Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 19:34:27 -0700
Reply-To: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Subject: Re: Which VW engine fit in the Vanagon?
In-Reply-To: <3740507A.793AA4BB@crosskeys.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Just about any Volkswagen inline four fits a Vanagon. This includes the
158hp 1.8L G60 Corrado engine and the 150hp 1.8L Passat Turbo engine. Can
the transmission take the huge jump in power should be the question!
On the Audi scene again just about every engine out there will fit
including the 2.2L 168hp 5 cylinder turbo, although it is a REALLY tight
squeeze!
They *all* have their limitations though. None of these engines will fit
with out some alteration of loss of "something" as the Vanagon's engine
compartment is very shallow.
I have the most experience with the VW inline four engines installing them
in both 2WD and Syncro Vanagons. There are two ways you can mount these
engines [for now] the 50 deg angle like the early 80s Diesels and at 15 deg
as is found in the Golf / Jetta. The 50 deg angle will not interfere with
engine lid or decrease ground clearance, but you will have to cut a section
out of the frame rail on the driver side of the vanagon to make clearance
for the intake manifold. You also need to luck out and get all the Diesel
parts to do the conversion. The 15 degree angle approach, like I am doing
at Fast Forward ( http://www.fastforward.ca ) does have it's limitations
too. You must raise the engine lid about 5 to 7 cm or lower the engine 5
to 7 cm (which BTW, do not loose 5 to 7 cm of ground clearance as compaired
to the original boxer engine). Parts are more readly available for this as
our kit will be ready for sale by the end of the week. Our forth prototype
(same as final version) is installed in my Syncro and it does not affect
the skid plates at all. Changing the engine oil in the I4 is as simple as
changing the oil on the wasserleaker.
I think the Subaru conversions are a practical engine swap as long as you
don't mind loosing ground clearance, which can be somewhat overcome with a
dry sump oil system. The other problem deals with maintainance. I
personally feel the most Volkswagen and Subaru dealships are going to look
at you quite funny if you bring your van in for engine servce. The Subarus
are also very complicated to wire up too.
The advantage to the Volkswagen inline four engines is that all of your
parts come from one place so your keeping it all Volkswagen. The mechanics
at the dealership will have no problems servicing the inline four engine as
they are setup the same as any Golf or Jetta. The head mechanic at the VW
dealership where I live thinks the I4 swap is fantastic due to the
simplicity, availability and the price.
I'm not trying to do a hard sell here, I am just trying to weigh both sides
of the argument. I sell both setups so it doesn't really matter to me
which direction you go. From what I can see the Subaru kit is a more
expensive and complicated setup. When it is running and you can live with
-6" of round clearance they are great engines offering more power than most
VW engines.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me, via the list or
via personal email.
At 13:23 17/05/1999 -0400, Markus Benne wrote:
>I'm having a hard time figuring out which VW engines fit in the
>Vanagon without moving the deck.
>
>Which Golf engines fit?
>
>Which Audi engines fit?
>
>Will a G60 equipped engine fit (my friend may have a line on one)?
>
>Do any of these reduce clearance?
>Will any of these interfere with the Syncro skid plate?
>
>My preference is still the Subaru but the loss of clearance is a big
>issue.
>
>Thanks a heap,
>...Markus
>
>ps: If anyone has direct experience with the Subaru conversion, please
>contact me.
>
>
-- David Marshall - Vanagon List Admin - Quesnel, BC, Canada --
-- 78 VW Rabbit, 80 VW Caddy, 84 VW Westie, 85 VW Cabriolet --
-- 87 Audi 5000 Quattro, 88 2.0L VW Syncro Double Cab --
-- David's Volkswagen Home Page http://www.volkswagen.org --
-- Fast Forward Autobahn Sport Tuning http://www.fastforward.ca --
-- david@volkswagen.org (pmail) or vanagon@volkswagen.org (list) --