what kinds of motor

[khh48]

I have been driving around with a 1914 engine in my bay the last three years. Is been nice and a lot of fun. Nobody belived my car would do 80 mph up hills. Downside is the noise/ sound inside the car from twin 45 dellortos and a fat boy silencer. Next time it will be a 2,1 wbx. I will never use a type 4 engine and have to live with the shame. Those are for late bays :-/

 

[doppelganger]

i wonder how many people will be at santa pod of the volksworld show telling wayne allman he is wrong for putting the wrong engine in his splitty single cab dragster
each to there own ,worry about your own motor (cos of cause they are just like they came from the factory :roll: )

 

[Anonymous]

vanagonman - what is so acceptable about a porsche engine? - ill be interested to hear your no doubt well informed argument detailing all your experience gleaned from magazines.

Aircooled, reliable, hi hp - plenty of torque, and even after it's **DEAD** I can sell it for more than a used watercrapper (waterboxer). That's what's great about them. I happen to have a 3.0 in my garage, that I may install (but I have been offered a pretty penny to sell)

 

[Anonymous]

I have been driving around with a 1914 engine in my bay the last three years. Is been nice and a lot of fun. Nobody belived my car would do 80 mph up hills. Downside is the noise/ sound inside the car from twin 45 dellortos and a fat boy silencer. Next time it will be a 2,1 wbx. I will never use a type 4 engine and have to live with the shame. Those are for late bays :-/

And WBXs are for Late T3s. :?

 

[khh48]

And WBXs are for Late T3s. :?[/quote]

I know. I just hate T4 engines after servicing them

 

[pete nice]

My grip with alternate engines is the modifications needed to be done to the van. I have a quite original Westfalia & would not want to cut it about too much. I fear that fitting a radiator in there somewhere will ruin the van.

I am always worried about keeping the engine cool enough as the camper was never designed for a water cooled engine.

My advice is base on what I have seen from personal experience. Plenty of abandoned projects with lumps cut out here & there, pipes & wire bodged in, then left to rot.

Unless you have a deep pocket or know your own ability, then I say play it a bit safe. My stock motor has been replaced by a pro built hi-po 1641, my 2007 is nearly done & EFI & turbo are on the cards. I am in no rush as I want it right...

 

[speedwell68]

The very thought of putting a non VW engine in a VW annoys me. Let alone putting a w/c engine in a aircooled. Has anyone seen this atrocity...

It's not going to be long before we start seeing these things on the road as Danbury has started selling them.

 

[khh48]

It's not going to be long before we start seeing these things on the road as Danbury has started selling them.

It may help if they painted the radiator grille in the same color as the car.
would be less ugly, i think.

 

[Justin & Muttley]

The other problem with the new buses is the higher roofline - not much you can do about that!

 

[speedwell68]

The other problem with the new buses is the higher roofline - not much you can do about that!

That doesn't bother me so much as it has come about with the evolution of the vehicle, like high indicators and square air intakes. I must say that the late Brazilian bumpers are better looking than the euro square ones that '72 - 79 buses have.

 

[richbaker78]

vanagonman - what is so acceptable about a porsche engine? - ill be interested to hear your no doubt well informed argument detailing all your experience gleaned from magazines.

Aircooled, reliable, hi hp - plenty of torque, and even after it's **DEAD** I can sell it for more than a used watercrapper (waterboxer). That's what's great about them. I happen to have a 3.0 in my garage, that I may install (but I have been offered a pretty penny to sell)

so what your saying is that apart from being aircooled its more expensive to buy, and has the same characteristics as a watercooled Subaru engine -only with older technology :?:


PeteNice you have some good points there - I understand the logic for not cutting about a nice original van - fair enough....and what you say about the uninformed launching into watercooled projects as if its an easy job is true - often it results in bodges and many dont ever hit the road again which is why VWKD exists to provide a forum for those who have lost their way or are thinking of an alternative and want information. The watercooling issues can be resolved and they dont always have to be hideous to look at (agreed some are - look in the vwkd radiator archive fro eg!)

speedwell68 - "The very thought of putting a non VW engine in a VW annoys me. Let alone putting a w/c engine in a aircooled" - i kindof gathered that it annoys you...but i just cant fathom any logic here? you alude to it being a cosmetic issue - but if this can be solved is it then acceptable as long as its a VW engine?in other words if the brazilian bay didnt have the radiator grille would that be OK?
what about converting an aircooled t25 to WC t25 power? - or how about the audi engined SA t25 - watercooled and not made by VW yet factory supplied....that must be hard to swallow? It seems to me your still just writing off watercooled conversions for no real reason?

 

[Anonymous]

what about converting an aircooled t25 to WC t25 power? - or how about the audi engined SA t25 - watercooled and not made by VW yet factory supplied....that must be hard to swallow? It seems to me your still just writing off watercooled conversions for no real reason?

An aircooled T25 (T3) should remain aircooled, since if you would want it watercooled, you can buy a watercooled T3 in the first place.

I still think it's idiotic to convert an aircooled car to watercooled. To me that's like taking an Audi quattro and converting it to front-wheel-drive to save some money in petrol. :roll:

What your left with (a watercooled abortion) will be worth **less** than the aircooled version to many VW Bus affecionados.

 

[speedwell68]

An aircooled T25 (T3) should remain aircooled, since if you would want it watercooled, you can buy a watercooled T3 in the first place.

I still think it's idiotic to convert an aircooled car to watercooled. To me that's like taking an Audi quattro and converting it to front-wheel-drive to save some money in petrol. :roll:

What your left with (a watercooled abortion) will be worth **less** than the aircooled version to many VW Bus affecionados.

Spot on.

 

[user 422]

but - if you intend to keep the bay, then what does it matter what it's 'worth'? :?

i'm planning on fitting a rover V8 in my '71 dormy, as through experiance, i know i need more power and reliability, i've gone through 6 aircooled motors in my van since 2001, and i've always loved V8s... i'll be hiding the rad underneath the van, and the entire van will look completely stock to the casual observer, apart from the lowered suspension... but i'll be able to go up hills, cruise at 90, and have toasty feet all year round! PLUS it's a fraction of the cost of even a 1776 aircooled!

open your minds guys - i love aircooled cars, i also own a 1300 '69 bug - and that's staying aircooled, forever!

Matty

 

[Anonymous]

but - if you intend to keep the bay, then what does it matter what it's 'worth'? :?

i'm planning on fitting a rover V8 in my '71 dormy, as through experiance, i know i need more power and reliability, i've gone through 6 aircooled motors in my van since 2001, and i've always loved V8s... i'll be hiding the rad underneath the van, and the entire van will look completely stock to the casual observer, apart from the lowered suspension... but i'll be able to go up hills, cruise at 90, and have toasty feet all year round! PLUS it's a fraction of the cost of even a 1776 aircooled!

open your minds guys - i love aircooled cars, i also own a 1300 '69 bug - and that's staying aircooled, forever!

Matty

Advise for my sheep-loving friend,

Sell the Dormy, get a watercooled T3 and

(using your logic) you will have better handling than that 71, better heat than that 71, no worries about hiding that rad, easier to find parts, etc.

Want power? Buy a Sierra Cosworth. Want a fast van? Buy a Sprinter.

If you had to go thru 6 aircooled engines since 2001, then why is my 1982 aircooled T3 still on it's original engine?? Perhaps you may need to consider another engine builder or hobby.

Better still a Mk1 Transit with a Rover V8. That would be an easy fit.

Best bit is you can afford it all, if you sell the 71 Dormy. Sorry mate, it's your car and all, but don't expect fans of your watercooled-wetdream at a site dedicated to aircooled early bays.

 

[lobus]

This is a good thread, congrats to all. A forum needs a few differing opinions to keep it bubbling along IMHO.
I love the "Transit" sledge, as far as I am concerned the only thing worth thinking about with them is the sliding driver's door, I love that feature.

On a brighter note (for me anyway) I picked up my bus from the mechanic today with my new "lump" intalled. 2165cc with all sorts of other bits and pieces. Twin carbs, extractors, deep sump is all I can remember at the moment.
It goes like the clappers with an 1800 gearbox putting the power to the ground. 90kmh in third, which is nice for getting up to speed on the freeway on ramps and sits on 100kms UP hills...You beauty!
The speed limit is 110 or usually 100 here so I can relax on my interstate runs now.

I am very happy that I stayed air cooled as I investigated going to Suby power but was never all that keen.
The new exhaust sounds beautiful and crisp, and I don't think it is too loud. I am too old for all that stuff.
I have got some pics of the work being done but I won't post em up till I get the exhaust finished, I have to lengthen it a bit as it is hitting my ovrerider and the rubber wont last long with that continuing.

My thoughts on how to power YOUR bus is just that. Having said that, as far as making an aircooled T3 watercooled I can't see the point. I have a wasseboxer and it is a fine piece of work. So why not just buy one already built and use all that money and energy doing mods to it?
I would love to put a Porsche motor in but they are very hard to find in Aus and expensive when and if you do find one.
A mate of mine has a 2 litre type 4 with an upright kit in his bus and it is superb as well, lots of torque and lazy revs at 100kms per hour.
Keep on posting on this..diverse opinions are great.
Maybe when I get to a UK show we can do like the bikers do but make it a Transit we set fire to? After I take off the slider of course.
David

 

[slammedkustom]

" :roll: Advise for my sheep-loving friend,"
was that nessercery? Mattys first post and thats the response he gets?

"Better still a Mk1 Transit with a Rover V8. That would be an easy fit."
why does everyone keep mentioning transits? just because people want to do something different you insult them, its just another stereotype like "we all drive Hippy vans" :roll:

constructive critisims fine but i think vanagon man your taking this too seriously, we love early bays but they were only made for four years.
so if we all sit here with our totally stock 1.6 engines discussing the difference between wide 5 drums and small 5 early and late discs how long do you think this site will last?
maybe you should read your post before you add it to a thread?

 

[richbaker78]

as matty says - its not all about reatining value in the van - i will never sell mine...and anyway (hard as it might be for some to believe) there are a growing number of people who actually want an alternative engine due to the reputation of the aircooled.

I frequently get asked about sourcing campers for those not familier with mechanical work but in love with the vw dream and usually they start of thinking about a split or bay. I have to be honest with them and say its just not sustainable and the enjoyment if often tainted with the costs of running and maintaining (not only the engines of course - but its a major consideration) with this in mind i often steer them towards t25/t4s etc as the nature of many drivers today is they just want to drive it. Obviosuly if I could offer them the option of a split/beetle/camper with all the features of a modern car im pretty sure they would jump at the chance and willingly pay for it.

Im not going to lower myself to the level of insults of the few but I think slammed kustom has hit the nail on the head there......calling people idiotic does not constitute a constructive criticism.

I dont imagine for a minute that those who are most critical read anything but Vworld or Ultra but in case you do there was an article in Practical performance car about the weakening of enthusiasts clubs due to 'elitism' and i think this is beginning to happen because some are too small minded to embrace the ideas of others.

As this thread exemplifies - there are some out there that for no good reason feel they have the right to insult and sneer at others non conformist ideas. As i sadi before im happy to debate the merits and even conceed well made points about the merits of aircooled over conversions.

Dont worry..... it not the first time its happened but i dont think its good for the scene - im pretty seasoned to the attitude of the small minded and see these threads more as sport now - butif im honest its a sad fact that VWKD has to exist at all.

JP (vwkd owner) and I asked VZi if, given the growing tide of watercooled conversions, we could host something on their site (similar to the way aussieveedubs run their VZI equivalant) the ensuing attitute and a thread much worse than this forced us to set up our own specialist site where we could not get slagged off for asking/advising on watercooled/alternative engines - to me this is ridiculous - if we carry on like this we will all end up with a huge number of pathetic clubs of just 1 or two members.....early bays with overriders club, early bays with two tone paint club, late bay panel vans with 15 inch wheels and sun visors club........

Im a car / van enthusiast (not just VW i have another non VW classic)
I like early bays (not transits, not sprinters, etc) but appreciate other models
I enjoy engineering, fabrication, problem solving to a level that i was no longer satisfied with aircooled - but I still build aircooled engines.
i want a vw van that gets me where I want it to go instead of having to compromise my driving style or drive another car.......

why should i (or others in a similar minority) feel unwelcome in the vw community just becasue my vw is not quite 100% vw......if you follow this line you have to wonder why any modification (lowering, alloys etc) is acceptable - the more elitist who have reared their ugly heads on this thread should think carefully about what they are doing to the VW scene as a whole.... i almost didnt bother to come back to early bay forums at all because of you.

 

[Anonymous]

OK guys - informed debate yes, good to have some difference of opinion - insults - NO ! - they will get removed !

 

[easy]

My views are, crow bar in what ever you want as an engine

I like sticking with simple air cooled stuff, but thats my decision, one day I may go ahead and get that 3.7 porker lump in there but until then I will stick with what I got. I like the simplicity (like me :wink: ) of a aircooled lump, that can be removed in about 10mins without to much hassle.

Thats the best bit about the vw scene is that it is all different and different people like different things. I love cool classic looks on vans and this is the effect or style I have gone for on my bus, the aircooled engine fits into this simplicity for me, but I dont give a **** what anybody else puts in theirs as long as I can have a peak and go OOooooo how did you do that at a show.

Remember they are all lumps of metal at the end of the day, not family. If somebody said to me that I need a new set of lungs but they could fit a watercooled version that runs for longer and faster without all the weezing, id go for it :wink: