Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2007 10:27:52 -0800
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Subject: Vanagon Re-power cheap and reliable...Reply from digest
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
Hi all,
Saw a post outlining alternatives for replacement motors. It 'opined'
that an inline four was a pretty good value and I will second that from my
personal experience. I didn't do the transplant in my 84 vanagon with the
92 Cabriolet motor, and I am not very much of an authority on everything
Vanagon, so this is a newbie opinion, but from a newbie who's driven the
crap outta his Vanagon for just over a year.
It looks to me like the van I got may originally have been a deisel. It
has a 5 speed with a very low (but useful on rough or steep) first gear
that I use only occasionally. It may have had some of the gearing changed,
because the ratios seem about right for the 1.8 liter gasoline motor that
now lives in there.
.There is a small notch that had to be cut into the engine compartment
below the lid on the driver's side to clearance the intake, and the exhaust
system was welded after the end of the manifold flange in a crude manner.
The intake from the stock Vanagon air cleaner is made from large aluminum
sprinkler pipe, but it works fine and the whole beastie has been remarkably
dependable and inexpensive to drive.
I gained about 12 hp (estimated, using results documented by others with
the same hardware) by changing a camshaft for $120 and I plan on changing to
an aftermarket exhaust header system said to be worth another 10-12% hp
increase..~$320 for that..So that should up the Bently specified 94hp of the
little 1.8 liter motor to a whopping 115 or so. Anyhow, no speed demon but
adequate to keep me rolling ahead of most traffic most of the time.
I see the 1.8 liter 8 valve motor (like mine) for around $300 long block,
very often. Add the $450 for the easy mods mentioned above and you have the
"motive lump" to install for under a grand. Find an old blown up diesel
vanagon and you have a cheap and easy pretty nice ride.
I'd guess the stock little 4 banger Rabbit motor is similar in Hp to a
WBX motor, but they are certainly cheaper to run and rebuild..If I had a
blown up WBX motor in a van, I doubt I'd rebuild that one, but would
probably go the inline gas motor route myself.
I am not advocating this particular combo to everyone, just passing on
that it seems to work fine for me..All you Subie guys, don't get all huffy,
I am not saying your conversion is not the best...I am just saying the
inline 4 vw gas motors seem to be cheap, common and easy to install and they
work fine in vans, too.
Don Hanson
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