Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:42:10 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Engine alternative (inline four) a bit long
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well that's pretty cool Don.
thanks for the link to AutoTech Sport Tuning .
looks like for $ 1,800 I can get up to 170 hp out of my 1.8 16V jetta
engine,
and for that money I get a new forged VW 2.0 liter crank, and a set of
forged pistons,
and new german main and rod bearings, and OE head gasket - what's not to
like !?
and some insturctions.
the 170 hp is available if a Euro intake camshaft,
and a sport tuned exhaust system.
sure ............when I sell a few vanagons first.
but what fun.
they don't say anything about the fuel system on that site, that I noted
yet. I wonder what they think of CIS-E fuel injection system for performance
power.
Neil seems to have the nuances down of which engine to use for the best
combo of OBD-I and 2.0 liters........and piston oil scquirters.
my 1987 PL code 16 Valve engine has them - yippee !
Don, you're right about the price of these nice little engines - very
reasonable.
Darn durable too.......and with a 'real' headgasket and cast iron block.
Pretty easy to work on generally too.
And if they deliver better fuel economy than a waterboxer .............and
it's still a VW engine - hey, why not !
Can't wait to get going on my 16V engine for my personal daily driver
vanagon.
( hmmmm..........people are always wanting good used semi-fresh 2.1
waterboxer engines.......maybe I'll just sell the quite good and super
reiiable 2.1 wbxr out of my 85 Wolfsburg Weekender .........and that'll get
me moving on getting my 16V in there ! )
We'll just have to have our own niche of Inline Four Vangaon talk on here I
guess. Must be a jillion of those engines in junkyards too.
This could be the 'not that hard to do' VW-based not-all-that expensive
Vanagon engine conversion that goes better, and gets better fuel milage.
and shoot..........now this means that instead of selling diesel vanagon
engine mounting parts I hvae in stock, I need to save them for future
conversions.
I always thought the timing belt on the 1.8 8V looks way small and wimpy.
I was very pleased to see the 16V has a wider belt, and with rounded teeth
on the belt, which last much better I think, than the earlier 'square block'
teeth of the 8V timing belt.
later !
scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Hanson" <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 7:49 AM
Subject: Engine alternative (inline four) a bit long
> 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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