Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 17:01:22 -0800
Reply-To: neil <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 82 Air Cooled Engine Swap Choices?
In-Reply-To: <c4e7c5f90701011243v38fe1b7dqed816efaaf837fa9@mail.gmail.com>
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> On 1/1/07, Wetzel, Scott <scott.wetzel@mso.umt.edu> wrote:
> > The engine in my van went to the giant VW junkyard in the sky in September and I have been weighing my options for a replacement. I have looked through the archives pretty thoroughly for potential engine swaps for my 82 Aircooled Westy and besides the Porsche 3.2 engine, I haven't found any mentioned. I know that there are several options for water cooled vans, how difficult would they be (and how expensive) to fit into my van?
On 1/1/07, neil <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey Scott.
>
> Finally someone I may be able to help on this list!
>
> I own an 81 Westy. I have given much thought to which engine I will
> eventually swap in.
SNIP
blah blah blah....
;^)
I wrote about stuff that you hadn't really asked about.
Here's what I've gathered from Vanagon archive, and other sites.
(diesel vanagon, Subie, and Tiico list)
Cost? It seems to me that diesel and to a lesser extent the Subie
donors, are pricier than I4's. In my neck of the woods, the I4's are
more common. The cost of a conversion kit, should be readily availble
via the net'. If you're getting a mechanic to do conversion, this will
obviously cost a lot more. Like 2 times more. Easily.
Fitting into van? From my POV, the Subie looks like the best fit. Most
I4's require engine cover mods, or mounting the engine at a 50 deg
angle (pretty sure on that one. But will be corrected if not!) The
Subie 2.2 does not. Regardless you will have to add a coolling system
(rad, long hoses, heater core etc.) and add/modify wiring. The good
news is that the stock AC tranny has better gear ratios than others.
(e.g. stock diesel tranny)
Difficulty? I wouldn't hesitate to do this myself. In earlier years, I
did my own maintenance ranging from brake, clutch, to head
replacments. I hadn't turned a wrench for quite a few years, but found
that after dusting off grey matter, I was back into swing of things.
For the averagre "shady tree" mechanic or hacker (in my case!) DIY is
definately possible.
My reasoning for using my van as a candidate for swap, as opposed to a
stock wasser, is that I have already sunk money into time/parts that
I'd not see the benefit from on resale. Plus I've grown attached to
the darn thing, though this is higly ill-logical reasoning (captain!)
for using as a conversion candidate. The logical route to go is using
a wasser vanagon as the conversion candidate. Its less work. Your
cooling system is already there. Better yet use a stock diesel
Vanagon. Way less work either way.
Here's some good links to conversion pages and lists:
http://www.subaruvanagon.com/tom/Getting%20Started.htm
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Diesel-Vanagon/
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/subaruvanagon/
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/tiico/
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.
http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
