You should also post this to the Yahoo! Diesel Vanagon list. I'm sure
somebody there has done it.

Jim

On Oct 4, 2006, at 2:53 PM, Steven Johnson wrote:

> Hey all,
>
> Some of you know me from way back when and I pipe
> up from time to time.  But that is irrelevant.
>
> For some time now I've been pondering an engine
> replacement as my 1990/91 Westy approaches 200,000
> miles.  I've read good things about the Subaru and
> good things about the TDI and other diesel trans-
> plants.  Ideally my preference would be some kind
> of hybrid with an automatic transmission but I
> think, at best, that that is out of the question
> and financially un-reachable.  And wouldn't I
> like to have an SVX or Porsche 6 cylinder pushing
> my box at 80+ mph down the interstate and watch
> my travel times shorten substantially.
>
> But yesterday, I spoke with one of the California
> Smog BAR representatives that was their most
> experienced gurus on engine replacement.  I was
> pleasantly suprised to hear from him that California
> did indeed allow for diesel conversions still as
> long as it was a newer engine for light class trucks
> or cars.  Now this is still a bit premature for me
> to celebrate, but it sure sounds promising.  He gave
> me a number for a referee to discuss specifics if
> and when I needed to.
>
> So what I'm getting at here is that I feel that I'm
> going to be able to do this transplant and not get
> dinged by the referee when I go to get an inspection.
> This is very contrary from what I've been reading
> about on this list about diesels in Calfornia.  Has
> anyone on the list actually done a recent conversion
> in CA and survived the smog inquisition?
>
> Now beyond that, I'd really like to have a TDI trans-
> plant with an automatic transmission.  Traffic is
> just getting too annoying with a standard tranny and
> I'd really like to give my left calf and foot a break.
>
> I know there was some discussion about this a few
> moons ago and that there was some expensive gear
> that had to be installed to make up for the difference
> in the ratios.  Was there a group purchase?  Has
> there been any successful completed projects with
> automatic transmissions mated to a diesel TDI?
>
> Thanks for letting me ramble...
>
> Steven
>
>
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