I'm sure other more knowledgeable folks will chime in with information
based upon vanagon specific experience, but I don't think it'd be cost
effective enough to just increase bore or stroke on these engines
(i.e. not enough of a real-world benefit).  If I were to tweek my 2.1,
I'd opt for different ratio rocker arms or a higher lift/duration cam,
and kick in the big bucks for a forged counterweighted crank...oh, and
fabricate a turbocharger/intercooler combo.  The latter is probably
the most cost effective means of increasing hp/torque you could
undertake.

On 10/30/05, Evan Mac Donald <macdonald1987@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> Hello List!
>
> I am going to be rebuilding a 2.1 to put in my '85. I want to have even more than a stock 2.1 when I am done, though. I have looked at some of the other WBX engines that are on offer out there, and am wondering where the the parts came from to make the increased displacement motors. You can increase displacement by increasing the bore, or the stroke, or both. The stock stroke on a 2.1 is longer than a 1.9, but the bore was unchanged. One of the places I looked showed a larger bore (95.5mm vs. 94mm stock).
> I am not interested in sending out a crank for the work needed to increase the stroke (not to mention finding different rods to match, etc., etc....) so the bore increase is where I want to go.
>
> My question is where did these larger bore cylinders come from? I rebuild my own engines, so tools and techniques are not the issue. Parts are!

Casey
Olympia, WA
Biodiesel:
'87 300TD intercooler (210k)
'84 300D (205k)
Gashuffer:
'89 Vanagon Wolfsburg Edition (186K)