TheSamba.com :: View topic - Change a 1993 Eurovan 5 cylinder for the VR6

Sat Jan 14, 2006 11:43 am

Is anyone know if we can put a VR6 to replace the original 5cylinders engine on a 1993 Eurovan Westfalia

Sat Jan 14, 2006 12:01 pm

I would assume it can be done since the VR6 was avalible in the eurovans from the factory..... You might even be able to find one at a wreckers with all the parts needed for a conversion... :twisted:

Sat Jan 08, 2022 2:29 pm

I thought that you couldn't fit a vr6 in a short wheelbase Eurovan!! And will it line up with the transmissions(5 spd or auto) I know this is a old post. Bill

Sat Jan 08, 2022 3:48 pm

volkybus wrote: I thought that you couldn't fit a vr6 in a short wheelbase Eurovan!! And will it line up with the transmissions(5 spd or auto) I know this is a old post. Bill

Yes that is true, he would need to do the long nose conversion.

To not deal with the timing chain issues, you would need a 24V VR6? The 5Cyl is the most reliable and best MPG. If you want more power then I guess that is a different story.

Sat Jan 08, 2022 3:53 pm

I would convert from a gas fiver to a TDI fiver, which would give more power and fuel mileage. A VR6 is a great engine in these vans, but it would be way way more work and expense to swap in, as opposed to the TDI swap.

Sun Jan 09, 2022 9:47 am

Zeitgeist 13 wrote: I would convert from a gas fiver to a TDI fiver, which would give more power and fuel mileage. A VR6 is a great engine in these vans, but it would be way way more work and expense to swap in, as opposed to the TDI swap.

I do love my 5Cyl due to the simplicity and having the best reliably. Mine has the ACU and it had 235-240 PSI on all 5 cyl so it makes more power then the AAF which run in the less compression and no knock control which the ACU takes advantage of and ads timing when using 91 octane.

I was looking into the cost of a swap and its very big and it would take me 200,000 or more miles to recoup. Plus the noise of a diesel in a leisure van. Dealing with the injection pump and other things like glow plugs. Dealing with the smells. I don't know but for me it is not worth it but if my motor was bad and I get get a doner van so I have all the parts, maybe. What a nightmare to not have all the parts and getting everything to work like it should.

Mon Jan 10, 2022 11:10 am

eurovanpilot wrote: Zeitgeist 13 wrote: I would convert from a gas fiver to a TDI fiver, which would give more power and fuel mileage. A VR6 is a great engine in these vans, but it would be way way more work and expense to swap in, as opposed to the TDI swap.

I do love my 5Cyl due to the simplicity and having the best reliably. Mine has the ACU and it had 235-240 PSI on all 5 cyl so it makes more power then the AAF even which run in the less compression and no knock control which the ACU takes advantage of and ads timing when using 91 octane.

I was looking into the cost of a swap and its very big and it would take me 200,000 or more miles to recoup. Plus the noise of a diesel in a leisure van. Dealing with the injection pump and other things like glow plugs. Dealing with the smells. I don't know but for me it is not worth it but if my motor was bad and I get get a downer van so I have all the parts, maybe. What a nightmare to not have all the parts and getting everything to work like it should.

Counter points to diesel. I accept the noise, which is more so at idle, and not louder than wind noise when up to speed, when i'm getting the benefit of the 30mpg average.

Glow plugs are generally only used below freezing temperatures. So if you lived in warmer areas, they could be broken and you'd never notice.

I haven't had any trouble with my injection pump, so no comment there, but it is replaceable as a unit and is easily accessible.

I don't see the difference of diesel vs gas exhaust if you've got a cat or particulate filter. Although I can tolerate the diesel without and choke on a gas without.

Thu Jan 13, 2022 12:01 pm

Joshwa wrote: eurovanpilot wrote: Zeitgeist 13 wrote: I would convert from a gas fiver to a TDI fiver, which would give more power and fuel mileage. A VR6 is a great engine in these vans, but it would be way way more work and expense to swap in, as opposed to the TDI swap.

I do love my 5Cyl due to the simplicity and having the best reliably. Mine has the ACU and it had 235-240 PSI on all 5 cyl so it makes more power then the AAF even which run in the less compression and no knock control which the ACU takes advantage of and ads timing when using 91 octane.

I was looking into the cost of a swap and its very big and it would take me 200,000 or more miles to recoup. Plus the noise of a diesel in a leisure van. Dealing with the injection pump and other things like glow plugs. Dealing with the smells. I don't know but for me it is not worth it but if my motor was bad and I get get a downer van so I have all the parts, maybe. What a nightmare to not have all the parts and getting everything to work like it should.

Counter points to diesel. I accept the noise, which is more so at idle, and not louder than wind noise when up to speed, when i'm getting the benefit of the 30mpg average.

Glow plugs are generally only used below freezing temperatures. So if you lived in warmer areas, they could be broken and you'd never notice.

I haven't had any trouble with my injection pump, so no comment there, but it is replaceable as a unit and is easily accessible.

I don't see the difference of diesel vs gas exhaust if you've got a cat or particulate filter. Although I can tolerate the diesel without and choke on a gas without.

I see you have the 4cyl TDI engines. The one I was interested in was the 5cyl TDI that came in the T4. Those seem to be more maintenance from what the UK guys say. I found an importer who has them in stock but they are pricy.

The 1.9TDI you have you can buy from US cars right? They don't bolt I think? How hard and I would need to do manual as well but love the auto.

Thu Jan 13, 2022 3:46 pm

eurovanpilot wrote:

The 1.9TDI you have you can buy from US cars right? They don't bolt I think? How hard and I would need to do manual as well but love the auto.

The 1.9TDI I have is from a US car. They bolt in to a 02b manual, but none of the auto boxes. I converted mine in my carport, with ramps/jacks/engine hoist. I have build links in my signature that may give you an idea of the difficulty. Its a mostly bolt on affair, with the right parts.

Fri Jan 14, 2022 12:06 pm

Joshwa wrote: eurovanpilot wrote:

The 1.9TDI you have you can buy from US cars right? They don't bolt I think? How hard and I would need to do manual as well but love the auto.

The 1.9TDI I have is from a US car. They bolt in to a 02b manual, but none of the auto boxes. I converted mine in my carport, with ramps/jacks/engine hoist. I have build links in my signature that may give you an idea of the difficulty. Its a mostly bolt on affair, with the right parts.

Nice work and write up! It's a lot of things involved wow! Did you get the passat cluster to work completely and the cruise control?

Fri Jan 14, 2022 12:32 pm

eurovanpilot wrote: Joshwa wrote: eurovanpilot wrote:

The 1.9TDI you have you can buy from US cars right? They don't bolt I think? How hard and I would need to do manual as well but love the auto.

The 1.9TDI I have is from a US car. They bolt in to a 02b manual, but none of the auto boxes. I converted mine in my carport, with ramps/jacks/engine hoist. I have build links in my signature that may give you an idea of the difficulty. Its a mostly bolt on affair, with the right parts.

Nice work and write up! It's a lot of things involved wow! Did you get the passat cluster to work completely and the cruise control?

Yes. The cluster works as it should and cruise control as well. That's one thing, I think turned out well. Having everything function as if the van were built that way. It is all plug and play, with no special non vw devices to make anything work. I did however send the cluster to someone, to have it adjusted to read mph based on the Eurovan tire size, rather than the passat tire size.