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idioSYNCROsy
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2009
Posts: 4
Location: seattle
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 Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:24 pm Post subject: toyota diesel conversion? |
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| Has any one tried or looked in to converting to a non USA toyota turbodiesel motor for the vanagon? I know there are many configuration choices with the toyotas motors. I am in the process of building an ultimate syncro, and want to travel to south america with it. The thinking is being able to find a mechanic and parts on every leg of the voyage. |
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10379
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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I was curious to find out if a given Toyota Diesel spun the right way. Found this on YouSchmoob:
VW diesel in Toyota truck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKMdahjiRR8
Though I have no idea if they swapped around the diff, or if that's even possible. I highly doubt it either way though.
Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10379
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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Viewing it again, it seems to me that a Toyota turbo diesel might be a little tall (practically speaking) for the Vanagon engine bay.
To my eye, videos of various other Toyota Turbo diesels, show the engine higher in the bay, as compared to the posted video, where it *looks* like the VW TD is "short" in the Toyota engine bay.
Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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otiswesty
Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2006
Posts: 1730
Location: Portland
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| Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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I'm waiting for the Suby turbo diesel boxer motor they are selling in Britain 
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1978 Sage Green P22 Westfalia
1989 T3 Syncro Single cab
Just a regular guy |
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psych-illogical
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2004
Posts: 1181
Location: AZ
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| Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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Don't know about the motor question but consider fuel availability. My understanding, from an adventure touring buddy of mine, is that gasoline is more readily available in Mexico and Central America than is diesel. I've only done some limited travel in northern Mexico and gasoline is definitely easy to come by. Not 100% sure of this further south but I think it would warrent some research before committing to a diesel conversion.
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83 1/2 Westy waterboxer
'57 Beetle-sold 
Coupla '81 BMW motorcycles (R80G/S; R100RS)
'96 BMW R1100GS |
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a914622
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2004
Posts: 840
Location: Westend of HWY2 , Wash
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| Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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Years back my dad put a Toyota 22re in his 70 bus.(similar size as the diesels) They spin the right way but they would be way to tall for the vanagon.
Id probably be better off bebuilding the stock stuff here. A good rebuild should last long enough to get you down and back.
jcl
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87 gl powerd buy 2.5subaru
75 914 getting 2.2t subaru scratch that SVX subaru |
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goffoz
Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2007
Posts: 1486
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| Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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Just as a little FYI.. both my kids went to Costa Rica for a month with some family friends this past February...My son (17) who knows a little about this vanagon obsession...Told me he saw lots of vanagons, about 10 different vehicles and they were in a coastal area 4hrs. from the city. Some vans were stock, but most were modified.
He recognised 16in. wheels, brushbars, and different than stock engine sounds
They met quite a few Germans living there, It seems they maintain syncro westy's and GL's and share them.as vacation vehicles.
As a foriegner in CR you have to leave every 90days and renew your Visa...So He said they seem to share houses and vehicles so they are always occupied. Much like our American friends do.
The other common vehicle down there is the old Toyo landcruisers .which is what most of the Americans drive.
It seems diesal and petrol are equeally available in CR |
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busfreak_71
Flat 4 Junkie
Joined: April 29, 2007
Posts: 1191
Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta
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| Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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Nuts to Toyota diesels. Put a TDI in it. 
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'71 Tin Top Westfalia
'99.5 Bora TDI
'85 Jetta Coupe
'85 Mercedes 300SD
Resident Off-Grid hippie and diesel advocate. |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17153
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 1:33 pm Post subject: Re: toyota diesel conversion? |
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| audiojsn wrote: |
| Has any one tried or looked in to converting to a non USA toyota turbodiesel motor for the vanagon? I know there are many configuration choices with the toyotas motors. I am in the process of building an ultimate syncro, and want to travel to south america with it. The thinking is being able to find a mechanic and parts on every leg of the voyage. |
I don't care what engine you shoe horn into a vanagon. You will need to become the expert. Finding someone to touch it will be next to impossible even in this country. I opted for the TDI, while not the most easy to setup, at least it is a VW engine still in production in the US. Parts are stock and can be shipped when you need them to anywhere just about. I am using an ODBII connector and carry my laptop with VAG COM software loaded and my Scan Gauge. I also carry an assortment of tools and my Bentley manual.
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mcsyncro
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2005
Posts: 193
Location: wherever subarus aren't
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| Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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| busfreak_71 wrote: |
| Nuts to Toyota diesels. Put a TDI in it. |
X2 |
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SyncroChrick
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2005
Posts: 1010
Location: San Francisco, CA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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they are doing it in South Africa
here's a couple pictures of a 3CT
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idioSYNCROsy
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2009
Posts: 4
Location: seattle
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| Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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i ended up going the mTDI route! starting the conversion now.
thanks for all your advice!
p.s. i've been to costa rica 12 times, there's by far more diesel vehicles on the road and at the fueling stations...
cheers syncro lovers![/img] |
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Dogpilot
Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2005
Posts: 4205
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
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| Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 9:53 am Post subject: |
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Good you saw the logic! I am no fan of the Toyota Turbo Diesel. Over the last 20 years I have had way to many of them frag in Africa, South America and just this summer, Borneo. I am even less enthusiastic about their transmissions. They make excellent transportation cars and unfortunately, disposable 4x4's.
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Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
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