Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2010 18:51:05 -0500
Reply-To: Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Subject: Re: Replace Heads or Engine?
In-Reply-To: <4CDEF9C5.9000006@cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hi Mark,
I am in the starting stages of an engine conversion... Not because my
WBX is dead but because I am not satisfied with the power delivery, gas
milage, parts availability or durability of the platform. My vanagon
sees about 30,000 miles per year of daily driving and from where i sit
the advantages of the inline4 VW are too attractive to ignore.
So far my acquisitions are as follows, in order of appearance:
1982 Engine hanger bars and motor mounts were picked up at a swap meet
(BusFusion) for $100. Using the 82 mounts will require rotating the
front transmission mount and shortening the shift linkage rod by about
2" to accomodate the forward mounting position of the 82 bars. I could
simply cut and weld the bars and leave the transmission where it is, but
then the engine ends up tighter against the rear of the engine compartment.
I bought an NOS diesel oil pan for $40, also through the list. This one
was delivered at Buses Of The Corn.
Another diesel specialist I know through the list(s) sold me:
Diesel Bell Housing, clutch, flywheel, pressure plate, dust cover, oil
pump pickup tube and top-end water hoses: $170. I picked it up in person
at Watkins Glen and didn't have to pay shipping or duty.
1996 2L Jetta ABA Engine, complete: $300. Dad's bringing it home this
week after a campout this weekend in VA.
The ABA engine will also be getting a new cam and a digifant cylinder
head from a 1.8L engine, which will probably double the cost of the
powerplant before we're done. If I can find the right parts I will
upgrade the exhaust manifold as well.
The remaining parts I will need will include a diesel starter and I will
also need to fabricate an exhaust system, throttle linkage and some
coolant interfaces... By the time I am done I will probably have about
$1000-$1200 invested not including my labour.
But in terms of labour I'd venture to say that it's basically the same
or less effort as involved in any other engine conversion, for a great
deal less $$$. If I had the coin I'd go with a Bostig Zetec conversion
in a metric heartbeat, but since I don't this is the next best answer
available to suit my budget.
Am I investing $2000 in labour? That would be about 24 hours at the
local shop rate; sounds optimistic for a first-timer but it might just
be possible for Scott or someone else with a lot of inline experience.
Happy Trails,
Greg Potts
Toronto, Ontario Canada
197x Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
1987 Wolfsburg Weekender Hardtop (ND Graphics graphics wrap)
1988 Wolfsburg Weekender Hardtop (Colleen's ride)
www.pottsfamily.ca
BUSES OF THE CORN - AUGUST 12-14th, 2011
www.busesofthecorn.ca
Greg
On 11/13/2010 3:49 PM, mark drillock wrote:
> Hey Scott. You know the ins and outs of the diesel mounting stuff about
> as well as anyone here. How much would you think to charge for
> converting a wbx van to an inline 4 gas engine using diesel bits where
> possible? Maybe you could offer that as a service and have people lined
> up around the block for a nice cheap conversion? Total parts and labor
> at $2500 sound right, like some people say? Or maybe $3000 since you do
> such nice work? The engines are only $300.
>
> Mark
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