Date:         Wed, 9 Jul 2003 07:03:41 +1200
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon/Porsche Project Pictures
In-Reply-To:  <5.1.0.14.0.20030708143352.009fdaa0@pop3.rockisland.com>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

>Hey, swaping a Porsche into a VW makes a whole lot more sense to me than a
>Subaru.

On a watercooled van? Why is that?? Don't you want a heater? The EG33
puts out at least as much power as Porsche engines of similar
capacity and will be FAR cheaper to repair (in the unlikely case of
needing repairs). It is also quieter, with no fin rattle, and
probably more compact, I'd say.

>4. Hookup of original VW instruments or installation of 911 instruments and
>gauges. Frankly, I would want to adapt the Carrera dash in toto.

911 binnacle implants are common in Europe. This would be useful if
the van has the Porsche trans, so the electronic speedo can be
connected to the trans sender. I don't think they look good, though.
I will stick with modified VW instruments (my plan at present...
otherwise I would fit a Japanese binnacle, with nice modern
instruments).

>Man, you gonna have a lotsa horsepower/torque and more gravity center shift
>front to rear.

No problems there with a 174hp V6, though acceleration in the lower
gears was savage.

>Turbo CV's for sure,

930 CVs inner & outer, with Weddle etc adaptor stubaxles &
driveshafts. Stock CVs would probably just barely do, but why risk
being stranded with a broken one?

>and I would want the Carrera or turbo
>brakes, which means adapting to Porsche hubs and wheels four corners.

Hansen Motorsport in Germany makes kits to fit big brakes to T3s;
this includes a 4-wheel kit for 993 brakes, and can be drilled to fit
any stud-pattern. Not cheap, but then, what price your life & that of
your van? Adaptor kit for front brakes DM1300 (there was no rear kit
at the time I got prices); new Porsche parts a lot extra, or source
your own.

>The
>extra weight of the motor means rear torsion bars should be larger.

Coils. Our T3 buses have coils. And in T1s & T2s the torsionbars are
perfectly adequate, though they might need turning a notch. Coils in
a 1-tonne van will carry a heavier engine no sweat. My 85 T3 had an
all-iron 3.8 V6 with stock springs, and it didn't sag. The Alcyone
engine is lighter than that V6.

>Tires/wheels are a big
>issue. You will need truck load range D or better tires, and they don't
>tend to fit up with Carrera wheels. They did in fact make 14" Fuchs for the
>Luxus 911E, so those earlier parts with the spindles/hubs/brakes would
>allow stock 14" truck tires.

For later Porsche brakes (eg 993) you MUST have 17" or larger wheels
to clear the calipers. And you will have to find low-profile tires
for heavy cars. You don't fit truck tires on a 930 Turbo, do you??

With Hansen-993 brakes fitted wheels up to 11" wide will fit the back
and 10" front, but the correct offset is critical!
--
Andrew Grebneff
165 Evans St, Dunedin, New Zealand
64 (3) 473-8863
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut