Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2007 19:27:19 -0700
Reply-To: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Vanagon Re-power cheap and reliable...Reply from digest
In-Reply-To: <0JQN00BY6HQSRNF7@vms048.mailsrvcs.net>
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Is there any advantage to Digifant 2 as opposed to Digifant 1 ?
TIA,
Neil.
On 10/28/07, pdooley <psdooley@verizon.net> wrote:
> I4 VW is the easiest swap, especially with a Diesel donor van.
>
> The Golf/Jetta digi2 EFI can be wired by anyone with average skills and a
> Bentley manual.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Jake de Villiers
> Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2007 2:39 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Vanagon Re-power cheap and reliable...Reply from digest
>
> Not to be argumentative Don, but I don't think you're qualified to speak on
> how easy that motor was to install and mate to the van, electrically or
> otherwise. It was already done, right?
>
> Sounds like it works well in your van, for sure.
>
> On 10/28/07, Don Hanson <dhanson@gorge.net> wrote:
> >
> > 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
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
> 1984 Vanagon GL
> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/
>
--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia -
"Jaco" (Bustorius)
http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
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