Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
Subject:Re: State of the Art in Engine Swaps is....?
From:Mike Miller
Date:Tue, 6 Apr 2004 12:19:39 -0700

Yeah, but you're handy and know what you're doing.  Most of the rest of us
have to hire out a bunch and buy kits, etc.

Mike

On 4/6/04 11:10 AM, "Eric Zeno" <vw4x4@FYI.NET> wrote:

> Stan...etal,
>    MY complete engine swap cost less than $1000.00.
>                                               Eric
>
> Stan Wilder wrote:
>
>> If you're going to do an engine swap you need to love your Vanagon somewhere
>> between $3000.00 and $10,000 worth.
>> The least expensive is a half life Subaru engine conversion that normally
>> runs $3000.00 by the time it's completed.
>> I don't know anything about Tiico conversions but I think the complete setup
>> can be $7500.00
>> If you've got a 5000 pound + Westy you can consider that it weighs as much
>> as a 2004 Full Sized Extended Cab 3/4 Ton Dodge Pickup truck with around 260
>> HP.
>> Your power isn't going to impress anybody but you.
>>
>> Stan Wilder
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
>> Of David Brodbeck
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2004 12:26 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: State of the Art in Engine Swaps is....?
>>
>>
>> On Tue, 6 Apr 2004, tomdurkin wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> The Volvo B-230 is exactly what you say, and it can easily
>>> last 400,000 miles or more with routine maintainance.  I
>>> believe the other options mentioned in this thread cannot
>>> make that claim.  I would be very interested in more
>>> information about this conversion, I can see a intercooled
>>> B-230FT with 180 hp moving a Vanagon up hill very nicely.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Unfortunately I don't have more information about it; I just know that
>> Kennedy Engineering makes (or used to make?) an adapter plate.  You'd be
>> on your own for engine mounts, but at least the Volvo mount system is
>> pretty simple.  You could probably fab something up using carrier bars,
>> similar to what a VW diesel Vanagon uses.  Exhaust shouldn't be too big a
>> challenge, just bend some pipe to route from the Volvo manifold around to
>> a single muffler in the rear, like the diesels use.  If you can make the
>> muffler mounts part of the engine mounts, as VW did for the diesel, or
>> mount them to the engine block, you avoid having to use any flex pipes.
>>
>> I have no idea if the engine would fit under the decklid.
>>
>> I think the sole advantage a B230 would have over a VW inline 4 is low end
>> grunt.  It's the torquiest I-4 I've driven.  It reminds me a lot of a
>> 4-cyl boxer engine that way.  When you're moving a heavy van, having a
>> torque peak at relatively low RPM is important.
>>
>>
>> David Brodbeck, N8SRE
>> '82 Volkswagen Diesel Westfalia
>> '86 Volvo 240DL wagon
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>