pros and cons of the Audi V6 conversion.

[Vanagon Nut]

A few more pics. Seems these are installed in a SA Syncro though


http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/thomas/wanda/engine/index.htm
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[AndyBees]

Like one poster said, someone took note of the Subie engine being about the same size as a Vanagon WBXer and did the 1st conversion......others followed!

I do remember back in the late 70s or early 80s (early Subies) the Suby engine had head issues just like the VW WBXer engines. They were notorious to blow head gaskets....... I guess Suby got their $hit together and corrected the problem in later models! I've never driven anything Suby powered or Audi powered, therefore no comment on the reliability, power, maintenance, etc.

I'm doing a VW TDI transplant in my Vanagon ........ all VW!
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'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI. 1989 Tin-top
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine. Seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003.

[thummmper]

It needs the amphicar conversion now. If it looks like a boat, it might as well float.
the 2.8 is only 175 horses anyway. unless you want to rev the crap out of it like every 4 cyl now.
it exceeds the height dimension. we have 25" under the deck with a street ground clearance of 10" My ej22 has 7.5" at the oilpan.
just saw a 96 a4, running at the junkyard in their used car lot next to a 97 outback. they sell for 1150.00$ the ob was sold and no price was evident..
on the audi forum [a4/a6] they are complaining of the topend leaking. motor oil running down the rr and lf corners. gaskets. 2001+
When you try to re-engineer vw's, dont do it with more of the same. the rep is burned.
and putting a V8 in a vanagon sort of makes you a virus. V8s are for racing and towing. teenagers with v8s-btdt

[ANGOVAY]

you'd go this route when the 1.8t has + power and better fuel economy. Honestly I've never met one person who's done the 1.8t swap thats not 100% satisfied. I have talked to people with other swaps who aren't for one reason or another....



I ran across this tonight and thought the same thing. I love my 1.8T conversion and got 18.6 mpg going up (and down) in the Sierra's last weekend. 240hp 250#T +-. I can't believe how much better it runs at elevation. OH soooo happy!
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Mark
90 Westy 1.8T Sold
2016 Sprinter Field Van

[dredward]

[Zeitgeist 13]

I own two of those 2.8L Audi V6s (see sig). They're generally a very hardy design, with few obvious flaws. The factory headgaskets will leak oil, and oil consumption seems a bit more than I'm used to with other engines, especially my tight original WBX. They're an interference engine, but I can't figure out why they'd do that. They have a weird mix of Hitachi and Bosch engine management. The only problems I've had with this system is that the cam sensor died on one of the cars. That project turned into a full-blown headgasket R&R extravaganza that's gone on for over six months...'cause I hate workin' on split-bank-configured engines. I hate everything about them. If I can ever succeed in killing my WBX, it's getting an inline engine. I'd gladly trade both V6 Audis for the ultra rare '95.5 Avant with the killer AAN inline fiver--which btw, would make a far far better candidate for a Van conversion.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[thummmper]

except for the 1.8. there is a lot of problems with the v6s. there was a guy named dave that put a GM 2.9 60 deg v6 in the back of a vgon and it had great power but it shook the mirrors off at 3200. the vr6 is too tall.
the svx is a room hog and eats transmissions. spend 3x on the trans more than the svx. thats why I like factory matching.

[dredward]

[dredward]

I considered the v6, the vr6, and the corrado g60, and an aba with the neuspeed super charger. I didn't go Audi v6 due to not finding one for the $ i wanted to spend. I passed on the vr6 cause of clearence issues down low(whats the since in haveing a syncro with reduced clearence). I passed on the g60 given the one person i knew who did this swap had alot of issues with plumbing the boost and getting it to run right. The prob with the aba with neuspeed charger was the price of the charger alone was twicw what i paid for a complete 1.8t swap. Stefan got ahold of me and recomended the 1.8t. He also informed me he got it through smog/legal issues. Before i went to Sac to get my swap i stopped by his shop and he let me drive his van: I WAS SOLD!!!!!!! The thing broke traction quicker then my r32!!!!!!!
My advice is drive every swap you can. Don't just fallow the herd since everyones needs are different. Get a feel for what the swap will do before waisteing hard earned cash on something yer not 100% happy with "."

[VWhead]

Dredward's right. 1.8T folks if you don't have a Vanagon equipped with one,I suggest you take a test drive in one. Serious power without the nuisance of added cylinders.
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81' Single Cab Syncro 1.8T GMW
88' 2wd Westy 1.8T GMW
www.gmwerks.com
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[dredward]

[Escorial Syncro]

What does a 1.8t swap cost? Or what does a good used motor go for? Thanks, Joel
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Joel Lane
1985 Vanagon converted to syncro, ALH TDI, Reimo Primus top with Westy interior
2002 Toyota Tundra 4x4
1974 Honda CL360 Scrambler (for sale!)

[dredward]

[SyncroGhia]

Do you have any photos of your 1.8T conversion dredward?

MG
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T3 Syncro 16 S6 Westfalia Limey SOLD
T3 Syncro 6x6 SOLD
T3 RS6 Bluestar
T3 Tristar Syncro 16 SOLD
T3 Tristar Syncro RHD SOLD

[dredward]

[Christopher Schimke]

[danfromsyr]

you need to remove the '?t=1275579189' from the Urls.

[dredward]

[Spinal Tap]

Does the lid fit and close still, Dredward?
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'85 Westy
'74 MG-B

[dredward]