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Sat Sep 13, 2008 12:21 pm

I have a 1972 bus and i was wondering what i have to do to put a type 3 engine into it. Also if i would have to modify the front engine support bar.

Sat Sep 13, 2008 12:30 pm

Sealing the engine to the body via tin would be the first hassle.

fabbing the engine bar would be next, so I hope you have good welding skills.

Sat Sep 13, 2008 12:37 pm

but to hook it to the trasmition it would be the same?

Sat Sep 13, 2008 12:37 pm

Pain the the butt, unless you have the tools and know how to get it done, but then you wouldn't be asking here 8)

Why are you considering this swap? I would seriously think about selling the type 3 motor and picking up a type 4. No hassle.

Sat Sep 13, 2008 12:38 pm

i have the running engine so why not

Sat Sep 13, 2008 12:59 pm

Bluetork wrote: ...so why not

The question which opens the can of worms.

It was never meant to be used there SO you will have a hell of a time making the cooling tin seal correctly, thus over heating. You will have a hell of a time getting it to mount up correctly, thus a hack. It will be even more underpowered than normal, increasing wear on the engine and increasing heat. It is not easy, recommended, or a good idea BUT its your car, do how you wish. If you do it, take a bunch of pictures and post up a how-to here, so we can point others to it when the question comes up again.

Sat Sep 13, 2008 1:53 pm

here we go again :roll:

another " i got this running engine, how do i make it work in something it was not designed to work in?" thread

seriously like caleb said. if you have to come on here asking how to do it, chances are your going to hack it up and still have a bus that doesnt run. not to mention, a bunch of half hacked, half welded attempts at modification.

dude, trust in me. sell your 3 engine and find a 4.
it will be sooooo much better for you.

you live in the sacramento area. you can find complete core and or running engine all over here

Sat Sep 13, 2008 9:14 pm

Type III owner here chiming in...

Listen to the above posters! I have a '71 Westy (for sale in the classifieds, hint hint) and a '76...oh, and a '72 Squareback. Don't do it. You'll end up butchering your Bus and killing your engine. The TIII engine is 1600cc stock and is used in a 2200-pound vehicle with different gear ratios in the tranny. Our TII is over 3000-pounds (3500? I think) and running a stock TIV 2.0L engine and she definitely ain't no speed demon!

You also need to think about what you're going to do when you prematurely kill that engine and need to replace it :wink:

But it's your stuff so do with it what you will.

Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:51 pm

Actually,you can put a late beetle engine in a 72 with good results, easier than the type 3. I put a dual port 1600cc, with extractor exhaust, 009 dizzy with breakerless ignition, and a weber single barrel carb. Performance was good, mileage was 29 mpg, loaded or empty. Took minimal tin work mods, but it worked very well. I put over 80,000 miles on it. minimal probs over all, I would do it again if I had to.

Sun Sep 14, 2008 10:03 pm

I put a type 1 engine in my 72 bus and had it enlarged to 1776cc. Put a extractor exhaust system, dual carbs and it runs sweet. Good gas mileage, plenty of power for me and much easier to work on than the type 4 motor.

Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:50 am

njlunchbox wrote: I put a type 1 engine in my 72 bus and had it enlarged to 1776cc. Put a extractor exhaust system, dual carbs and it runs sweet. Good gas mileage, plenty of power for me and much easier to work on than the type 4 motor.

:roll: I get tired statements like this. VW went to the 1700/1800/2000 type 4 motors for a reason. More power and reliability over the type 1 motor and they are just as easy to work on.

if you want lots of power go with a Camper Special, it just kills any type 1 motor. torque baby, torque.

Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:47 am

Well, some of us have to make do with what we have and can afford. I too would like a camper special engine, but right now I just do not have the bucks.

Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:35 pm

njlunchbox wrote: I put a type 1 engine in my 72 bus and had it enlarged to 1776cc. Put a extractor exhaust system, dual carbs and it runs sweet. Good gas mileage, plenty of power for me and much easier to work on than the type 4 motor.
So you like carbs, right? Get a stock Type IV and put carbs on it. Lots of teeners do it. Just as easy to work on, too ;)

Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:50 pm

nodrenim wrote: Well, some of us have to make do with what we have and can afford. I too would like a camper special engine, but right now I just do not have the bucks.

that i can understand. i suppose at one point, if all a had was a late bus and a t1 engine and all i had to do to drive the bus was put it in, id do it.

go for it if you have no $$ for a T4 engine. it will work, it will be slow and if you dont seal the engine compartment right, it will get hot and shorten the life of the engine. youll need to fab a rear support bar too.

good luck to ya

Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:47 am

Bleyseng wrote: njlunchbox wrote: I put a type 1 engine in my 72 bus and had it enlarged to 1776cc. Put a extractor exhaust system, dual carbs and it runs sweet. Good gas mileage, plenty of power for me and much easier to work on than the type 4 motor.

:roll: I get tired statements like this. VW went to the 1700/1800/2000 type 4 motors for a reason. More power and reliability over the type 1 motor and they are just as easy to work on.
.

i get tired of statements like yours. VW sold the bay window with a type 1 1600 in it right to the end of production in europe. and while i wouldn't dream of putting a type 3 engine in a bus with it's original cooling tin etc, it's a very simple matter to change it to upright cooling as in early US bays with 1600cc.if you have the parts.

this one is in a 1960 bug.

the empi alu dipstick adapter tube is sh@te, we made a new steel flange with a gas cable tube welded on.no leak.

Tue Sep 16, 2008 6:47 am

Nice!, where did you put the oil pressure sender? The paint is interesting too, I kinda like it.

And what's the deal with the table that's on? If you throw in the towel on what you're working on do you hook up the air, push a button and it ejects whatevers on it out the window? 8)

Tue Sep 16, 2008 7:21 am

Driving in Europe is alittle different that in the USA. I go every year to Europe and drive around with family. Distances are so much smaller and people don't drive 8hrs across country to go camping at 70mph (gas is nearly $8 a gallon).
Here in the USA they do, I do so VW came up with the larger stronger type 4 motor and then installed it in a bus in 72. It was a big hit in 1972 and VW sold tons of buses because of the bigger stronger motor.

Sure, if you don't have the money and you have a type 1 motor sitting there, hack it in. :roll:

There are type 4 used motors out there for sale if you look for not much cash.

Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:53 pm

busdaddy wrote: Nice!, where did you put the oil pressure sender? The paint is interesting too, I kinda like it.

And what's the deal with the table that's on? If you throw in the towel on what you're working on do you hook up the air, push a button and it ejects whatevers on it out the window? 8)

oil pressure sender is still on the oil cooler.
the table ram is mains electric (220v here) from a classy swiss bed. we have a large bed shop for neighbors . 8)
it has 2 very fine pushbuttons on a remote for up and down so it's useful for getting the angle just right to slide engines back in (or out) especially since the car lift is frequently adjusted for other vehicles and the bug or bus is sloping slightly down at the front.

and yes, it will tip unrepairable stuff straight in the garbage. :wink:

Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:59 pm

MMmmmmm.... power tools.....I like it :P

Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:11 pm

I have a 3.5 hp honda lawnmower engine if you want to really want to go the hack route..it will give you enough room for plenty of engine cooling tin :P