Date:         Wed, 2 Dec 2020 13:06:13 -0500
Reply-To:     KIM BRENNAN <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         KIM BRENNAN <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Zoltan's Porsche engine
Comments: To: thewestyman <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <A32A0A551E264319A4EEF0629AF11A80@ZoltanHP>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

You’ve got several problems you’re contending with. The more commonly swapped in motors are Subaru engines, but you’re starting with a diesel. So the fuel difference would need to be addressed (cleaning out the diesel fuel from tank and replacing the lines). The bell housing on the transmission is different, as is the gearing. It might be simpler to go to a 1.9TD diesel instead. You’d still be stuck with having to redo the gearing in the transmission though. 

If you have a 2WD as opposed to a Syncro, it does make a difference too. Porsche did do a few Vanagons with their 3.2 (6 cylinder air cooled) engine. But again, the level of things you would need to do to make that a comfortable transition shouldn’t be under estimated. I have no idea how the heating of the cabin is done on those Porsche set ups. 

Unless you are doing all the work yourself, figure a conversion is going to cost 10K euros as a starting point. 

I don’t know the availability of the Subaru Diesel engine in Europe. I know there were one or 2 people that have made that conversion on Vanagons. Tricky, but apparently very nice. 


> On Dec 2, 2020, at 12:42 PM, thewestyman <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET> wrote:
> 
> Sorry, I forgot to mention why I want to change the engine in my van.
> My van is a high top Westfalia with a turbo diesel engine, 1.6 liter.  It was great back in ‘86 when it was born but now I am allowed to coast 85 mph here in Hungary.  So the present engine is not sufficiently strong enough, going only 70 mph, and definitely not for the hills of Western Hungary.  
> 
> I would like to have it installed for the next summer to visit Sweden and Norway and Finland.  
> 
> Zoltan