Date:         Tue, 17 Mar 1998 20:40:47 EST
Reply-To:     GMBulley <GMBulley@AOL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         GMBulley <GMBulley@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: pre-83 vanagon engine swaps: gas vs. diesel
Comments: To: shea@GTSDESIGN.COM, Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

In a message dated 98-03-17 13:07:04 EST, shea@GTSDESIGN.COM writes:

<< I'm wondering about how hard it is if one has a diesel donor and a gas
model as the transplant recipient. Is the diesel body substantially different
in the engine compartment area?  Could someone please explain the problem? >>

Gary--

The engine compartment area is predominantly the same. What is differant is
the motor. The gas motor is a FLAT horizontally opposed design, the Diesel is
a TALL in-line 4. Take a look at the Deisel Westy page, advertised in the past
day or two on this list. You will see photos of the inline four "layed back"
like it had a few too many Colt45's. This angle allows this TALL motor to
become a relatively FLAT motor.

To accomplish this, VW made a funky, "7-shaped" oil pan and pump, some wierd
motor mounts, and collant hoses that look like they were designed by the
artistic French, not the calculating Germans.  It is all of this special gear
that makes the motor switch to a rabbit/golf/fox/scirroco motor possible.

hope that clears it up.

gmbulley
cary, nc