Vanagon / Boxster engine

[rgalla9146]

Hi
I hope this has not been covered.
I think it's a twist on a old question.
I want to put a Boxster engine in my 89 Westy.
Will a Boxster engine work with a Vanagon trans ?
Is a 915 trans adaptable to a Boxster engine ? to a Vanagon ?
I understand that the engine is too tall for the stock engine cover.
I can work on that ( lower the stock manifold or fabricate a custom )
I know about the SVX but would rather keep it all in the family
And yes, I do know about IMS issues.
TIA
Rory

[fraggle00]

The Boxter is in a mid-engine location, so you would need to adapt either a vanagon or other transmission.

The Porsche support systems and electronics is extensive. Best to start with an entire car and strip what you need.
_________________
'91 Vanagon Carat
'87 Porsche 928S4 DOWN
'12 Fiat 500 Abarth

['88MoneyPit]

Not that i dont love a cool idea, but why this engine? I undderstand the "why not?" response, but if you want a german power plant, and have to raise the deck lid, why not use a 1.8t?

S

[insyncro]

There are much better and way more cost effective conversions.

Go for it
Love that Porsche sound.

[Zeitgeist 13]

I personally would never choose a flat engine for this application, but I suspect the bellhousing pattern on those would almost necessitate the use of a modern rear engine Porsche 911 transaxle $$$
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[Tristar Eric]

As much as I love Porsche, you have to ask yourself, what am I converting my Vanagon engine for?

1. to have bragging rights?
2. Driveablity?
3. Power?
4. reliability?
5. For the exercise and learning

There are better bang for the buck options available that are well supported.
_________________
Vanagon/Transporter flares here: www.terrawagen.com
[email protected]

[xoo00oox]

[D Clymer]

[svenakela]

[caravelle c]

You think of something like this?

http://www.bullizentrale.com/vwt3/index.php/porsche.html

[alijonny]

if you are going thru the hassle of dropping the Japanese designed Boxter engine into your Van, why not drop a little extra dough on a 997 engine?
_________________
1965 Beetle
1990 Syncro Westfalia
1983 Westfalia

[AustinVan]

love the idea.

The question you need to ask is why not a 1.8T with APR tune. You can easily get close to Boxster power figures going this route.

['88MoneyPit]

SAH 1.8t with performance exhaust and APR tune = approx 250-260 hp i've been told. If i can spin the tires on my westy, that's enough hp!

S

[fraggle00]

OP didn't ask why, just how.

I'd go with a 996 with a tiptronic if I could fab it in such a way I did not have to raise the rear deck. Boxters may be easier to come by, but the transmission turns the wrong way. If you're going to fab this stuff up, might as well go with the Porsche engine and transaxle as a unit. The rear suspension could come with it, given the need to fab most of the "kit" anyway. Then, you could also salvage the computers and control systems.
_________________
'91 Vanagon Carat
'87 Porsche 928S4 DOWN
'12 Fiat 500 Abarth

['88MoneyPit]

I wonder if subigears could cut a reverse ring gear? Toptronic in a bus would cool.

S

[Tristar Eric]

Porsche did a factory 3.2 Carrera powered Vanagon in 85 called the B32. Total production was 11 units. They used the 915 transaxle. The engine compartment is raised about 6 inches for the 3.2

_________________
Vanagon/Transporter flares here: www.terrawagen.com
[email protected]

[Merian]

[fraggle00]

The elusive B32!

In '85 that would have been air cooled. Updating the concept to a water cooled motor would be ideal. It should be shorter, eliminating the need to bump up the deck higher to clear the air cooling fan and ducting.

With a Carrera 996+tiptronic, no need to move ring gears or anything around, the configuration is already proper, rear engine and mid-mount transaxle. The tough part would be how to get everything to work with the excessive porsche electronic control systems, hence the desire for a front end wrecked base model Carrera as a starting point.
_________________
'91 Vanagon Carat
'87 Porsche 928S4 DOWN
'12 Fiat 500 Abarth

[D Clymer]

[240Gordy]