Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:26:00 -0400
Reply-To: Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Subject: Re: Engine alternative (inline four) a bit long
In-Reply-To: <6bc66ccf0904130749s70516459wd08bd3c886c67575@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
Don
i also run a 1.8 digifant II engine in my van. when i put the engine in
the golf that it came out of had 152,000 on the clock :). i've been
running it in the van for about 6 years now. another thing that you
didn't mention if you had considered is moving into the VW factory 2.0
liter ABA engine. while i haven't worked on this engine and fuel
management system it is very close to the digifant II it seems. you want
to put the ABA in with the cross flow head although others have fitted the
ABA bottom end to a digifant II 1.8 liter head.
beyond the ABA there is the 2.0 liter AEG engine series which is totally
different from the digifant II 1.8 and the 2.0 ABA. i have the AEG in my
golf and it seems to be a good engine however install would be more
complicated and VW had a ring problem with those engines that caused them
to burn oil from day one.
jonathan
On Mon, 13 Apr 2009, Don Hanson wrote:
> My 84 low-top camper has a '92 1.8liter 8 valve in-line four gasoline VW
> motor and a 5sp tranny. The conversion was done by the previous owner,
> using the standard VW diesel Vanagon parts to install the Cabriolet gasser
> motor. It bolts right in under the deck at 50 degree slant, just like the
> diesel did. (with some pretty minor cutting and welding of a frame member
> for intake clearance) I've been driving the crap out of it for a few years
> now, putting perhaps 25k hard-traveling miles on it, with no complaints at
> all. I did do the normal Vanagon 'new to me' stuff when I first got the
> van...Gas lines, filters, pumps, brakes, new rad. new alternator, etc etc.
> I also have installed a new camshaft (260 degree) from Autotech (below) and
> a performance Magnaflow SS muffler. It probably performs like a very strong
> WBX motor would, but it makes it's power at a higher rpm range and gets a
> little better gas mileage. I find the 5sp tranny to be especially useful.
> I've also found working on the in-line four VW motors to be surprisingly
> easy and relatively inexpensive. For example, replacing a head gasket
> (after I screwed up the cooling system bleed during my radiator
> replacement) and swapping in a performance camshaft ($150) took me just one
> afternoon, about 3-4hrs.
> I've begun planning for when my present motor gets "tired". When I do
> re-power this van, I'm considering adding a little more power so I can haul
> more stuff without becoming a traffic hazard. I am about to get a second
> 1.8liter motor (they are readily available and plentiful for $300-$600) and
> do a complete re-build so I can have a virtually new, more effective, motor
> waiting-ready to plug in, when I want to. (plus: I just like messing with
> motors) Below is the link to where I'm looking to source the engine
> internals. I was impressed when I installed their camshaft and they have a
> good 'rep' with all the VW Sport tuning crowd.
> I am shooting for about 150-160hp using the lower compression
> 2-liter kit. That should be enough do get me down the road, smartly, with a
> ton of tools and toys in my van. Seems like that is close to what they get
> from many of the (2.2) Subaru motor conversion vans. I'll likely end up
> with about $2500 invested. I'll end up with a totally rebuilt motor, with
> mostly new internals. It'll still be easy to service and find parts or find
> a mechanic/shop willing/able to work on it. Whadya think?
>
> http://autotech.com/prod_engine_engkit.htm
>
> Don Hanson
>
>
>
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