Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 10:21:49 -0400
Reply-To: pdooley <psdooley@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: pdooley <psdooley@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: Buick V6 powered Vanagon
In-Reply-To: <c4e7c5f90805021150h6010eaa3jfd101ddf9d74c7c1@mail.gmail.com>
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There are 2 GM V6 families I know of, the 60 and 90 degree "V".
The 90 degree is the 3.8, 3800 and 4.3 Vortec configuration. The 60 degree
is the 3.1 and 3.4L
I had a Firebird with the 3.4L 60 degree motor and was not very impressed
with power or economy. The 3800 seems to be the best of them all.
I think the biggest problem fitting one of these motors to the Vanagon would
be the gearing, as these engines prefer to lope along at lower RPM's.
A differential change, taller tires, or a much deeper 3rd and 4th gear is
probably in order.
I would rather just use the whole motor/trans combo.
And no, trying to fit the entire sub frame into a Vanagon is not the way to
go. The sub frame integrates the lower control arms and suspension into the
mix. You would have to remove the Vanagon control arms and suspension and
fabricate some kind of upper control arm to locate the whole mess. Much
easier in the long run to just weld up hard points where you need them for
motor/trans mounts.
Also, keep in mind that the transverse GM setup would locate the motor ahead
of the transmission, so the factory VW engine access lid would give you a
nice view of the transmission and back half of the motor.
I think there is still enough clearance under the sheet metal to fit it, but
I would scrap the GM sub frame idea and fab my own engine/tranny support and
get custom drive shafts built with VW outer CV's and GM inners.
With the factory GM overdrive trans you would get a really smooth and quite
ride with decent economy.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
neil N
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 2:51 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Buick V6 powered Vanagon
Which size V6?
Or was there only one offered in the Buick line?
I recall there were 2 (GM) V6's. One was better than the other...... IIRC.
Neil.
On Fri, May 2, 2008 at 10:55 AM, Robert Young <rjyoung67@yahoo.com> wrote:
> My neighbor in NC had a Buick V6 in his Vanagon and it was a pretty clean
installation. I know the engines are everywhere and pretty low priced. And
I know Keh has the adapter. The only down side (that I know of) is that it
sticks up and the engine lid has to be modified.
> Robert
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco"
http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/