TheSamba.com :: View topic - do t4 engines and water boxers swap freely?

Sun Sep 28, 2008 7:10 pm

I'm just curious and kicking around options here, so please no purist flat four preaching. If the waterboxer and t4 have the same transmission bolt up characteristics then then my older bus should be able to use the adaptors available to the vanagon folks? I'm not fully against the t4 engines but after getting the most power out of my 1700 I'm not sure I want to stick with it. If you know of any adapter kits or transmissions I need to look into please gimme an idea. I'm really interested in going with an efi 96 and later 2.0 aba. This would all be going into a 1973 bus. The mount, exhaust and misc other issues don't scare me but I'm really concerned with what I could bolt to this trans, or what trans would be necessary to swap in to do this.

Sun Sep 28, 2008 7:28 pm

use the "search" for I4

Sun Sep 28, 2008 7:29 pm

Where you going to put the radiator?

Sun Sep 28, 2008 7:46 pm

He could do something like the Brazilian buses that use the 1.6L I4 motor. with the radiator in the front. some people who have done this mount a dummy spare tire cover on the front and put the radiator behind it.

Sun Sep 28, 2008 8:06 pm

foodeater wrote: He could do something like the Brazilian buses that use the 1.6L I4 motor. with the radiator in the front. some people who have done this mount a dummy spare tire cover on the front and put the radiator behind it.

Yea, I've seen them all over, in the front, in back, underneath, on top.
Some done well, others well....
I wondered where he intended on putting his.

Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:38 pm

I'd mount a radiator underneeth with a few air dams to to direct air through it. I'd also use an electric fan for good measure. I'm really interested in keeping this pretty stock looking, just quieter and with some more torque. I've also had quite a few mk3 vw's and am impressed with the reliability of the aba. I'm sure the fuel miliage and and emissions would be alot more evironmentally friendly too. I'm planning a big family trip next summer so I really need to get cracking.