Motor swap, What engine?

[rcproductions]

I've got a Vw powered (duel port 1600) manx myers style buggy. Love it. Runs Great. I'm building a open frame sand rail style buggy. Even though I love the Vw, I'm wondering what other drive plants people are using to do an easy motor swap. What are your thoughts

[oprn]

One of the earliest swaps was the Corvair engine, not many of those around these days. The old Buick V6 and the 215 aluminum V8 were at one time too. Subaru engines are very popular now. VW diesel and gas water pumpers, Honda, Toyota, Ford and Chevy V6s, Chevy 4 cylinder, just about anything has been done at one time or another.

You can do whatever engine you know well and are comfortable with. What you choose is very much dependant on what the car will be used for. I stayed with a 1600 SP in my sand rail because I have lots of good used parts, it is very light and has more than enough power for two old people that only use it for trail riding.

My Street Buggy got swapped to a type 4 engine because I had one and I did not want to make it look like a rolling junkyard with hoses and rad hanging out in the wind. I was also concerned about high speed stability by adding the increased weight of a water pumper to an already heavily rear weight biased car.

I don't think there really is an "easy" swap, they all take lots of time and effort.
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[jeffrey8164]

The sky is the limit depending on your capabilities.
If I were building one I’d stay with an aircooled Type one. A 2276 since I can’t control myself and I’d make it a mid-engine set up. Just kind of depends on how and where you’re going to drive it.
Years ago, a coworker built a sand rail with all Bus suspension, complete with reduction boxes powered by a 1904. It was fun to ride in and would climb up anything but there wasn’t much top end.
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[Glenn]

I've seen everything from a 1600DP to an LS3.
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[67rustavenger]

[Wulfthang]

Check out Kennedy Engineering Products for some info on what adapters they have available to hang a bigger engine off of a VW transaxle. The size is limited only by your wallet! Don't forget that a bigger water cooled engine is heavier and will require heavier suspension components and a heavier drive train to handle to increased horsepower. I have an old school naturally aspirated hyped up Ford 2.8 V6 in mine.

[ORANGECRUSHer]

Be warned, this is a rabbit hole, especially if your new engine is heavier than the type 1. This will cause a domino effect of things you'll need to upgrade to handle the weight and power. I chose an iron block engine and I've been regretting it ever since. Stay with all aluminum. Try to keep it close to 300lb. Wiring gets to be tricky at a certain point for some people too.

That said if I had it to do again I'd go Subaru or 2.2 Chevy ecotec. Subaru looks cool but is more expensive. Ecotec is probably the most practical.
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OrangeCrushER Berrien Warrior 2.4L Quad4
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[PhillipM]

And watch the torque output, any engine with anything serious torque wise will smash a VW transmission like it's nothing if you start using it hard.

I like my honda motor, it's small and light, fairly low torque but high power output - but you really don't want to put one in without a dry sump for ground clearance - so that can be a big concern for any replacement if you do much off road.

[Wulfthang]

Also, a lot depends on what you plan on doing with it. In my case, I planned to explore old mining trails and ghost towns. My engine is a "little bit" (lol) heavier than a VW 4 cylinder being that it's a cast iron V6 but I had it and the adapter left over from a Sterling kit car project so that's what I used.

I carry my spare tire and extraction gear on/in the nose so that and the 8" over front end cancels out the normal expected butt slide really well. There are newer engines that weigh much less than mine.

Then there are all kinds of oddball issues that show up as you're bringing it to life. Everything from matching the power curve on the engine with the transaxle gearing to positioning the radiator to get the best effects of push/draft air currents.

On the other hand: The extra horsepower that results from an engine swap (done properly) does amazing things! It's not hard to get hundreds of horsepower out of an engine without even getting to radical. The best part is that once you have the bugs worked out, you could have three or four or more times the original horsepower with a basically stock and reliable engine.

[Stinky123]

I 2nd the KEP web-page.

What sort of motor are you thinking of? Computer controlled? Or, old-fashioned carb and dizzy.

How much HP do you want? 100 is plenty. Depending on what you want to do w/it, 75 would be enough. 100HP can be hard on a VW trans.

Personally, I'd look at a:
Toyota Corolla motor....about 1600cc, w/a carb...all it needs is 12v and a rubber gas-line. 3TC is an 1800cc Hemi
Toyota 20R or 22R
NIssan Z24 or L20 (Nissan PU)...all it needs is 12v and a rubber gas-line
Toyota Camry engine (electronic, or put crank trigger ignition w/a carb on it) 3sfe (I think) ECM & FI
Eco-Tec (as mentioned)....ECM & FI
Ford Pinto or Ranger motor, 2,000 or 2,300cc, on the heavy side, but durable, simple, plentiful, powerful....all it needs is 12v and a rubber gas-line
Ford Escort motor....1852? Plentiful
Hondas...some of em turn backwards, some of em don't....they rev like crazy and are durable.
Nissan, 3.0 V6, about 150HP, you can put a carb on them and an HEI (Hardbody PUs and Quest vans)
Volvo
Chevy Iron Duke (sorta the same as a Pinto...but not as good, IMHO).

The list is pretty much endless. Those are the ones that I like

Where ye be? Somebody might have something.

I would not put in a V6, unless it was my V6.

Keep us posted.

[Dale M.]

How about a Subaru, same form factor as AC VW....
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[Bonesberg55]

Back in the mid-70s in an issue of Popular Hot Rodding there was an article about putting a small block Chevy in a Bug. I think a Corvair transaxle was used.

[77charger]

I did a honda j35 swao from my 2275.got the engine,ecu and adapter plate for 1500 bucks a few years ago.

Its a midsize 4 seat mid travel car and swap really made a differenc in power.I liked the 2275 for simplicity but towards the rnd the cost of vw parts was going up the quality slipping.It was well built too,

Ecotecs seem to be pretty good too and reasonable priced.Was going to be my route but came across the honda deal i couldnt pass up.Subis are nice but pricey and friends that ran them seemed to always have issues when ran hard.
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[oprn]

I suspect the OP has moved on to other interests. He has not been heard from since his first post.
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We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age)

[ORANGECRUSHer]

I heard from him.

Unlike a lot of us stubborn fools, he came to his senses and hightailed it back to reality.

I shall miss him.
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Brian H.
I may not know everything,but I will try to help if I can
OrangeCrushER Berrien Warrior 2.4L Quad4
LAZY MARY 1970 Baja 1835cc

[67rustavenger]

[PhillipM]

He's currently trying to organise the 20 different engines he just bought on ebay.

[Wulfthang]

[GOOTJR]

I know this is an older post but I’m considering the J35. What seems to be the go to ecu and harness for them ? Thanks
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[BFB]