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vw62kid
Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2013
Posts: 116
Location: Topeka, KS
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 Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2022 7:45 pm Post subject: ABA Vanagon Conversion |
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I've decided to take on the task of converting my 2.1 WBX in my 1990 tin-top to a 2.0L ABA out of a 97 Jetta. The ole waterboxer started giving me low oil pressure issues. I've put a ton of money into this motor and then it failed internally. I've been wanting to convert to an aba so it's just all the more reason to take on the job!
Here it is at the beginning. Cleaned it up, and removed the head. I have planned to attack the head first. Im going to rebuild the head with a TT 266 (aka 270) cam, HD valve springs, new lifters, and all the seals in between.
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62 Ragtop Project (Anthracite Grey)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=597378&highlight=
59 Logo Single Cab Project (L345 Light Grey)
90 Vanagon tin-top ABA convserion...work in progress
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...1a11892111 |
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ALIKA T3
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2009
Posts: 7165
Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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valvecovergasket
Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2018
Posts: 1499
Location: pnw
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| Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2022 3:09 pm Post subject: Re: ABA Vanagon Conversion |
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Right on! Simple robust motor. In for more pics
Installing at 15deg or 50? |
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elizer
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2016
Posts: 1501
Location: Northern Virginia
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| Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2022 3:41 pm Post subject: Re: ABA Vanagon Conversion |
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somewhere theres a bunch of rabbits missing their tails.
Very cool.
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91 syncro westy fas tdi |
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buspor63
Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2005
Posts: 1179
Location: Knoxville,TN Where America stops for gas
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| Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2022 3:56 pm Post subject: Re: ABA Vanagon Conversion |
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Engine swap threads are some of my favorite.
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Imagine that, theres not an "h" in either Westfalia or Syncro? |
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uberaudi
Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2013
Posts: 625
Location: Hi-top Country
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| Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2022 7:48 pm Post subject: Re: ABA Vanagon Conversion |
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Alright! I don't think the ABA will ever disappear, they're such stout little motors. Looking forward to the progress!
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'84 Adventurewagen 1Z TDI, '08 Audi Avant Quattro 6spd BHW TDI |
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10495
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2022 9:44 pm Post subject: Re: ABA Vanagon Conversion |
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Is it just me or does that ABA look like it was kept in pretty good shape and - or has relatively low miles? i.e. I bet the engine portion of harness won't have too many wear-tear (heat etc) related faults.
Keep us posted. It'll run like a top when you're done!
Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)
1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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vwhammer
Samba Member
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 1010
Location: Boulder CO.
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| Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2022 12:38 am Post subject: Re: ABA Vanagon Conversion |
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Since I have not actually fired up the ABA in my van I don't know that my opinion matters much buuut I kinda wish I would have done one of the later model 2.0 engines in my van.
ABAs are good but so are the later 2.0 8 valve engines.
There is not a ton of DIY info out there compared to the ABA but the wiring can be sorted and you can actually buy these engines new or get super low mileage versions.
You also eliminate the distributor that is on the ABA and upgrade to the much better flowing later model intake and exhaust manifold.
I am also pretty sure you can use the same cam that you mentioned in the ABA or the later 2.0 engines.
I probably could talk more about it later but it is after 1:30 am here and I am gonna tap out at this point.
_________________
Pretty normal daily driver build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=708418&highlight=
4x4 build
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/volkswagen-vanagon-4x4-conversion.162055/ |
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vw62kid
Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2013
Posts: 116
Location: Topeka, KS
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| Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2022 8:27 am Post subject: Re: ABA Vanagon Conversion |
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| Vanagon Nut wrote: |
Is it just me or does that ABA look like it was kept in pretty good shape and - or has relatively low miles? i.e. I bet the engine portion of harness won't have too many wear-tear (heat etc) related faults.
Keep us posted. It'll run like a top when you're done!
Neil. |
You are right! This engine has less than 100k miles on it if I remember correctly. I probably could've got away with just throwing it in and calling it a day. I just wanted to rip it apart to put better parts in and for peace of mind. 
_________________
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62 Ragtop Project (Anthracite Grey)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=597378&highlight=
59 Logo Single Cab Project (L345 Light Grey)
90 Vanagon tin-top ABA convserion...work in progress
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...1a11892111
Last edited by vw62kid on Sun Sep 18, 2022 8:46 am; edited 1 time in total |
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vw62kid
Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2013
Posts: 116
Location: Topeka, KS
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| Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2022 8:39 am Post subject: Re: ABA Vanagon Conversion |
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| vwhammer wrote: |
Since I have not actually fired up the ABA in my van I don't know that my opinion matters much buuut I kinda wish I would have done one of the later model 2.0 engines in my van.
ABAs are good but so are the later 2.0 8 valve engines.
There is not a ton of DIY info out there compared to the ABA but the wiring can be sorted and you can actually buy these engines new or get super low mileage versions.
You also eliminate the distributor that is on the ABA and upgrade to the much better flowing later model intake and exhaust manifold.
I am also pretty sure you can use the same cam that you mentioned in the ABA or the later 2.0 engines.
I probably could talk more about it later but it is after 1:30 am here and I am gonna tap out at this point. |
Ah you're talking about the mk4 version of the 2.0 4cyl. Yeah that is an amazing motor as well. It definitely crossed my mind. I just happened to have an ABA stored away for the swap. I sourced an AEG motor at a local junkyard and took the intake/exhaust manifolds off of it They definitely flow much better than the ABA manifolds. And the AEG exhaust manifold is pretty much a tubular header 
_________________
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62 Ragtop Project (Anthracite Grey)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=597378&highlight=
59 Logo Single Cab Project (L345 Light Grey)
90 Vanagon tin-top ABA convserion...work in progress
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...1a11892111 |
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vwhammer
Samba Member
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 1010
Location: Boulder CO.
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| Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2022 10:18 am Post subject: Re: ABA Vanagon Conversion |
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| vw62kid wrote: |
| Ah you're talking about the mk4 version of the 2.0 4cyl. Yeah that is an amazing motor as well. It definitely crossed my mind. I just happened to have an ABA stored away for the swap. I sourced an AEG motor at a local junkyard and took the intake/exhaust manifolds off of it They definitely flow much better than the ABA manifolds. And the AEG exhaust manifold is pretty much a tubular header |
Yeah I got my ABA for free and did a half baked referesh which probably ended up costing me more in the long run.
I then also swapped my intake and exhaust for the AEG stuff and then started thinking... "Dang I should have just done an AEG or later 2.0 in the first place".
ABA is still a good choice though, especially if it is low mileage.
Figure I will get mine running and maybe somewhere down the road if it pops I will update the wiring and swap to a later 2.0
Should bolt into the same space so there is that.
_________________
Pretty normal daily driver build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=708418&highlight=
4x4 build
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/volkswagen-vanagon-4x4-conversion.162055/ |
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vw62kid
Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2013
Posts: 116
Location: Topeka, KS
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| Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2022 10:21 am Post subject: Re: ABA Vanagon Conversion |
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| vwhammer wrote: |
| vw62kid wrote: |
| Ah you're talking about the mk4 version of the 2.0 4cyl. Yeah that is an amazing motor as well. It definitely crossed my mind. I just happened to have an ABA stored away for the swap. I sourced an AEG motor at a local junkyard and took the intake/exhaust manifolds off of it They definitely flow much better than the ABA manifolds. And the AEG exhaust manifold is pretty much a tubular header |
Yeah I got my ABA for free and did a half baked referesh which probably ended up costing me more in the long run.
I then also swapped my intake and exhaust for the AEG stuff and then started thinking... "Dang I should have just done an AEG or later 2.0 in the first place".
ABA is still a good choice though, especially if it is low mileage.
Figure I will get mine running and maybe somewhere down the road if it pops I will update the wiring and swap to a later 2.0
Should bolt into the same space so there is that. |
Yeah it should be almost identical to the ABA swap. Only thing different I can think of is the coil pack plug.
_________________
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62 Ragtop Project (Anthracite Grey)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=597378&highlight=
59 Logo Single Cab Project (L345 Light Grey)
90 Vanagon tin-top ABA convserion...work in progress
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...1a11892111 |
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uberaudi
Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2013
Posts: 625
Location: Hi-top Country
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| Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2022 10:50 am Post subject: Re: ABA Vanagon Conversion |
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The genV block is completely different than the ABA. You wouldn't be able to bolt on stock diesel Vanagon components, but you would be able to get one of FAS' sweet billet oil pans!
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'84 Adventurewagen 1Z TDI, '08 Audi Avant Quattro 6spd BHW TDI |
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vw62kid
Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2013
Posts: 116
Location: Topeka, KS
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| Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2022 11:21 am Post subject: Re: ABA Vanagon Conversion |
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| uberaudi wrote: |
| The genV block is completely different than the ABA. You wouldn't be able to bolt on stock diesel Vanagon components, but you would be able to get one of FAS' sweet billet oil pans! |
I had no idea the block was different! I have a lot of experience with the ABA but close to none with the mk4 2.0.
_________________
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62 Ragtop Project (Anthracite Grey)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=597378&highlight=
59 Logo Single Cab Project (L345 Light Grey)
90 Vanagon tin-top ABA convserion...work in progress
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...1a11892111 |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15344
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2022 8:55 pm Post subject: Re: ABA Vanagon Conversion |
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the AEG has a timing belt driven 'internal' water pump
and is lacking the distributor drive, so the Oil pump is driven from a chain off the crank towards the back of the block.
so it won't accept the vanagon Diesel oil pump or pan to accommodate a 50* installation
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| Abscate wrote: |
| These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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vwhammer
Samba Member
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 1010
Location: Boulder CO.
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| Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2022 9:14 pm Post subject: Re: ABA Vanagon Conversion |
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| uberaudi wrote: |
| The genV block is completely different than the ABA. You wouldn't be able to bolt on stock diesel Vanagon components, but you would be able to get one of FAS' sweet billet oil pans! |
| danfromsyr wrote: |
the AEG has a timing belt driven 'internal' water pump
and is lacking the distributor drive, so the Oil pump is driven from a chain off the crank towards the back of the block.
so it won't accept the Vanagon Diesel oil pump or pan to accommodate a 50* installation |
Dang it!
I owned both of these engines at the same time and never really knew of all the differences.
Meh, I am sure I can work it all out.
_________________
Pretty normal daily driver build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=708418&highlight=
4x4 build
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/volkswagen-vanagon-4x4-conversion.162055/ |
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joetiger 
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5234
Location: denver
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| Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2022 11:36 am Post subject: Re: ABA Vanagon Conversion |
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Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell |
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vw62kid
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Joined: January 20, 2013
Posts: 116
Location: Topeka, KS
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vwhammer
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Joined: May 20, 2006
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Location: Boulder CO.
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vw62kid
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Joined: January 20, 2013
Posts: 116
Location: Topeka, KS
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