Date:         Tue, 31 Jan 2006 22:04:22 +1300
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: V8 into Vanagon?
In-Reply-To:  <020a01c6261d$993ac330$2f01a8c0@FirstLaptop>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

>I was looking at a Subaru today and could not find one spark plug or
>wires.  It seems very crawded in there.  How would I work on it if I
>put one into mine?!  Yes, I know it is a nice engine and more
>powerful and so on.  But.  Being in the US, would it not make better
>sense to put a V6 or a V8 of American origin in there?  I am sure
>this subject has been hammered from day one, but I don't remember
>reading about it on the list.  I have seen aluminum V6 out of a boat
>that looked beautiful and compact.  The 350 Chevy engine is famous.
>Heavy, I know.  But it is simple and powerful.  Easy to work on,
>cheap parts, etc.
>What is the general opinion of the members?
>Zoltan

Zoltan, my 84 had a Holden 3.8 V6 in it when I bought it. That engine
is based on the 89-and-later Buick V6. It fit very nicely, though the
engine lid was raised about 15cm for clearance. No sheetmetal
alterations whatsoever, and none of those stupid VW tanks in the
cooling system. The 094 5-speed did not like it at all.

It is not really suitable. It's just too heavy, and causes serious
understeer. It was smooth and performance was fine, but... I just
couldn't stand trying to take a sharp bend quickly only to have the
front tires scrubbing madly.

An iron V8? DON'T DO IT!!! If you have to do a V8, use a real one...
a DOHC Toyota or similar, made of aluminum. Even those would probably
be too heavy.


--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin
New Zealand
Fossil preparator
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut

HUMANITY: THE ULTIMATE VON NEUMANN MACHINE

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