Date:         Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:58:22 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Subject:      More Conversion motor rap.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

With all the talk about Subaru motors and Tiico and Zytecs in Vanagons,  how about a TDI motor?  Has anyone done that (I'm sure they have) and what kinda results came outta that combo?  I know the regular diesel vanagons are painfully slow and underpowered, so much so that owning one doesn't appeal to me.  But, a Turbo diesel in a van would probably be somewhere in the same performance envelope as a 2.2 or a Tiico hybrid set-up, and the thought of 30+ mpg fuel economy is very appealing. 
  For what it's worth, I happen to be happy with the VW 1.8 liter gasoline engine in my Vanagon, especially the honest 23mpg and the simplicity of the "package".  But, it is no barn burner when it comes to power..I've been told it was slightly "stronger" than a perfect wbx motor, by the previous owner, who did the conversion.  Since then, I think I have made some more gains in performance with a mild cam change and an efficient exhaust system, and changing to full synthetic transmission oil.  But on highway trips, it needs to be driven like a VW Van, still.  That is, time your passing, get a run at hills, back-shift before your speed drops off, etc..It's not as bad as I was anticipating when I decided I'd again try another van, but it could use another 35hp at least.  Something a Turbo VW diesel motor might do over the 92 Cabriolet gas motor, and probably do  without giving up any dependability. (If one chose a donor motor that was not one of the 'beta-testers' that VW first put out)..
  Just rambling a little..BTW..the inline conversion I have...that looks like it is almost "Plug-N-Play".  All the components are VW, and most seem to be interchangeable between the wbx and the inline 4 gasoline motor..
  Don Hanson