TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Aug 09, 2010 10:25 pm

So just got Ed. '85 VR6. Needs lots of clean up and paint, but runs/drives good. Looking for others who have this swap, opinions/stories?
 
thanks
 
 

 
 
[IMG]

Tue Aug 10, 2010 5:20 am

There was a thread from a fella doing such swap...I think its not liked as much as it doesn't fit under the lid without modding it like yours, but I guess if you don't use the bed ever who cares right?

I assume you are in the seattle area?

Tue Aug 10, 2010 8:52 am

I have done the same conversion to my 82 westy. I love it!
The biggest issue I had was that I had to have a race transmission built to stand up to the newly found torque. A super diff and weddle race gears correctly cured that issue. lol ;)

Tue Aug 10, 2010 10:25 am

purplepeopleeater wrote: There was a thread from a fella doing such swap...I think its not liked as much as it doesn't fit under the lid without modding it like yours, but I guess if you don't use the bed ever who cares right?

I assume you are in the seattle area?
It drives me nuts when people gripe over the raised deck lid. It kills me people are passing up very good engine choices cause they can't see doing it. I had to raise the deck lid a mere 1.5 inches. I sleep on the bottom bunk and my son sleeps up top. Me and my wife have had no probs sleeping on the bottom bunk. If you have access to a vr6 and the price is right, go for it. Don't let a minor issue like raiseing the deck lid steer you toward a choice that will leave you wanting more power....

Tue Aug 10, 2010 10:30 am

Nice Ride, Welcome to the samba.

Tue Aug 10, 2010 11:30 am

Quote: I had to raise the deck lid a mere 1.5 inches.

With a VR6? 2WD or 4WD? That's hardly much at all if it's 2WD.

Can you (or anyone) post a picture viewing the rear deck straight on from the back?
That should offer a better perspective of just how far the engine sticks past the rear deck.

Tue Aug 10, 2010 1:06 pm

Looks like whoever did the install took the time to brace and finish the cut out. A good sign in my books.

fastwagens did that swap

his pics

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?...t_dir=DESC

Enjoy your new ride!

Neil. (who also has a raised engine lid but nearly as much power ;)

Tue Aug 10, 2010 1:35 pm

I wasn't postin a gripe, keep yer knickers outta self defence mode.
I'm up for anything in the back. :lol:

Tue Aug 10, 2010 5:07 pm

I wonder if all that stuff on top of the engine could be flipped over to the other side. Likely would require fabricating an intake manifold . . .

Tue Aug 10, 2010 5:49 pm

240Gordy wrote:
I wonder if all that stuff on top of the engine could be flipped over to the other side. Likely would require fabricating an intake manifold . . .

Wouldn't gain you any real extra clearance if you did that. The valve cover sticks up just as far, and the intake actually fits across it in a recess.

Tue Aug 10, 2010 5:54 pm

James 93SLC wrote: Quote: I had to raise the deck lid a mere 1.5 inches.

With a VR6? 2WD or 4WD? That's hardly much at all if it's 2WD.

Can you (or anyone) post a picture viewing the rear deck straight on from the back?
That should offer a better perspective of just how far the engine sticks past the rear deck.

dredward has a 1.8T in a Syncro I think.

Tue Aug 10, 2010 6:36 pm

That was built by "Bern" right here on the Samba. Pictures are gone, but the words are still there.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=231928&highlight=vr6

Tue Aug 10, 2010 10:20 pm

Yes, it was Bern. Origionally I found the van on craigslist. he did a good job with the swap, I have no complaints. Just time to do my thing, pretty it up and whatnot!

And if you're reading this Bern, I took your rack off today to start sanding the roof, and that thing's gotta way well over 100lbs!!! And sturdy as hell! without that rack the front end sits about an inch higher...

Tue Aug 10, 2010 10:29 pm

I've ridden in that van. It's a good running conversion. Glad to see that it's gone to an owner who will take the time to finish it up.

Bern did do a good job with the initial conversion. At the time he put the VR in there it was his only transportation, and it was pretty impressive how quickly he made a runner out of it.

David

Tue Aug 10, 2010 11:42 pm

Good to see another VR6 install.
Is it a 2.8 or 2.9?

Re-moving the inlet manifold.. it's a while since I did a set of chains on one so I can't remeber if there's anything under the extra lumps of rocker cover which stick up either side of the inlet manifold.. It's certainley an idea although you might find you lose power be shortening the inlet manifold... unless you were to stick a turbo or supercharger on it :D

MG

Wed Aug 11, 2010 6:54 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVP9tGiqKxA

Wed Aug 11, 2010 11:55 am

James 93SLC wrote: Quote: I had to raise the deck lid a mere 1.5 inches.

With a VR6? 2WD or 4WD? That's hardly much at all if it's 2WD.

Can you (or anyone) post a picture viewing the rear deck straight on from the back?
That should offer a better perspective of just how far the engine sticks past the rear deck.
I will ass sooin as i can. My choice was the 1.8t in a syncro....

Thu Sep 02, 2010 8:54 am

I want a dang vr6 in my syncro. Here is my problem. I dont want to mutilate the syncro since it is such a valuable model. On the other hand I want it to fit my needs and have the correct power. I noticed a few vr6 conversions notched the decklid area and others did not. Was the notching necessary? I wish I had a vr6 engine made out of foam so I could place it in there and see what I need to do to make this happen. My garage height is low so i can lift the van much, I dont plan on 4 wheeling at all, but there will be the occasional campsite off road. That video of the dude drifiting so excites me to do it. Right now its either vr6 or tdi. The tdi fits which is nice but wont touch a vr6 in power or sound and is a very pricey conversion. Fastwagens seems to be the cleanest install I have seen so far. If anyone has anymore pics please point me in the right direction. Vr6's are damn reliable as well. I had a corrado slc years ago and I want that motor back. Dime a dozen now.

Thu Sep 02, 2010 9:01 am

Also can you still have the 4wd?? Or do you have to use a standard 2wd trans. Would defeat the purpose of having a syncro.

Thu Sep 02, 2010 9:29 am

Love it!

Do you have pic of the deck.

That's a great motor