Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2015 11:58:17 -0700
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: I-4 conversion general info
In-Reply-To: <CAHTkEuKHcDnPw6Ns3aU2mhmnQ5c=TXhoRSq6sT9uUE0UgZDGJw@mail.gmail.com>
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I don't see a cheap way to do this on an '85 Digijet with an automatic transmission. FAS's kit for the auto is $3000, and you still need all the hoses, custom fabricated exhaust, and other bits. A Subaru conversion kit from RMW would cost $2700, but would include all the bits and pieces to "turn the key".
It doesn't look like a practical conversion, am I missing something?
Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Don Hanson
Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2015 8:25 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: I-4 conversion general info
There doesn't seem to be a collection of information in any one place on this conversion...You'll have to look in multiple places to find your answers...The conversion IS rather simple, compared to any of the other options, and it's certainly a lot cheaper than any other....if you stick with a stock inline digifant motor for your swap...
A few leads to get you going....try the VW Vortex pages. Techtonics
Tuning, a VW specific parts place in Oregon has lots of parts for the inline VW motors and lots of specialized knowledge concerning how to make them work well.
If you stick with a stock inline cross-flow motor (92 and older?) and start with a decent digifant Vanagon, you could probably do the whole deal for under $500 and have a more powerful and dependable Vanagon in about one
day's work...nothing special needed. You may have to extend a couple of
the vanagon's wires to make the plugs reach, and you will need to clearance a little in the engine bay to make room for the throttle body..
.The inline VW, gas and diesel, are identical blocks....the gasser bolts right up to the engine mounts from a diesel vanagon....The engine management system is almost identical too..between the vanagon and the digifant jetta, rabbit, cabriolet motors....Parts are mostly interchangeable........
I ran a stock 92 Cabriolet motor (1.8 liter cross flow digifant) in my vanagon for a couple of years...Very robust and inexpensive...slightly better performance than a stock WBX motor...These motors are selling cheap. The parts are cheap, too.
About two years ago I got another Jetta motor, complete, for $300. I
combined the older cross flow heads (to keep it simple) with the 2.0 liter ABA Jetta ('93) and got a more powerful hybrid motor ...spent $600 total including all the parts, but I sold off the PS pump, the alternator, etc..and actually made some money over the $300 I spent for the motor...this motor gives me about 125hp and ~25mpg in fuel use....
A good way to go as an alternative engine for the Vanagon.
On Sat, Oct 24, 2015 at 9:58 PM, Rob <vwrobb@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm looking for some general information on putting a gasoline VW I-4
> into a Vanagon. I'm not asking the right questions at the samba search...
>
> What do I need to do the conversion?
>
> Right now I'm just curious...
>
> Rob
> vwrobb@gmail.com
>
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