VW powered VW

[5erge]

Tell me it's not me but when I see articles about people putting Subaru engines in their VW I couldn't care less. For me it's aircooled power only or just don't bother. Go out and buy a bloody Subaru if you rate their engines.

Des

 

[sparkywig]

Tell me it's not me but when I see articles about people putting Subaru engines in their VW I couldn't care less. For me it's aircooled power only or just don't bother. Go out and buy a bloody Subaru if you rate their engines.

Des

Hooray....

 

[froggy]

Do you feel the same way about an air-cooled porsche engine or are these ok?

Kind of agree with the scooby remark but would still like to drive 1

 

[therotbox]

I guess it's horses for courses. The aircooled is great as an occasional engine but, with fuel the price it is, the aircooled isn't a great daily engine imo. There are a lot of people who want to use their a/c dub as a daily but have miles to cover. I think the reason suburu have become a popular transplant is you get better reliability and mpg, also the conversion parts are quite readily available now. Plus there's the factor of being able to maintain speed uphill without knocking it down a gear.

 

[Baldrick]

I think the reason suburu have become a popular transplant is you get better reliability and mpg...

I can understandt he reliability issue, but you have to drive a lot of miles to make up the cost of a new engine and fitting in terms of fuel efficiency savings if this is a factor.

Maybe that's just part of the fun!

 

[therotbox]

For sure Balders :mrgreen:
Though on par with the cost of a new recon a/c lump there can't be a lot in it? ie, you can get an on the road suburu for about £500 if you look about so that's the engine, ecu, wiring loom etc and then it's a visit to RJES. And I suppose you could sell the a/c lump secondhand to recoup some cost still? I don't know what the final cost would be. Maybe in a few years time I could tell you :msn4:
Obviously it's an easier conversion on a T25. (Of which I have driven one powered by the 2.2 legacy and that is BIG fun 8) )

 

[LuAn]

I'm no purist but part of the reason I bought my dubs is that although they're almost as old as me (my Bay is '71, my bug is a '69, and I'm a '65) they should outlast me. The engine in my van could do with a rebuild but I can get all the parts. My bug has rotted heater channels but I have new ones in my shed waiting to be fitted. I need new knees, a new back, and an overhaul of my immune system. So basically my dubs will be fine but I'm screwed.

I don't see anything wrong with converting a dub to use a Subaru engine however I think anybody doing so needs to be prepared for the idea that they'll have to swap it again at a later date. You'll probably still be able to buy parts for a VW Type 1 engine for decades after the Subaru has become defunct.

The one I'm waiting for is when somebody comes up with a bolt in replacement that runs on solar energy.

 

[sparkywig]

Do you feel the same way about an air-cooled porsche engine or are these ok?

Kind of agree with the scooby remark but would still like to drive 1

Yeah, 'cos they just bolt straight in, don't they...

 

[gninnam]

Don't care two hoots what powers it - so long as it is still on the road - each to their own and all that

 

[Baldrick]

Thinking about this, why single out the engine? A lot of campers have non-original wheels, beams and other parts. What is it about the engine that needs to be original?

 

[Nick-Rackham]

I'll through this one into the mix! (Hope I don't get thrown off the forum!)

Air cooled is great, but I'm looking at putting a 1.9TDi (VW) into my bay. Costed it up and looking at about a grand to convert, however, reading a guys conversion on SSVC it all fits with standard VW parts (keeps me happy) is economical @ 50mpg, and converted to run on recycled veggie oil would payback quite quickly. Looking at fag packet maths, circa 5000 miles a year, £1.05 / litre, 25mpg = £935 in petrol per year. Diesel / Veggie conversion = 5000 miles a year, £0.4 / litre, 50mpg = £178. Therefore £1000 conversion - £935 petrol saving + £178 fuel cost = first year +£243 then every year after = £935 - £178 = -£757. so at end of second year you're £500 better off and year 3 onwards it's nearly £750 better off! I know it's fag packet maths, but this is a "green" option using recycled oil, plus fuel is never going to drop in price so as the prices go up, the difference in recycled oil vs petrol goes up, so........

Like I said, hope I don't get thrown off the forum ......

 

[ant]

Don't care two hoots what powers it - so long as it is still on the road - each to their own and all that

wise words

 

[Hilly_70]

Id never fit one myself ... but then i would never frown on anyone fitting one ..

.. a bus isn't like a 'normal car' .. its a personal thing, an expression of yourself ..

If i was to offer any advice to anyone with a VW it would be .. do what you feel is right and appreciate other people individuality ..

It would be a boring scene if we didn't have all those custom buses around .. but ..

.. I personally love the fact you can smell and hear an aircooled dub from 200 yds!

Hilly

 

[K@rlos]

Like I said, hope I don't get thrown off the forum ......

You don't have to worry about being thown off the forum mate, Me and Grazy might come round and give you a hiding for it though

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Only joking Nick thats an intresting conversion though, i ain't heard of it until i was talking to you about your van.
You have gotta slam it though 8)

 

[K@rlos]

I'm open minded when it comes to modding a VW, slamming, tubbing and all that. But to me the aircooled boxer engine is what gives Volkswagens alot of their style and character, The noise these engines make is very unique. if you want a fast VW Gene Berg, Scat, Empi etc parts can make a VW boxer engine into proper powerhouse motors

But each to their own

 

[gninnam]

Thanks ANT.

Still - like said, if it is a Bay (preferably early ) and on the road - so long as the basic shape remains - 'tis up to you wha you do (though original is best..............)

 

[dubscum]

I'll through this one into the mix! (Hope I don't get thrown off the forum!)

Air cooled is great, but I'm looking at putting a 1.9TDi (VW) into my bay. Costed it up and looking at about a grand to convert, however, reading a guys conversion on SSVC it all fits with standard VW parts (keeps me happy) is economical @ 50mpg, and converted to run on recycled veggie oil would payback quite quickly. Looking at fag packet maths, circa 5000 miles a year, £1.05 / litre, 25mpg = £935 in petrol per year. Diesel / Veggie conversion = 5000 miles a year, £0.4 / litre, 50mpg = £178. Therefore £1000 conversion - £935 petrol saving + £178 fuel cost = first year +£243 then every year after = £935 - £178 = -£757. so at end of second year you're £500 better off and year 3 onwards it's nearly £750 better off! I know it's fag packet maths, but this is a "green" option using recycled oil, plus fuel is never going to drop in price so as the prices go up, the difference in recycled oil vs petrol goes up, so........

Like I said, hope I don't get thrown off the forum ......

where you getting that done for that money ?

aircooled are hardcore ! fact, sound mint and totally stand out from anything, but a pain in the arse if your a thick newb like myself, always letting me down (see build thread) slow, runs to hot, leaks and cost a arm and a leg to run. I would proberly think about a tdi conversion at the right money, but would totally understand any hate, then tell them to fuck off :lol:

 

[Araon]

To me its all about the engine........

The sound, the look the smell ok so a stock can be a bit feeble in comparrison to modern motors..... that said we had a 72 bug stuck with the Passat accellerating off a roundabout till about 60.....

 

[dubscum]

very ture, a friend had a late bay (still aircooled) very tuned (only just) pulled away from my mk2 8v gti up to about 65/70mph fully camper'd up, that would cost me my house as i don't have the skill and know how to build an engine like that. It was so cool ! i was just thinking lazy and 70 mph motor cruising on a tdi .............. more to the point i'm on can 4 and will never do it :lol: low, slow and broken down is how i roll

 

[therotbox]

Oh I completely get the a/c thing. The smell the noise, you can always tell another a/c coming round the corner and ther's just something about it puttering along in your ears. They are so easy to work on too and would be my engine of choice. Sadly, on my budget I can't afford an a/c daily doing 22 - 26mpg for the mileage I do now, to be fair they are reliable if you look after them properly, my last a/c never missed a beat once I'd worked through the niggles from years of neglect. I have a tdi I'm using as a daily for during the van's resto time(cost 250, converting myself so no real cost there), the tdi will live on in the bay until I decide on either scooby or a large tdi lump.

gninnam puts it best though :mrgreen: