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vanagonjr
Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2010
Posts: 3431
Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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 Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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| D Clymer wrote: |
| The LS2 is a wonderful motor. I would imagine that in a Vanagon, which weighs about 1500 lbs less than a Tahoe, it will be pretty efficient - and very powerful. Dave |
EPA milage on the Tahoe is 19-20, I would not be surprised if this rig gets better gas milage than the WBX'er! I know someone who had a Suburban or about 2007, and on pure trip-higway milage- it was low 20's.
Man, my dream about a Vanagon with enough power to tow a dune buggy w/o drama might become a reality - 
I would think that a V6 is enough - but maybe you need to V8 to mate to that transaxle. Such fun and inspiration to watch - thanks for posting all this, I (and others) certainly appreciate it.
Go man go!
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Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
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FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798 |
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badassdubs
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2008
Posts: 209
Location: WA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Dave. I went with the transdapt 5/16" BOP adapter.(BuickOldsPontiac). Less than $100. The flywheel will have to be changed, but Chevrolet already has that covered. Gear ratio in the '83-'85 caddy is 3:15. Earlier than that and you get a 2:19 or 2:41. UGH!!!
Should make for a nice quiet cruiser with all the power one should ever need. Back in the day my dad had a '67 Dodge Monaco with a 383 and 2:73 gears. Man what a cruiser and it got up and went if you wanted it too. And that was a big ol boat.
The nice thing about the LS series motors is that the aftermarket is huge and you can get almost anything you need. And they are said to go 300,000 miles easily. |
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badassdubs
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2008
Posts: 209
Location: WA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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| vanagonjr wrote: |
| D Clymer wrote: |
| The LS2 is a wonderful motor. I would imagine that in a Vanagon, which weighs about 1500 lbs less than a Tahoe, it will be pretty efficient - and very powerful. Dave |
EPA milage on the Tahoe is 19-20, I would not be surprised if this rig gets better gas milage than the WBX'er! I know someone who had a Suburban or about 2007, and on pure trip-higway milage- it was low 20's.
Man, my dream about a Vanagon with enough power to tow a dune buggy w/o drama might become a reality -
I would think that a V6 is enough - but maybe you need to V8 to mate to that transaxle. Such fun and inspiration to watch - thanks for posting all this, I (and others) certainly appreciate it.
Go man go! |
Well you are welcome. The V6 would work but not fit under the floor. It all started when I realized that no matter what I did the engine was still going to scream, and that's an understatement, while cruising down the freeway. How annoying. After doing research and realizing that no matter what I did to the vanagon trans, it wasn't going to last and who wants to put $3K+ in a weak trans. Not me. VW should have put a flat six with a Porsche trans in there to begin with. More pics tomorrow.  |
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Christopher Schimke
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2005
Posts: 5390
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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I'm really happy to see you doing this conversion. It is one that I have long thought would be great in a Vanagon. I discussed doing this with a buddy a while ago, but of course it never went anywhere due to lack of time and finances. I'm really excited to see your entire conversion and just may take the plunge and follow suit.
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"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)
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Wasserboxer1
Samba Member
Joined: April 20, 2014
Posts: 19
Location: Costa Rica
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Hey, congratulations From Costa Rica, im also follow your nice work.. |
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badassdubs
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2008
Posts: 209
Location: WA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Christopher Schimke wrote: |
| I'm really happy to see you doing this conversion. It is one that I have long thought would be great in a Vanagon. I discussed doing this with a buddy a while ago, but of course it never went anywhere due to lack of time and finances. I'm really excited to see your entire conversion and just may take the plunge and follow suit. |
Always happy to inspire.
| Wasserboxer1 wrote: |
| Hey, congratulations From Costa Rica, im also follow your nice work.. |
Thank you. |
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insyncro
Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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| Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:57 am Post subject: |
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Cutting edge stuff Man 
Bad Ass for sure  |
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badassdubs
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2008
Posts: 209
Location: WA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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| insyncro wrote: |
Cutting edge stuff Man
Bad Ass for sure |
Thanks.
Got the intake. Best part is that you can rotate it 180*. No mods necessary.
Now the throttle body will be much easier to access, plus it gives me that much more room up front where the body panel angles backwards for the seat backrest.
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badassdubs
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2008
Posts: 209
Location: WA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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Back on track now. The diff is on after about four hours of grinding and fitting. It is a tight fit, but it fits. Will have to run a remote oil filter or pull the trans to get the filter off. I'll go with option one. So I just put this in yesterday. There will be a lot of time spent on fabrication. Will have to build my own exhaust. No other way around it. Ordered a lot of parts today so progress should be steady. Hoping by the end of June. Sits very steady and balanced on a motorcycle floor jack.
Just a little trimming and it's in.
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D Clymer
Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2005
Posts: 2978
Location: Issaquah, WA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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It fits very nicely. Nice work! I like the way the engine makes good use of the wasted space forward of the normal engine bay. Did you have to modify the oil pan to allow the transmission half-shaft to pass under it?
Looking forward to seeing this run!
Dave |
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badassdubs
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2008
Posts: 209
Location: WA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks. Probably going to run it through the pan or cut a half moon into the pan. Still looking at options. Everyday I find more and more LSx items made specifically for engine swaps. I had no idea the aftermarket is as big as it is. Yes lots of wasted space up there. Even more in the back now.
"Looking forward to seeing this run! "
I'll do one better and take you for a ride. 
Last edited by badassdubs on Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:44 am; edited 1 time in total |
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xoo00oox
Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2010
Posts: 2672
Location: East Nassau, NY
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 2:51 am Post subject: |
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Really cool!.
what is under that black stamped metal cover on the transmission, a chain?
How is the ground clearance looking? |
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badassdubs
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2008
Posts: 209
Location: WA
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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| xoo00oox wrote: |
Really cool!.
what is under that black stamped metal cover on the transmission, a chain?
How is the ground clearance looking? |
It's not metal. Some sort of composite. A chain and fourth gear
is in there.
Too soon to tell. |
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badassdubs
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2008
Posts: 209
Location: WA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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Well I have a lot of parts now. Still need a few more. Finished the headers today, still need some reducers and flanges.
Bags came today and I should have them in tomorrow. Then I can get my final placement of the motor finished.
More soon. |
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denwood
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2012
Posts: 1047
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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Having done my own exhaust using mandrel bent bits as you did...I really appreciate the work you did. Very nice! Did you do the numbers on this design with regard to resonance tuning..or just working for efficient fitment?
CNC flange or can you source flanges aftermarket?
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Dennis Wood
The Grape |
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badassdubs
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2008
Posts: 209
Location: WA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks. Built for fitment only. Bought a small block chevy header kit and had at it. Aftermarket flange. And a big bonus, they came prebent. Oh wait. They're supposed to be flat. You would think that before they sent them out they would make sure they were straight and true.  And they came with bolts and gaskets too. But only 10 bolts....and it takes 12. Must be that new math. |
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denwood
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2012
Posts: 1047
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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Q-ship. We'll need a clip with decent audio when you get rolling 
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Dennis Wood
The Grape |
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morymob
Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2007
Posts: 4683
Location: east-tn
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| Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 5:00 am Post subject: |
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| Maybe coffee not kicked in but don't u have to reverse direction somewhere so u won't have only 1 fwd & many reverses?? |
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badassdubs
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2008
Posts: 209
Location: WA
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| Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 6:45 am Post subject: |
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| If the engine was facing backwards that would be the case. To correct that, the diff would have to be flipped. But since it is facing the same way it was when in a Cadillac, it turns in the correct direction. |
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TequilaSunSet
Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2012
Posts: 2109
Location: Philippines
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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Love love this build... and a kit possibly coming? Nice...
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1972 Panel Bus- Gone
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1964 Euro Sunroof Bug- Gone
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1975 Brazilian Bug in the Philippines 🇵🇭- New to me |
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