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Wed Oct 05, 2005 5:57 am

Has anyone fitted a VR6 engine in a bay and if so how?

Wed Oct 05, 2005 7:19 am

always thought above how nice that conversion would be. an r32 motor would be even sweeter.

Wed Oct 05, 2005 7:28 am

sbbfuk wrote: Has anyone fitted a VR6 engine in a bay and if so how?

Haven't seen one in a Bay, but I did see one in a Vanagon at a show in OH once.

Wed Oct 05, 2005 9:28 am

After working on a few VR6's I wouldn't even own a car that came with one from the factory, just my .02

Wed Oct 05, 2005 10:04 am

Surf the Corrado forums to find out what they are like. Fitting one isn't going to be easy because no one I know makes a kit to do it.

Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:50 am

I am a fan of the VR6(in a CAR), but the tourqe of the VR6 is not where the bus needs it. A VR6 From a euro Van has a different cam profile and different intake runners and may be a better match but like Ratwell mentioned I am yet to see a kit to install a VR6 into the bus.

KEP has many other kits to install other 6 cylinders into a VW

Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:22 pm

Thirstytank wrote: After working on a few VR6's I wouldn't even own a car that came with one from the factory, just my .02
I'd be curious to hear your experience with them, as my folks have a Euro-bago with the VR6, and my girlfriend has a Passat with it, and both of them have been great in my experience. Granted one has maybe 80k, and the other about 50k, but still, they seem like great engines...pretty spendy, though, to put one in a bus.

Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:37 pm

Well the first thing I ran across was an Altenator on a 01 Jetta, not that tough of a job but just a crappy design as far as removal/install goes. Second thing is head gaskets on the early VR6's, they just didn't last as long as they should (crappy OE parts I guess). Third thing is they are underpowered for a V6, I think. I know there's lots of folks out there that love them, but I would never own one, that's just me though.

Thu Oct 06, 2005 8:03 am

The KEP kit for the I4 works for the VR6 as it is the same pattern as the I4. You'll have to do the rest. I'm not a big fan of the VR6 either.

Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:27 am

The reason I asked is that my friend (who builds, restores racing cars & classic cars for a living) who's not a lover of the VW bus unless it's got 300BHP + as been asked by a customer of is to look at 4 split's he has coming from south africa and want's him to fit a VR6 into one of them (a small job for me friend compaired to some of his work) He's trying to talk me into having one fited to my bus, but would like to go the turbo route or 911 engine.
Mind you his lambo (V12) engine would sound better and as the HP, not sure he'll go for that.

If anyone is interested in a fitting kit just let me know, because he might be able to supply one.
Keep a look out at next years show for a VR6 powered split.

Tue Oct 11, 2005 8:07 am

Sounds like he needs an Astro with a 350.

Thu Oct 31, 2013 6:30 am

I know this is a totally dead thread, but I figured I would bring it back to life because it was asking about fitting a vr6 into a bay

I don't have much time, so I will just sum up.
I took a 78 bay that had suffered a premature end due to the infamous fuel line fire...

using an adapter kit from Kennedy Engineering

combined it with (at the time) a 5 rib pyramid 002 case, (ive got an 091 in there now)

fabbed up a clever engine carrier using two mk3 motor mount pedestals,

some custom stainless exhaust with borla muffler

Next up, I installed a mk3 radiator between the frame rails in the middle of the bus. it lays flat, so cooling was not the greatest, but I was able to solve overheating issues in a number of ways. Ill save that for another thread.

after about 8 cans of flat black paint, I took it to Wolfsgart

put it on the dyno,

got some conflicting numbers, so took it to Rennen for a second opinion.

146 hp, 145tq. Not great for a vr6, but it has since had timing chains and a tunup done, so it feels better now.

also,
I have since fitted some bigger wheels and a longer geared (091)transmission to it to get my RPMS down a bit. Highway speeds with the original setup was just too much. Now I can cruise at 90 no problem.

Thu Oct 31, 2013 7:09 am

Now that looks like fun! Im always impressed to see some one take the time to build what they want from an otherwise dead car.

I bet it goes like stink 8)

Thu Oct 31, 2013 7:16 am

In stock form, a 1st gen VR6 made like 170 hp 170tq. You're not far off with your numbers. Those engines made torque to the bitter end! Cool bus!

Thu Oct 31, 2013 9:39 am

Great mod, would like to see more of the work done, frame, tank, electric, etc. . Should have kept the red though. Now it looks like any other chevy van rat rod............

Thu Oct 31, 2013 9:52 am

1967250s wrote: Great mod, would like to see more of the work done, frame, tank, electric, etc. . Should have kept the red though. Now it looks like any other chevy van rat rod............

thanks :) I plan on putting up a proper build thread some day, just haven't got the time right now.

p.s. It goes pretty good. Handles better now too, now that I have the sway bars and Koni Adjustable shocks installed. the narrowed front beam doesn't do much for stability I'm afraid..

Thu Oct 31, 2013 11:04 am

I'd like to see some pictures of your rad set up. What fans you used? Blowing down or not?

I have a 1.8 inline in my bus and have the rad mounted under the bus as well. It works ok. Fans come on every thirty minutes of so of continued driving on the highway when speeds are above 65 mph.

PS I love the sound of a VR. How is that exhaust though? Is it too loud?

Craig

Thu Oct 31, 2013 11:23 am

JonnyPhenomenon wrote: Now I can cruise at 90 no problem.
:shock:

until there's a problem...

Thu Oct 31, 2013 4:05 pm

For those who 7 years ago commented they would not have a Vr-6...because they worked on....a few....I would inquire as to which generation of Vr-6.

These are AWESOME motors....and had several generations. The Corrado units are very different in spec from those used in other VW's. the Corrado was ages ago.

It came in versions ranging from 2.8 liters, 2.9, 3.2, 3.6 and even a V-5 version in the Bora. With valves ranging from 12 to 24....and has won numerous industry innovation awards.
Thy were used in production vehicles up through 2008

Ray

Thu Oct 31, 2013 5:51 pm

A VR6 is about the only VW motor I haven't built and I always avoided them due to all the cooling issues. In a mk3 and mk4 those motors had extra coolers and still had overly high oil temps during city driving. They are also longer making them a pain when mounted in golfs and jettas. Maybe the length is not an issue in a bus but the additional cooling will be. I have always been a 1.8t guy myself and never saw the draw of 6 cylinders when you can just add boost and make better numbers with better fuel economy.