Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:56:28 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Subject: Re: sorry, (need conversion 1.8, etc)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
The inline 4 'VW motor' conversion seems to be ignored, mostly. Don't
really know why that is because it is a pretty satisfactory package and
certainly looks to be by far the easiest 'transplant'. Now, I'm saying
that, not from personal experience actually doing the whole conversion, but
from owning and driving one (40k miles in 2yrs) and talking extensively
with the fellow who actually did the conversion on mine..(An '84 with a 5sp
and a 1.8liter Digifant Cabriolet ('92) gas motor.)
The guy who did mine is a door maker, not a mechanic. He, with the help
of his more experienced next door VW mechanic neighbor, did the whole
conversion in one day on this van without a lift.
The only fabrication (welding) involved is a couple of splices into the
exhaust pipe and a minor 'clearancing' needs to be done on the left side of
the engine compartment (below the lid) for the intake. You must also
connect the Vanagon air box somehow to the intake of the Cabriolet
motor..mine is done with some aluminum agricultural sprinkler pipe welded
into shape..you could use PVC or flexy heater duct.. If you use the
1.8liter, you can bolt it right in using Vanagon diesel mounts and pan. It
is the same block as the Vanagon diesel motor..
The electrical systems seem interchangeable between the two types of
motor. (the inline 4, diesel or gas and the WBX boxer) The brackets,
alternator mounts, Temp II senders, gauges, etc...they all remain VW and
function without any fiddling. Every VW mechanic in North America can work
effectively(?) on the inline four VW motor and parts are cheap and
available. The motors are inexpensive also.
The power of the 1.8 8-valve Digifant II motor that I have..(from the '92
Rabbit Cabriolet)..according to Bentley is pretty similar to the WBX motor.
Bentley says the up to '86 WBX produces 82hp and 105 ft/lbs of torque
'86> WBX gets 105hp and 117
Bentley says the 8 valve 1.8l gets 94hp with 100lbs of torque
In my motor, I swapped in another camshaft (3 home mechanic hrs labor and
$125 cost) which is said to improve my HP by 12..So I have (unconfirmed by
dyno, but it feels right) about 106hp...very similar to a newer WBX motor...
( if you use a 16 valve Sirocco motor (don't know from experience how this
would fit) you could have 120hp with 120ft/lbs of torque.)
Mine get excellent gas mileage also...I put my average at ~24-25mpg. The
Digifant II EFI fuel injection it real simple also.
Seems like a no-brainer if your WBX motor does go.
But they (inline four VW conversions) aren't much talked about...
Don Hanson
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:32:44 -0700
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:
duh,
I know.
but the guy asked for a VW inline 4 engine kit.
I thought to mention it - the Bostig.
perhaps he'd like to consider the Bostig - if he can handle the total $ 5K
tag, which is low for a nice engine conversion of course. .
He might pull off a used VW inline 2.0 Inline Four for easily as low as $
3,000 total.
it would be a nice comparison - a 2.0 Zetec Bostig, and a well done 2.0 ABA
VW inline four, mounted using all diesel vanagon parts, so the engine
installation is mostly a bolt-in deal, and not much fabrication required.
Exhaust system mainly.
Far more time is required of course.........
and I certainly assume that the zetec is more modern tech.........and runs
better. It's a 2000's ear Ford engine versus a 90's era VW engine.
The ford sure should be more powerful and efficient.
Would be a nice comparison - total cost, time required to do the
installation, power and performance, and fuel mileage.
I would expect the bostig to come out ahead overall, Particularly regarding
the true 'just install it' nature of the Bostig kit.
And people have pulled off VW Inline Four conversions for under $ 2K even.
How come nobody is searching online for deals on VW inline fours, or Zetec
engines for that matter, and posting the link ?
I see that on subaruvanagon all the time.
For the right price, not excessive miles, and not too far away, I'd invest
in a 2.0 VW engine and stuff, and build it into a vanagon, eventually.
Seems like their ought to be a yahoo group for it.
Lastly..................there's a vanagon shop/company in Sacramento, Ca
area I think, that turns out Vanagons with modern VW 1.8 Turbo Vanagon
engines - the 5 valves per cylinder ones that come in New Beetles and
Passats.
now there would be a nice comparison test - Turbo Zetec versus 1.8T a New
Beetle / Passat engine.
and for funsies- a Subaru Turbo too. Those are 2.2 or 2.5 liters too, up to
near 300 hp.
I don't think a turbo zetec can get anywhere near that, not easily anyway.
all fun !
now you got me wanting to do a turbo Subaru 2.2 !
bad list !
Scott
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