This has been done before.  I recall seeing a screamin' yellow Vanagon
Syncro with a Porsche motor conversion in one of the VW Magazines.

Most transmissions are rated for torque capacity.  Although the Porsche 2.7
has more torque than your 2.0 Type IV, the torque comes on higher in the
power band.  In my opinion, unless you like tire-smoking take-offs, your
transmission should handle the extra power.

I considered buying a clean '82 Westy just to put a Porsche motor in it.  I
passed on it since I still would have no A/C, an important accessory in the
wonderful Alabama climate.

There's nothing like the song of a Porsche flat-6 screaming at 6000 RPM!
And you will have to rev it high to get the power out of it.  As a wonderful
benefit, should you keep the stock 4-speed, you will be in the meat of the
power band at about, say, 90 MPH in fourth gear.  Then you floor it and pass
all the Vana-barus!  Revenge is upon us!

Chris
'85 Westy, and a Porsche lover.

----- Original Message -----
From: '80 Westy Pokey <pokey@vanagon.org>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 6:16 PM
Subject: Is a Porsche 911 engine too powerful for a Vanagon and/or Syncro
Drivetrain?

> I am intrigued with the Porsche 911 engine swap that MSDS offers at:
http://www.msdsinc.com/
>
> I'm wondering if anyone has any actual experience with this swap. I am no
mechanic so I apologize if this question does not make sense. I know they
often put in the Porsche G50 transmission but what about the drivetrain?
Would the 911 engine overwhelm it?
>
> My dream vehicle is a syncro westy with this swap. But would I be better
off just swapping the engine on my air cooled? Can the syncro drivetrain
handle it?
>
> Thanks,
> Chris Gronski
> '80 Westy "Pokey" - SLOPOKEY
> '87 Chevrolet Sprint - Ice Racer
> '91 Pontiac Firefly - Convertable
> www.vanagon.org & .ca
> www.gronski.com, .org, & .ca
> www.nineeleven.org & .ca