Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2010 09:54:46 -0800
Reply-To: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Replace Heads or Engine? I-4.
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTinWZYxzSRYmv1SRirpco0Bd18qON8Du457SNzf4@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
I like the idea of the VW I-4 swap and wish the parts were more widely available. It would be nice to be able to easily find all the diesel parts (bellhousing, oil pan, carrier bar, etc.) for the 50 degree install if/when the urge or need strikes, but that is part of what makes the Sube and the others attractive. I see the diesel parts on Samba and ebay occasionally.
When we bought our '87 Westy the PO had already made notes in the van's "life book" (she was an adoption professional with the county) about recommendations for the all-VW method and had apparently discussed this with a local shop, so the knowledge is out there.
I'm curious about the possibility of adapting the stock I-4 gasser parts to serve in a 50 degree install. Are the diesel pan and oil pump essential, or can you slice-and-dice the gasser steel pan and oil pump pickup to resemble the diesel pieces and serve as well? Just thinking out loud here, but someone must have done it. Neil's homebrewed swap comes immediately to mind, but I think that even he used a lot of factory parts. With the Kennedy adaptor it might make the project much more attractive to those of us so inclined.
I'll admit I'm unlikely to be the pioneer in this enterprise, since I have a gravel drive for a workspace and little room beyond that. There won't be an I-4 lounging in the driveway while I figure how to make it work, but if I knew this path had been trod before I might be more adventurous. Meanwhile, the WBX runs fine so this remains just an academic exercise for me and besides, the honey-do list has priority.
Stephen
--- On Sat, 11/13/10, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Replace Heads or Engine?
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Saturday, November 13, 2010, 11:42 AM
You are right, Mark.
That is the drawback--either way, ...shops are expensive. I know of none
that specialize in or even advertise for inline gas VW to Vanagon
conversions, in the US anyhow.
I said in my post to Anthony..there is no kit like, for example, the
Bostig/Zetec. There is no Small Car or Kennady engineering Kit..though K.E.
does offer an adapter of some sort
| 
