T Berk wrote:
> OK, there is a detail I'd like to clear up, it seems
> those that know are tossing around the angle of the
> motor w/ and without the use of an adapter plate, but
> I am con-fu-sed.
>
> 15 degree =
>
> 51 degree =

Those refer to the angle the engine makes compared to vertical.  On I-4
VWs the engine doesn't usually stand straight up, with the cylinder head
pointing at the sky; it's laid over to reduce its vertical height.  On
diesel Vanagons, to make the rather tall engine fit under a decklid
designed for a pancake engine, the engine is tilted way over at 51
degrees.  Most aftermarket adapter plates use a 15 degree angle, instead.

> You can bolt up an I4 to an air-cooled Vanagon
> trans-axle by:

Using an adapter plate.  Or, removing the bellhousing and replacing it
with a diesel bellhousing.  The input shaft needs to be shortened in the
latter case, I'm not sure if this is also true with the adapter plate.

> You can make use of a water cooled but non diesel bus
> with this project by using (plate optional or
> required?):

You still need an adapter or diesel bellhousing.  The bolt pattern
between the engine and the transmission is different for VW boxer
engines than it is for their I-4 engines.

> - If I start with a Vanagon that has a water-cooled
> motor, wouldn't this reduce the parts needed to
> install a water cooled I4?

Yes, because it will already have a radiator, heater, coolant pipes
under the van, etc.

--

David Brodbeck, N8SRE
'82 VW Diesel Westfalia
'86 Volvo 240DL wagon