Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:00:02 -0500
Reply-To: Jonce Fancher <streetbugs@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jonce Fancher <streetbugs@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: Conversion? JETTA ENGINE??
In-Reply-To: <549265.96319.qm@web33508.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed
Ok
So if you find a Tiico Powered Vanagon How can
you tell if it is one that is the SA Rattle motors or the USA Goodies.
I've got a line on a 89 with a Bad trans ( which
I have a Spare for ) The Vanagon has a Tiico and
tons of upgrades. The PO used a Back Hoe to dump
money into it instead of a shovel. He didn't turn
a wrench so I'm sure he spent more then he really
should have. But. Is there things to look at??
The Owner of the Vanagon has finally given up and
the Bus is in VGC with a bad trans. If it was a
stock 2.1L or a Bostig conversion I would have a
better idea of what I'm Looking at but a in line
4 Tiico I've only seen a few times and have no way of comparing.
C-ya Jonce
>A year ago the Tiico company announced it was
>going out of business permanently.
>
>It was a South African factory product packaged by Tiico in a kit form.
>
>It was a commercial answer for those who
>could'nt or did'nt want to do their own inline -4 conversion.
>
>It was fraught with design problems that gave
>the inline-four a bad rep to many first -time engine conversionists.
>
>I am among a few DIY's who have done my own
>conversion from scratch with none of the symptoms Tiico's were infamous for.
>
>This success is mainly due to the US inline
>fours, particularly the 93-98 ABA 2 liter, has
>factory features superior to the SA version.
>
>Even Tiico recognized this eventually and
>offered retro upgrades and new kits featuring
>North American components such as AC-ALT bracket
>with serpentine belt, A-2 injector rails, harmonic balance pulleys, etc.
>
>Many of the improvements reduced the vibration, but not entirely.
>Vibration is inherent in the design of the 1.8
>engine or the modified 1.8 to 2 liter ) as the Tiico was.
>
>Our 1993-98 Golf Jetta has most of the
>components needed for a reliable conversion.
>SOme of the Tiico hardware is also desirable
>
>I was lucky to get a dual pipe Tiico header, and
>side engine carrier barsfrom a friend's burnt engine.
>
>My 95 Jetta engine has about 230,000 miles and
>still runs, but needs to be reconditioned fianally.
>It had 78,000 miles on it when i installed it in 1999.
>It has no bothersome vibration, as the two-liter
>has longer rods than the 1.8 which reduce rod vribration.
>The shorter 1.8 rods increase vibration due to
>increased side travel of the rod's movement.
>VW solved this with the 2 liter.
>
>The fuel injection /engine management system of
>the US version of Motronic is also more reliable
>and plug and play. The Tiico required setting up
>certain parameters on a laptop with software.
>US versions are designed to have no user-
>adjustments. The Motronic system adjusts and
>adapts without interference from the user possible.
>Component failure is rare. The engine computer
>has fail-safe back-up limp mode features which
>allow it to continue running is the case of failure of cetain sensors.
>
>The computer also a makes fine-tuned adjustment
>for engine wear , fuel quality and city or freeway driving.
>
>The best years to use is 93, 94 and 95- these
>engines have forged cranks and oil spray
>nozzles. These are also the simpler OBD1 years.
>
>96-later is OBD2, and these engines have cast
>cranks and the oil spray nozzles are deleted.
>
>Robert
>
>1982 Westfalia '95 Golf Jetta engine
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>--- On Thu, 12/31/09, Woody Halsey <WHalsey@SYA.ORG> wrote:
>
>
>From: Woody Halsey <WHalsey@SYA.ORG>
>Subject: Re: Conversion? JETTA ENGINE??
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Date: Thursday, December 31, 2009, 12:43 PM
>
>
>Can someone tell me what "Tiico" stands for? Sorry for the Dumb Question.
>
>What kind of engine is in my 1987 gas Jetta?
>
>Woody
>83.5 V'gon
>Haverhill, MA
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List
>[mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Ed McLean
>Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2009 3:19 PM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Conversion? JETTA ENGINE??
>
>I installed one of the first 117 hp tiico engines in late 1999 and it was a
>disaster. I fought with harmonic exhaust vibrations for 5 years and,
>although I made some progress, I finally resorted to wearing ear plugs when
>on trips. Maybe a 15º mount would be quieter than the tiico (and VW diesel)
>40º mount with the I4 engine turning at high rpm but I finally got fed up
>and installed a Subaru. BTW, the 2.0L tiico engines are not new, but are
>rebuilt by Remtec in South Aftica with 1.8L blocks that are, I believe,
>stroked to 2.0L. Maybe the longer stroke (and resulting higher piston
>speed) is the reason for their vibration problems. Original 2.0L VW I-4
>engines might have less vibrations at above 4000 rpm. When people talk
>about tiico engines having no vibration problems, make sure they are not (as
>Don Hanson pointed out) talking about original, unmodified 2.0 or 1.8L Golf
>engines or engines mounted at 15º. My tiico engine would also exhibit very
>brief oil starvation pressure drop on hard braking if the oil level was not
>filled to the top mark on the dipstick. However, with the oil level that
>high, the oil would get hotter than optimum at highway speeds. My disdain
>for the tiico may also be related to it having cracked a piston 2300 miles
>from home and no replacement parts available in the US in 2000...
>
>The 165 hp 2.5L PII Subaru engine I now have is very smooth, powerful, and
>dependable. It's torque curve is well suited for the full camper Westfalia
>Vanagon, giving a 0-60 mph time of ~10.5 sec. The air conditioning
>interfaces well with the Vanagon and the cooling system works perfectly. If
>I were to buy another Vanagon I would immediately replace even a newly
>rebuilt VW wasserboxer engine with a Subaru.
>
>Ed
>
>
>
>
>On Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:52:24 -0800, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> > Tiicos? Maybe those do have some vibration problems..I have heard that.
> >I have never heard that about any regular Jetta, Golf, Rabbit conversion
> >though. Oil starvation? I have over 40k miles on this one since I got it
> >used ...Never a hint of any problems with anything inside the motor...except
> >when I first got the motor and flubbed the coolant bleeding process causing
> >a blown headgasket. Which I replaced in about 4hrs without removing the
> >motor..
> >
> > No, if you want to spend more, you can for sure. If you want an
> >inexpensive (relativly) and very dependable simple swap..do consider the
> >inline gassers from VW...I beg to differ with dylan, at least as to what
> >I've got with my van...No vibration issues no oil issues and everyone I talk
> >to with a similar motor says about the same as me..
> >
> > Just offering my experience, not advocating one type motor over the
> >others...Me, I would love a Ferrari flat 8 turbocharged F-40 motor with a
> >sequential six-speed gearbox in a syncro...But I don't have the cash..so the
> >inline gasser will do for now.
> >
> > Don Hanson
> >
> >On Thu, Dec 31, 2009 at 9:26 AM, dylan <insyncro@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> >> IIRC, you will need to lean that motor over at 50 degrees.
> >> Not a good idea as many similar Tiicos vibrate like crazy and have had oil
> >> starvation issues.
> >>
> >> I'm sure there are die hard Tiico enthusiasts who will give thumbs up.
> >>
> >> Ford Zetec or Subaru 2.2 or 2.5 really make cents when you crunch the
> >> numbers for the long haul.
> >>
> >> You are so close to Bostig, give Jim a call and go check it out in person.
> >> How sweet it is.
> >>
> >> dylan
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ________________________________
> >> From: Woody Halsey <WHalsey@SYA.ORG>
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Sent: Thu, December 31, 2009 11:25:39 AM
> >> Subject: Re: Conversion? JETTA ENGINE??
> >>
> >> I have been thinking the same thing and wondering if the gas engine from
> >> my 1987 Jetta would work in a Vanagon... (Oh, how I regret letting my
> >> diesel Jetta go ...)
> >>
> >> In general, are there any Jetta parts that fit into a V'gon of similar
> >> vintage??
> >>
> >> Woody
> >> 83.5 V'gon
> >> Haverhill, MA
> >>
> >>
> >> W. W. HALSEY II
> >> President
> >> Mobile 978.204.5795 Office 978.725.6828 ext.115 www.sya.org
> >> <http://www.sya.org/>
> >> 439 South Union Street, Lawrence, MA 01843
> >> SCHOOL YEAR ABROAD
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> >> Of Jeff Michal
> >> Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2009 11:07 AM
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Subject: Conversion?
> >>
> >> Hi everyone. I'm rolling around the idea of switching my engine out. I
> >> have a 90 GL that I am extremely attached to. Its got about 135k on it,
> >> and
> >> I'm starting to see various end of life type problems with it. I'm
> >> wondering if anyone has any recommendations about changing engines. I
> >> know
> >> some of you have done this several times over, probably with more than
> >> one
> >> type of engine and more than one van.
> >>
> >> I've looked at the diesels, the ej25, the tiico, and the 3.2 porsche
> >> engine.
> >>
> >> The subaru EJ25 engine seems to be the best. I am saying that because it
> >> makes plenty of power and isnt going to be more than the gearbox can
> >> handle.
> >>
> >> The diesels are not practical in my region because a relatively low
> >> percentage of the gas stations have it.
> >>
> >> The porsche engine is rediculously expensive.
> >>
> >> And that leaves the Tiico. I dont know that this is such a bad idea and
> >> it
> >> appears to be the easiest of the conversions, plus the engine will be
> >> brand
> >> new.
> >>
> >> I recognize that by the time I am done with any conversion, I could
> >> easily
> >> buy a new vehicle. I just don't want to give up the cab forward narrow
> >> gauge vehicle that I love.
> >>
> >> I know that things like brakes, suspension & steering components, drive
> >> line
> >> components, and paint/bodywork should be addressed during the process to
> >> ensure long term safety and reliability.
> >>
> >> I'm interested in making the van drive a bit better. I'm considering
> >> cutting the ride height by as much as 2 or 3 inches, and I'm after 4
> >> wheel
> >> disk brakes and 15 inch wheels.
> >>
> >> All that leaves me with is questions.
> >>
> >> What opinions do you have about the various options for engine
> >> replacement?
> >> Are any of these choices better than buying an ecu and a rebuilt engine?
> >>
> >> What sort of upgrades are available for the suspension?
> >>
> >> Are there any other hard to get to things I should sort out while I have
> >> the
> >> engine out?
> >> I'm considering having all the piping replaced with stainless steel, I
> >> know some good steamfitters that will sort it it out for me all perfect
> >> like. Is this a dumb idea? Should I just get new plastic stuff?
> >> I'm going to work over the fuel delivery system and get rid of that
> >> aweful
> >> plastic firewall penetration.
> >> I'm going to have the body straightened, seam rust sorted out, and new
> >> paint laid down.
> >> I'm going to put all new rubber around for all the windows and
> >> whatnot.
> >>
> >> I appreciate any opinions that you can offer.
> >>
> >> Jeff
> >> 90GL
> >>
> >>
| 
