The 80-83 Vanagon trans has a better final drive ratio (.457) as
opposed to the lower geared WBX- (.483)  years 1983.5-1991.

In order to adapt the 80-83 trans to work with the Tiico or
do-it-yourself kit, you need to save these things from the Diesel trans
and install them on the 80-83 trans:
Pilot shaft
Front mount
Clutch slave cylinder bracket
Bellhousing(if doing your own kit).

What I am not sure of is if the Tiico adaptor plate fits on the
air-cooled vanagon trans. If it doesent, then (assuming you are going the
Tiico route), then along with all of you uneeded Diesel hardware you
don't need, you have an adaptor plate  to sell with it for someone with a
WBX who wants to do their own conversion.
What I am running my 1982 Vanagon with now is a 1995 2.0 Golf FI engine
with the 88-92 G-J Digifant ll FI system.The trans is a rebuilt 1983
Air-cooled Vanagon unit.
I should mention it took three months to finish my conversion. Original
block was a 1.8. While switching to the 2.0, I added power steering to
the formerly Diesel Vanagon. You will like power steering -it's as
impressive as more horsepower.

Robert Keezer
1982 Westfalia
Seattle
On Mon, 22 Oct 2001 13:24:52 -0500 Bill Johnson <bjohns2k@BELLSOUTH.NET>
writes:
Has anyone done this swap?  I guess a WBX transmission would be needed.
Can this swap be done as easily as into a WBX?

Bill
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