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Wed Feb 13, 2008 3:38 pm

i just purchased a grumman olsen kubvan. it has a 1.6 diesel and auto trans. i was wondering what other engine would fit in it and be an easy swap? it is a 1984. any help is appreciated...john :D :?:

Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:18 pm

Welcome to the Kubvan club.... I have 2 84s Both standards. Any motor from an A2 (85-92) and earlier will fit. You will have to play with the mounts. The worse one is the one behind the injector pump. If you use a 84 and earlier motor it will be easy. If you switch away from diesel you will need to do some wiring and computer stuff. Grounds will be the big problem.

If you want to swap out the tranny the first problem is do you have a flat floor where the shifter would go? (early ones did not) My driver has a late A2 5 speed and a 86? motor. I am rebuilding a spare to replace the leaking one in it.

You may want to work with what you got. They are easy to rebuild "inframe". The down fall is the timing belt tensionor is very close to the wall (we could not get out when we did the belt). The ease though is the lack of a subframe to be in your way.

Feel free to get a hold of me if you have any questions.

Thu Feb 14, 2008 8:36 am

:D thanks for the information. i am at a crossroads on the van. the engine has been sitting 13 yrs and is struck. i have a postal driver wanting it. her husband is a diesel mechanic. claims he can rhd it and use it for mail. i really like it but don't want to get upside down in it where i can't return my investment. i am working on the motor now and hope too free it up today. i have gathered all of the diesel parts to get it running. we shall see. but thank you for your reply and i will get back to you on other questions...john

Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:18 am

I have seen motors for $500. For $1000 you should have no problems. You may have to buy a car to get one but that will be a plus as you will have some parts for use or sale. The guy that wants to do a conversion needs to look at it real good. There is no room for stuff in the engine compartment on the right side. Is your motor together?

As far as value they are weird as they are not all over. I paid dearly for mine but I was not looking for an investment I want the van. It will probably never leave which is why I am doing a complete rebuild. So which one did you get?????

Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:19 am

i got the one that was listed on samba last week. it is the longer van. i have removed the injectors and have soaked the pistons with marvel mystry oil and let it set a day or so. i have a local vw shop that will give me access to parts and motors etc. but have looked over the net for engines in case this one is a bust. i like the van and would like to kelp it. but i am not going in deep like i do on the air cooled cars. i need the front bumper, fresh air vent out side cover,wiper blades and plastic headlight surrounds. most of the other stuff is ok. two side rear view mirrors are rusted. what is the hole in the middle of the floor behind the seats for? it is in the cargo area floor....john

ljvwparts@aol.com :D

Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:50 pm

Someone near me has a Kubvan for sale, which I'm thinking of picking up, and I'm wondering what kind of fuel mileage one can expect from one of these vans?

Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:50 am

i have an 84 kubvan with the auto diesel i get about 35 its only got 109 k original miles on it i love it i got a guy that offered mr 10k for it and keeps bothering me about it a couple times a week id like to have another one does anyone know where i can get a rear bumper for mine thats all i need maybe some hheadlight bezels are there any online clubs for the grummans?

Mon Sep 15, 2008 5:45 am

Bumpers are tough to find... Like you probably won't find them. As far as the head light bezels I am looking into get some, it is going to take some arm twisting form the truck parts counter guy but he is a VW guy so... I have tried the normal outlets already.

I am getting around 36 with mine with a 5 speed and a TD motor. Just turned 100K (then the tranny locked up.... :( )

Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:44 am

if there are people interested i know some guy that does plastic form moulding and can make an exact duplicate to what we have i just havent got a price on the though im still trying to get my diesel running can anyone help its out of timing i think its 2 topics down

Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:27 pm

What about handling? How are these little vans on the freeway? (I'm just trying to find as many good points about Kubvans as I can so I can convice my wife) Thanks.

Mon Sep 15, 2008 6:19 pm

well the highway isnt its best feature with my diesel 3 spd+e auto it will do 55 but it the rpms are high it needs one more gear and it would be awesome im looking into that

Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:01 pm

Mine is fine on the highway. The only handling problem I have is if you overload or put stuff on the roof rack it will act like a trailer with bad tongue weight. Also it is tough to find heavy duty tires.... It will move around if you get into a big truck's wind stream but you should not be that close anyways. It is fun driving with the doors open and your foot on the foot rest ( I mean wheelwell).

Hold off on repoping head light trim. I will stop off and get my truck guy on the mission. We expect that Grumman should still have some. When I called them the only guy that had any knowledge of older stuff did not want to do anything to look up stuff but we hope with a part number from a commercial account will help. I will check on bumpers also.

Tue Sep 16, 2008 6:06 am

driving with the doors open is def cool i get more looks in that thing than if i was driving a ferarri keep me informed about the bumper and headlight bezels that would be great if we could get them i would buy some extras also thanks rick

Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:50 pm

Okay got the word from the truck shop....

There has been no bumpers for a long long time available. The head light bezels are available but are a special order. They are not cheap but it looks like they will be $30 each plus shipping and tax. Does anyone else want any I can make an order for them??

Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:51 pm

They have it.