TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sat May 21, 2022 6:13 pm

Just curious if anyone has a guess what the ratio of stock powered t3s vs any flavor of engine converted out there these days.
In the Seattle area I can think of 5 shops that do conversions and I think there's always one in the works and at least one client waiting.
Are there more converted than stock yet in the US ?

Sat May 21, 2022 6:35 pm

Why not add a poll to this thread and find out?

Sat May 21, 2022 7:00 pm

Crankey wrote: ...Are there more converted than stock yet in the US ?

I suspect that only a very small percentage of T3s have been converted.

It may seem like there are a great many because of the participants of this forum - which themselves are a small percentage of T3 owners.

A poll will likely distort the numbers for the same reason.

I meet many owners in my travels and rarely encounter anyone who has heard of the Samba.

Sat May 21, 2022 8:00 pm

Taking a sample from Bring A Trailer auctions the majority still have their OEM waterboxer drivetrains. Some air cooled, some OEM diesel. There are a spattering of Subaru/Bostig conversions, and occasional TDI, and very few 1.8T's.

Sat May 21, 2022 8:12 pm

Out of 9 I swapped 3. I4 2.0 ABA(80 air box) 2.0 ABA(86 standard)and 3.3 SVX(91 modified trans).
There were/are my personal rides.

Sat May 21, 2022 8:46 pm

Ahwahnee wrote: Crankey wrote: ...Are there more converted than stock yet in the US ?

I suspect that only a very small percentage of T3s have been converted.

It may seem like there are a great many because of the participants of this forum - which themselves are a small percentage of T3 owners.

A poll will likely distort the numbers for the same reason.

I meet many owners in my travels and rarely encounter anyone who has heard of the Samba.

Yes I can see how it seems many more have been converted to me because I'm here reading, and a friend worked at a shop that did conversions where he did about 12 - 15 per year.

Sun May 22, 2022 9:35 am

Of the 6 at my place, 1 was purchased with a swap in place. I put a swap in another. So, its a 4 to 2 ratio of WBX to swaps right here. I have a couple stock WBX's that I plan to put back in the ones with stock setups in the future when that is needed.

Mon May 23, 2022 7:00 pm

Probably dependent on area. But go to a VW show and count the swaps - I find most are stock. I find out of few dozen Vanagons @ a CT show, about 6-8 are swapped . Couple 1.8T’s, 2-3 Subaru, 1-2 Bostig.
YMMV

Mon May 23, 2022 8:26 pm

Engine conversions require a fair amount of work and money to do right, not surprising there are still more with WBX.
The true question is to ask owners of converted Vanagons if they would ever go back to stock, I'm pretty sure the vast majority would say never!

Mon May 23, 2022 9:05 pm

I'll be going to the burger meet and the vintage meet late this summer but neither is a big Vanagon show. I'll definitely look for subi swapped air cooled dubs of any kind though.

Mon May 23, 2022 11:33 pm

Easily less than 5% of Vanagons have engine swaps. My guess is that Bostig has sold less than 500 kits (15 yrs x 30 kits/year = 450 kits). Let's multiply that by x10 for Subie kits and x 5 for FAS and SAH kits = 4,500 + 2,250 = 7,150 kits which is .07% of 1M Vanagons.

Make whatever adjustments you want to the assumptions and it's still a very small number. Most Vanagon owners have never once considered a swap and most Vanagon owners have never visited an enthusiast sites like this one.

That's my late night WAG.

Tue May 24, 2022 8:46 am

Still no poll . . . .

Tue May 24, 2022 8:53 am

Corwyn wrote: Still no poll . . . .

A poll here would be no more statistically valid than random conjecture. Could still have one, but certainly would not be indicative let alone conclusive.

Tue May 24, 2022 8:56 am

Yeah I know but I'm not thinking just here in this focused community, but nationally or in the total of driving operating Vanagons

And I think jimf909 is about right I see t3' regularly on the street and when I can take a peek at rear skirt for an unusual exhaust or oil pan, or exhaust note. That does back up jimf's points.

Tue May 24, 2022 12:36 pm

It’s even easier than that. In the 2020 Census the number of wankers was counted, and if you put a Soobie into your VW you are a Wanker.

Therefore, you weigh the same as a duck, therefore you float, therefore you burn, and hence…..

Tue May 24, 2022 1:19 pm

Abscate wrote: It’s even easier than that. In the 2020 Census the number of wankers was counted, and if you put a Soobie into your VW you are a Wanker.

Therefore, you weigh the same as a duck, therefore you float, therefore you burn, and hence…..

Ahhh hahahaha!