Date: Tue, 18 May 1999 11:36:06 -0700
Reply-To: Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA>
Subject: Re: diesel to gas swap
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
I have a '92 1800 8V in my westy. The frame rail is NOT cut out (as some say
it should be), the engine compartment wall area directly above the frame
rail (an oval approx. 14 X 7 cm) is "bulged" outwards, about 5 cm deep -
this was accomplished by a combination of some cutting, bashing and welding.
The clearance that this provides allows the engine to be inserted and
mounted, once the engine is in place there is adequate clearance between the
"forward" left hand side of the intake manifold and the compartment wall.
I recently had a look at an '85 passenger van that was in the process of
conversion from wasserboxer to a 2.0 litre Motronic engine (Russell Sherman
at Autospiel in Victoria). Diesel mounting hardware was used (bellhousing
and engine supports) so the engine is lying over at 50 degrees.
As is, the intake manifold and dipstick are higher than the deck (approx.
6cm). Other listmembers have proposed that the Motronic head be replaced
with a Digifant one to reduced overall engine height and allow fitment
without deck modification.
(Why anyone would go to the trouble of doing that is beyond me! I believe
the newer Motronic engine management system is superior to the Digifant II
system).
At the time I saw the conversion the client was thinking about cutting a
hole in the deck lid and forming some sort of blister. But when you look at
it and the amount that has to be raised it seems to make more sense to raise
the entire deck, mounting the deck lid on the second deck (and making a
raised lip form the original deck to the raised deck). A bonus is the
compartment formed between the decks that could be accessed from the rear
(open hatch) and could be used for storage.
----------
>From: Scott Walker <s_walker@MINDSPRING.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: diesel to gas swap
>Date: Mon, May 17, 1999, 7:15 PM
>
> Hello,
> Can those of you out there that have swapped diesel to I-4 gas and are
> using an A2 (85-92 Golf/Jetta) intake let me know of any reinforcement that
> you did to the frame rail area? Trying to decide if it needs it. TIA
>
> Scott
>
