TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Dec 14, 2022 5:37 pm

If you moved the transmission back 1 7/8” and did not use the shorter wbx axles, the CVs could be binding causing the problem. In my experience, you can’t compare the smoothness of a vw pancake engine to an in-line diesel. But you can’t beat the torque and hp.

I bricked my stock ECU swapping in a spare ECU to adapt. When I plugged the stock ECU back in. The engine would not start. No idea why this happened, I always disconnect the battery and still it bricked. TuneZilla was able to fix it with a new chip. Morale “Stuff Happens”

Wed Dec 14, 2022 6:47 pm

So this vibration I’m feeling is at certain Rpm. It’s smooth as silk cruising at 65mph. Matt Steedle walked me through this process. Shorter axles. Never heard that or saw any mention that moving transaxle back would cause a problem. Axles move back & forth without any resistance except the grease. No clicking or whirring noise.

Wed Dec 14, 2022 8:13 pm

anybody that has ever run a business knows that 10% of all humans are totally crazy and have very strange ideas about how reality works,and that its all your fault.

Thu Dec 15, 2022 5:53 am

Same vibration in each gear? Is it rpm specific or mph specific? As far as the axles, draw a picture of what you did and you effectively shortened the distance from trans flange to wheel flange. Something had to absorb that. I’d wager vw had shorter axles for that reason. The syncro has spacers on the front inner cvs. You’d think in production they could have made the axle longer. Using a spacer probably made it easier to remove the front axles.

The engine doesn’t care what chassis it’s in. If it’s smooth in the dyno stand, it should be the same installed. It sounds like something is not playing well together. I recently upgraded to a TDI dual Mass Flywheel. It smoothed out the entire range from what it was. So axles and clutch assembly would be good places to start.

Thu Dec 15, 2022 7:57 am

Hey Mark, this harmonic drone was more specific when I had stock gears in transaxle. Right at 45-50mph then vanished above 50. Got taller 3rd & 4th and has widened the range slightly. If I go through the gears with taking 3rd close to fifty or above, there is a little vibration or harmonic buzz.
Neither Blachon or Steedle said that dropping transaxle back would cause a problem. With contact with other conversions I was told the vibration was that injectors were not coded to the ECU causing a “misfire” at certain RPM range. So again I can move the axles from side to side. Seems like ample play. I jacked up the rear & ran in gear with no wobble or clicking/whirring sounds.
It’s smooth above 50mph. Then there’s the clutch causing hard shifting into second gear. Steedle said the clutch not fully disengaging. The shaft is a shortened part with grinding it slightly when Steedle put taller gears in.

Thu Dec 15, 2022 8:03 am

There is a recent thread regarding another TDI conversion. Currently the only bellhousing that accommodates the DMF is the original diesel bellhousing. In the thread there is a link to a company in the UK that is making an adapter to accommodate the TDI engine mated to a diesel bellhousing but clocking engine upright. There is room to run the DMF setup. I personally would not run anything else with a TDI based on personal experiences.

Thu Dec 15, 2022 10:29 am

italianman53 wrote: this harmonic drone was more specific when I had stock gears in transaxle. Right at 45-50mph then vanished above 50.

This talk of moving the transmission 1 7/8" doesn't sound Syncroesque.
But with a 4.86 R&P, 45-50mph is the resonant frequency of the Syncro driveshaft.

Thu Dec 15, 2022 11:02 am

Oops, thought we were discussing a converted 2 wd air cooled vanagon most recently. Still think getting in a DMF would be helpful. I have a vague memory of a thread with a similar conversion that was having transmission problems on a pro rebuild. I believe the 2nd gear was the issue. Will see if I can find it.

Edit: found it. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

Thu Dec 15, 2022 7:49 pm

82 Westfalia is my patient. 14K miles.
Transaxle is solid—Steedle build.
Gear shifting problem has just come on since mid November.
Harmonic vibration or drone has happened from the start. It’s very specific. Right at 50mph. If I run through the gears keeping RPM up in 3rd just beyond 50 harmonic buzz is nil. Not there.

Fri Dec 16, 2022 5:36 am

50 mph in 3rd and 4th? Can you feel it if you rev the engine sitting in neutral Did you read the thread I linked to?

Wed Mar 08, 2023 3:40 pm

italianman53 wrote: 82 Westfalia is my patient. 14K miles.
Transaxle is solid—Steedle build.
Gear shifting problem has just come on since mid November.
Harmonic vibration or drone has happened from the start. It’s very specific. Right at 50mph. If I run through the gears keeping RPM up in 3rd just beyond 50 harmonic buzz is nil. Not there.

We just worked on a 82 Diesel vanagon with Boxeer conversion with late 094 transaxle that had shifting and vibration issues. Here is what we have found: If you are converting a early vanagon with a 094 transmission you need to check the measurements from the transmission output flange to the hubs to see if the transmission is centred. This van had the transmission mounted to the "factory" diesel transmission mounting position on the frame which is closer to the drivers side. This was causing the cv shaft to be tight and binding on the driver's side and wore out/broke all the shifter bushings as well the cv pushed through the transmission output seal. The transmission should be mounted using the passenger side mounting position.

Wed Mar 08, 2023 4:07 pm

TheBigE wrote: italianman53 wrote: 82 Westfalia is my patient. 14K miles.
Transaxle is solid—Steedle build.
Gear shifting problem has just come on since mid November.
Harmonic vibration or drone has happened from the start. It’s very specific. Right at 50mph. If I run through the gears keeping RPM up in 3rd just beyond 50 harmonic buzz is nil. Not there.

We just worked on a 82 Diesel vanagon with Boxeer conversion with late 094 transaxle that had shifting and vibration issues. Here is what we have found: If you are converting a early vanagon with a 094 transmission you need to check the measurements from the transmission output flange to the hubs to see if the transmission is centred. This van had the transmission mounted to the "factory" diesel transmission mounting position on the frame which is closer to the drivers side. This was causing the cv shaft to be tight and binding on the driver's side and wore out/broke all the shifter bushings as well the cv pushed through the transmission output seal. The transmission should be mounted using the passenger side mounting position.

It's not a diesel transmission mount position specifically, it's an automatic transmission position vs manual position.
So the holes towards the right side of the van is manual transmission, it doesn't matter if it's a 091 (4 speed ), a 091/1 (4 speed after 08/82 production date) or a 094 5 soeed 2WD transmission.
The holes towards the left side of the van is for the automatic transmission.
What matters is the axle length. They're different between 091 and 091/1 / 094.
So if it got converted, they prolly kept the 091 axles while putting the 091/1 or 094 transmission, which puts the position of the differential more rearwards. Axles would then be too short to be correct even with the
stock transmission mount in its correct location.
I posted all part numbers and axle lengthes on the forum, now in the FAQ's.

Fri Aug 02, 2024 8:48 am

I found this review on YouTube. It's an eye opener. The lack of follow-on care is a deal killer for me.

Fri Aug 02, 2024 9:33 am

Nice to see another honest review

Interesting channel...might have one of the worst subscriber-to-view ratio's I've seen. Wonder how that happens?

He also spelled Vanagon wrong twice...maybe on purpose? 🤷

Fri Aug 02, 2024 10:12 am

oh, gee

so someone does a video and that is more credible than people that post here?

got it

I'll say it

The dude is a hack, tests nothing, steels other peoples ideas (and copies them very poorly) and somehow he gets a pass for the 2 people that sing his praises and cover his shortcomings....

love how the society we live in today makes excuses and lacks accountability

the dude is the GEX of engine swaps.

There, I said it....

it just amazes me how people spend money with guys like this, get burnt and keep their mouth shut. I couldn't sleep with myself if I pulled that shit

Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:06 am

skills@eurocarsplus wrote: oh, gee

so someone does a video and that is more credible than people that post here?

got it

I'll say it

The dude is a hack, tests nothing, steels other peoples ideas (and copies them very poorly) and somehow he gets a pass for the 2 people that sing his praises and cover his shortcomings....

love how the society we live in today makes excuses and lacks accountability

the dude is the GEX of engine swaps.

There, I said it....

it just amazes me how people spend money with guys like this, get burnt and keep their mouth shut. I couldn't sleep with myself if I pulled that shit

The dude is a hack On second reading I think you are referring to Boxeer and first reading I thought you were referring to YouTuber reviewer dude. Please confirm (or edit original post to clarify and I'll delete this post)

Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:08 am

skills@eurocarsplus wrote: oh, gee

so someone does a video and that is more credible than people that post here?

got it

Skills coming in hot...I added the word "another" to my post as maybe that was the problem? No one said other reviews weren't.

Anyways, I thought this was just a thread to aggregate feedback - his review was negative as well and it all seems to point to Boxeer not being interested in customer support or correcting mistakes.

We are in agreement :-s

Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:37 am

vanis13 wrote:
I think you are referring to Boxeer

correct.

other shops have lamented this to me as well and they are not willing to call it out in public because it looks bad. they have a lot to lose

I don't. so I'll call it what it is.

I mean this is a shop that is trying to take a KNOWN garbage engine (the 1.4l) and sell it as a swap. any VAG shop will tell you these are trash in the cars they came in, now let's really over-tax the thing in a van...

my take is the guy will sell anything...even if it's wrong....

Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:53 am

skills@eurocarsplus wrote:
it just amazes me how people spend money with guys like this, get burnt and keep their mouth shut.

Still don't know why you're mad about the video...dude did what you wanted and and opened his mouth on a much bigger platform - not what you wanted?

Fri Aug 02, 2024 12:22 pm

RoryGirl wrote:
Still don't know why you're mad about the video...

I'm not mad about the video...I was pointing out that all the nut swingers come out in force when someone says something bad about the place but now that some random dude makes a vid, it's more 'credible' than users here saying something.

and no, it's not what I wanted...I never want the hobby/industry to be full of crap like this and in fact I get pissed when good people get ripped off/taken advantage of and/or lied to

you can ask anyone I have done any major work for that I always try to talk them out of it, how big of a financial mess the project will be and no joke spend 2 hours+ of MY time explaining the pitfalls, how the project will go etc to make sure everyone is on the same page

in short, I under promise and over deliver....that's the way it should be.