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Wed Feb 10, 2010 6:08 pm

I think what you may not fully grasp is that neither engine you mentioned really fits in the Vanagon. You have to buy (or fabricate--if you have some major skills) the necessary parts to adapt the new engine to the Vanagon. Because these parts are fairly expensive, often buying the engine is the least expensive part of a conversion. As many have said, swapping a water cooled engine for a air cooled one makes the process even more complicated and expensive. Some people might even recommend trading your air cooled van for a 84'+ one to do the conversion on.

P.S. I grew up in Boone, NC. Is your girlfriend a local?

Wed Feb 10, 2010 6:56 pm

what do you think about the cali engine option i put forth? (trading mine isnt an option, sentimental reasons) how do i convince the guy to ship it for me? i guess more money but whats reasonable?

i was born in vermillion SD, raised 99 percent trinity, nc, she's born and raised trinity nc, she goes to app state and i (much to my demise) joined the navy so for the moment we're separated until our paths meet again lol.

Wed Feb 10, 2010 7:04 pm

or how far back as far as engine years can i go with the air cooled, i've only really looked for 82-83 but can i do as far back as like 79-80 or earlier?

Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:09 pm

1980 to 1983.5

unless you are prepared to sink big bucks and a lot of time ( and tie up the base hobby shop for a long time) just find a local used aircooled engine to swap in. It can be done in a day.

The air cooled engine is way simpler than the water cooled.

Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:23 pm

thanks man! it does make sense to find a local(ish) aircooled thats at least decent and then just save more to upgrade to the next step. i appreciate than man.

i think it took us 4 hours to pull it with a bently manual. (to make drop in time quicker that day and use old engine as barter or pre pulled for affordable reliable rebuild)

i can imagine dropping it not to be a difficult part either.

now to find one of those...

who wants to let me driveway surf! haha

Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:24 pm

The Full Moon Bus Club http://fullmoonbusclub.com/news.php was founded in Charleston. You should post on their site to see is someone local might have a spare engine. I can understand why someone wouldn't want deal with crating and shipping an engine across the country.

I just looked on the FMBC classifieds and there is a guy in Easly, SC with an air cooled engine he is rebuilding to sell: "Aircooled vanagon 2.0L Engine" "I am in the process of re-building it, does anyone need it? "

Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:38 pm

You can use a 76-79 long block, same engine as yours, you can even use a 1800cc (74-75), not much difference in power, i even think it's about the same. But you need to install the vanagon aircool cooling system.

I do conversion, a lot. Forget such a conversion on an aircool. I did once, never again even for 15K$. I have over 120 pictures and they are never going online.

To do such a conversion you need time (a lot) and money (a lot also), on top to do it right you need a donor van and a well equip shop.

Good luck in your search.

Ben

Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:41 pm

I read through this Thread hurriedly. So, I missed exactly what the issue is with your engine.... what happened to it?

I have a set of 2.0 rebuilt heads that I'll sell cheap.... if that's the problem. I had the heads rebuilt in 2001, put them on and took them off in less than 1000 miles (probably less than 500 miles). I was heading back to Alaska for the 6th trip in the ole Vanagon. So, I just decided to purchase "new" heads ... cost me over $600.00. The rebuilt ones have all new guides, new exhaust valves and one exhaust seat repaired ... they've been in the boxes since 2001.

Also, I've got some "old" info on an available 2.0 engine. I could call the dude and see if he still has the engine ...... I'm thinking the price was $500.00 or less.

Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:44 pm

Although it *can* be done...I think the zetec or subaru choices are not for you. Obviously.
I could see doing the air to water conversion if you have plenty of money and just have to keep your perfect aircooled van on the road.
With that said i would avoid going the "used motor" route.
I think saving a few bucks by doing this will be more short term than you might imagine.
Save your pennies and get yours rebuilt.
If your interested in a budget rebuilt for an aircooled you can PM me for details. I dont do them but I know somebody who does.

Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:08 pm

ftp2leta wrote: You can use a 76-79 long block, same engine as yours, you can even use a 1800cc (74-75), not much difference in power, i even think it's about the same. But you need to install the vanagon aircool cooling system.

Going from memory from a few years back, but the exhaust ports are different and so the vanagon exhaust won't mount to the bus heads. The sheet metal for the vanagon is different and won't match to the bus exhaust. The short blocks and pistons/cylinders are pretty much the same aside from the crank vent and oil pressure control valve system. Isn't the dipstick location different as well, over the top of the shroud on the vanagon and into a different hole in the block that isn't present on the bus engine? All said and done, I'd look for an air-cooled vanagon engine.

Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:33 pm

cactuschris wrote: i appreciate the input deprivation. I'm obviously new and not up to your expertise, something a lil less descriminating would have been nice though. It would be horrible for me to loose another productive and rewarding hobbie only for me to loose interest because of anther unwelcoming community, especially while already having a hard time with things. I hope i dont continue to run into shady or unwilling mechanics and post like your last.

For the hopefully more welcoming members of this community, I have found a supposedly strong good engine (b/c it was replaced with a bostig, supposedly nothings wrong with it, just wanted a bostig instead) for a price definately within my budget since i can drop her in myself on base (the command has a hobby shop with every tool under the sun i can use anytime) for 750 bucks. problem is he doesnt wanna ship it, and prefers a local pick up. any chance you guys know somthing to help seeming im all the way across the country?

I am predicting a failed attempt at a conversion costing thousands whilst butchering a perfectly good not running aircooled westy!
It sounds to me like you want all the answers without any effort.

Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:42 pm

Andrew A. Libby wrote: Going from memory from a few years back, but the exhaust ports are different and so the vanagon exhaust won't mount to the bus heads. The sheet metal for the vanagon is different and won't match to the bus exhaust. The short blocks and pistons/cylinders are pretty much the same aside from the crank vent and oil pressure control valve system. Isn't the dipstick location different as well, over the top of the shroud on the vanagon and into a different hole in the block that isn't present on the bus engine? All said and done, I'd look for an air-cooled vanagon engine.

Your so right Andrew... where was I??? posting such a post.

Well, i have built aircool Frankenstein engine is the past and i guess i'm all lost here. Oval port VS square port. So sorry guys. Wait here!!! you can easily put oval post exhaust on Vanagon!!! I agree on the metal sheet / tin and deep stick location but when you have the donor engine it's possible.

This is a Vanagon engine in a 72 bus... so I did it, somehow:

I just don't remember all the little thing... men i'm getting older... grrrrrrr.

Ben

Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:59 pm

I didn't mean to imply it wasn't possible, just not totally straight forward, and possibly more work than the original poster might want to be in for.

p.s. Was it hard to drive the bus up on those ramps like that?

Wed Feb 10, 2010 10:21 pm

Andrew A. Libby wrote: I didn't mean to imply it wasn't possible, just not totally straight forward, and possibly more work than the original poster might want to be in for.

p.s. Was it hard to drive the bus up on those ramps like that?

Let's say that is my safety measure! Now you have to guess how i did that :-)

Ben

Wed Feb 10, 2010 10:44 pm

I imagine a jack was involved.

Wed Feb 10, 2010 10:53 pm

Andrew A. Libby wrote: I imagine a jack was involved.

I was thinking something along the lines of a perfectly executed "Rockford"!

Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:28 pm

Thanks to a link provided to me by a poster, i found a guy 4ish hours away with a rebuilt for 1100, he's a member of Full Moon Bus Club. sweet! i think ill go with this for now until i can afford a more extensive upgrade. I appreciate all of your input you guys!

One more question though, i understand ill have to provide my own exhaust, use my old distributer and vacuum hoses and such, but what other things will i need that i should be aware of? (i have brains from my van that i can use on this new engine right?) what about things like fuel injectors and what not? i know where to find those kinds of parts, its just a matter of what parts..i'd like to have everything ready for when he's done building so i can drop it over a weekend ya know?

any help would be appreciated, and thanks again for the help provided so far! Looking forward to seeing you on the road...

Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:32 pm

jeremysmithatshawdotca wrote: Andrew A. Libby wrote: I imagine a jack was involved.

I was thinking something along the lines of a perfectly executed "Rockford"!

Chuck Norris lifts the van with one hand and pops the engine in with the other.

Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:36 pm

240Gordy wrote: jeremysmithatshawdotca wrote: Andrew A. Libby wrote: I imagine a jack was involved.

I was thinking something along the lines of a perfectly executed "Rockford"!

Chuck Norris lifts the van with one hand and pops the engine in with the other.

Not the Chuck Norris I know. Chuck would just tell the damn engine to get in the van........and it would.

Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:40 pm

New fuel lines which can be bought as a kit from some of the vendors wold be a must!