Engine/trans compatible with 1973 Bus?

[carguytroy]

Looks like I might be the owner of a 1973 Bus. It does not have an engine or transmission in it, but in the local classifieds there is a type 4 engine and trans out of a 1983 Vanagon for sale. Will they work in the 73 or do I need to keep looking?

[SGKent]

keep looking. The trans is probably a side shift which would take a lot of modification to make it work. You might want to find out whether the bus you are buying was a manual shift or an automatic.

The engine can be made to work if it is air cooled but it will be some work to convert the tin.
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[alman72]

if the motor was running and strong when removed, may be worth grabbing if the price is right. Some parts of the country can still find em, but pretty thin in most places.

[nadodave]

Hi:

A listee alerted me to your post. I am going to have a 1976 2.0 engine for sale in a few weeks. It is presently installed in 73 bus here in Coronado, CA. It has about 45kmi on it and has good power. I plan to keep the new dual Kadrons I installed a few months ago. I happened on a core 2.0 engine and decided to have it rebuilt with powder coated parts. I am installing the engine tin now, and hope to swap engines in a week or two (along with the clutch and so forth). I will do a compression check before pulling the old engine and if you think you might be interested I can let you know what that turns up. Standby for more.
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Nadodave
Coronado, CA

[carguytroy]

The trans is a rear shift. Not the the one where the shaft comes out the side of the case. The bus was/is a manual trans not an automatic. The engine here local is an air cooled type 4. I think I can make a decent buy on it and the trans if it will work.

NADODAVE, I am interested. So it’s a type 4 that’s been worked over I guess?

[aeromech]

There aren’t any bay window buses I’ve ever seen with a Vanagon engine and transmission installed. That said, there’s a whole lot I don’t know. One thing though... if it was an easy swap I think I would have seen it and I’ve seen a lot of bay window buses in my time.
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Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
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VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
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[carguytroy]

Here are a few pics of the engine and trans. I have another engine possibly but it’s missing the tins, fan, alternator, etc. so my thought was just to get this for all the missing items on the other engine.

[aeromech]

Bad investment
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Wildthings]

You would have a hard time sealing up the hole around the Vanagon Type 4 engine when it is installed in a Bay, plus I don't know if the Vanagon exhaust will bit between the bay frame rails. The transmission would be an absolute pain to make work, it would be easiest to have a tranny shop convert it to a nose cone shift for you as part of a general overhaul, so plan on forking over $1000 or more to make it work.

The Vanagon and Bay long blocks are similar and can be interchanged except for the exhausts. To use the Vanagon engine you would either need to find a Federal '79 exhaust or buy an entire aftermarket exhaust, there are some other work arounds, but nothing is plug and play.

[aeromech]

If we could buy Vanagon engine tin to install on T4 engines we would already be doing that. As far as I know, you can’t interchange anything but like I said earlier there’s a lot I don’t know
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[sodbuster]

All Vanagon transaxles are side shift. the early models have a side shift set up through the nosecone. later models have the side shift working out of the side of the main transmission case.

the one in your pic is an early model. they are easier to convert for baywindow use. but it still requires a partial tear down. But still kind of a major job. If I recall correctly the gear stacks need to be de-cased at a minimum, to replace some of the gear selector shafts. It's only as doable as your budget.

[SGKent]

I think it will work great as long as you can find a 1983 Vanagon to put it in. As to your 1973 bus, find another engine and trans.
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Wildthings]

[carguytroy]

Well that’s why I asked. No need to spend money on something that won’t work. Appreciate the expertise and advice. Maybe I’ll do something dumber and look at Subaru swap info. Thanks.

[carguytroy]

What about the fuel system? The fuel injection. And the front fan stuff? I found another long block but has zero tins, fan or alternator. Thinking if I can buy the vanagon motor for a decent price and source a few things off of it it may still be worth it. Found another trans instead too. 3 rib like what came out of it.

[busdaddy]

The FI system is slightly different, some components can be made to fit, the shroud is also different enough to not be useable in a bus.
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[Alan Brase]

Previous answer about the transmission is mostly correct. but the gears stacks need to be put into the early intermediate plate. so you need the intermediate plate, shift rails, nose cone and hockey stick.
And about $800 labor.
the DK Vanagon trans allegedly is coveted by vanagon converters because of its 4.57/1 ring and pinion ratio.
Bay window 091's (1976-79) seem to be gobbled up by sand rail people and that makes them hard to find. They do have better ratios than the 1972-3 and 74-5 type 002's.
Pretty sure It is possible to put bell housings and input shaft from 1976-79 box on any earlier 002 and make it work. But ratios are lower for the 1600 engine. Gears are strong enough, I think. Buying a 1976-79 bus without a gearbox is challenging.
_________________
Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home

[Abscate]

Am I the only one seeing a big pile of dreck?
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[Alan Brase]

[Abscate]