T3/Vanagon - all stock engine types > PROS & CONS

[epowell]

It would be interesting and useful to have a list and comparison of all the stock engines ever offered in T3/Vanagons everywhere in the world. I currently don't know much on this topic - but so far this is what I have gleamed:

1980 - AIR COOLED GAS ENGINE > I assume these engines are almost identical to the late 70's BayBus engines?
Very strong, simple, reliable engines without any modern "digital" electronic components.

WBX GAS ENGINE ...from what I know these engines were the first to introduce "digital" electronic components.

1982 - 1,6D NA (CS) DIESEL ENGINE ...very reliable engine but low HP and not good in mountains

1984 - (EUROPE ONLY) 1,6TD (JX) ....same as CS engine but with turbo > therefore more power and better in mountains.

That's about all I know....
_________________
www.edwardpowell.com

[Zeitgeist 13]

All are perfectly fine engines themselves, but none are particularly well suited for these large un-aerodynamic bricks.
_________________
Casey--

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

[dobryan]

Good info here.

http://www.gowesty.com/tech-article-details.php?id=1
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[kamzcab86]

[IdahoDoug]

I've had a manual trans Syncro and now an automatic - both stock WBX engines. I was also world wide powertrain planner for GM, so I've evaluated my share of engine/trans/diff/suspension combos from mild to wild. I find the WBX and auto a very logical and serviceable powertrain for the Vanagon for its vintage.

It could certainly use more power and better fuel economy, but weighing the cost of a conversion, that route's simply not even close to cost effective as an economy/money saving strategy.

It's worth mentioning that I have a tintop which weighed 3780 yesterday at the dump scale with me and a half tank of fuel, and probably 100lbs of gear aboard. Also worth mentioning that my powertrain is likely running very close to its original power output and operating parameters. I replaced some seals in the tranny, adjusted the bands and kickdown, and it has a new filter and fresh fluid. I rebuilt my engine and it has excellent compression, very strong oil pressure, and is responsive.

Anyway, don't discount the Vanagon's original engine if you're basing it on the performance and response of a 30 year old engine that's possibly lost 10% of its power across the power band and maybe more at full throttle. I have always felt that people would be much happier with a fresh powertrain, and if anyone wants to know what their Vanagon is "supposed" to feel, I'll let you take it for a spin if we're at the same event, etc.
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[caravelle c]

The best stock engine is the DJ 112hp WBX, with the best transmission manual AAP 5-speed or automatic NJ.

All others stock engines which are more powerful, Oettinger WBX-6 or Porsche LBX-6, are not available in large quantities.

[stuzbot]

As far as the diesel options go, conventional wisdom this side of the pond [as in "something I read on the intarwebs before buying mine"] is that the 1,6TD JX engine is the best of the stock ones.

Although you may have different ideas about that on your side, seeing as very few of the JXs ended up in the US/Canada.

_________________
*****************************
Click to view image
*****************************
1992 VW LT35 2,4D [SOLD]
1993 VW LT35 2,4D [SOLD]
1992 VW T3 1,6TD Syncro [SOLD]
*****************************

[epowell]

[crazyvwvanman]

Some 1.6TD JX engines did make it over and I have owned a couple and put them in vans here. It makes a reasonable alternative to a 1.9 WBX engine with a lot better fuel economy. I wouldn't care to live long term again with a 1.6NA as the power is too low at elevation and it is too smokey there as well. The JX is pretty sweet by comparison in those regards.

Ed, I don't think it should matter much about which engine if as you say you are planning for it to be a mostly stationary home. The 1.6NA CS engines are slow smokey obstacles to uphill traffic flow and loaded semis will desperately want to pass on the hills. Not very many left, for good reason. They didn't have long average lives, easily replaced with something better when they died. I have replaced many.

Mark

[Zeitgeist 13]

I recently drove up North of Vancouver to Squamish, and that's definitely not 1.6NA territory. My first T3 was one of those, but I wouldn't own one again, nor would I recommend them to anyone. I've owned lots of those engines in Rabbits and Dashers, but they aren't suited for the vans...at all.
_________________
Casey--

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

[epowell]

I wonder how engine power would differ between:
1) a CS (1,6D NA)
2) a JX with a K24 turbo (the big one, as opposed to the small STOCK K14), and WITHOUT any LDA on the injection pump?

_________________
www.edwardpowell.com

[Zeitgeist 13]

Without an LDA, there's very little boost in power. An increase in turbo boost levels needs an increase in fueling in order to produce more power.
_________________
Casey--

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

[jimf909]

[epowell]

[danfromsyr]

My van started out as a 2.0l air cooled and once that baked a valve on the highway in the summer heat (lead foot driver) I moved on.
I've ran a 1.6TD with both the K24 and K14

I don't live in a particularly mountainous region. and I would NOT recommend the K24 over the K14 at all.

I also don't recommend the 1.6NA in anything but a rabbit or my Jacobsen reel mower

the 1.6TD with K14 and air cooled transaxle was 'adequate' on my regions meager 'large' hills.

I've since gone to run a 1.8l JH (95hp) gas powered digifant jetta motor which was 'sufficient' to power the van but no powerhouse.

and now a 1.8T AEB (150hp) which starts to feel like a 2003 toyota.
chipped to (190hp) feels more like Zoom Zoom.. but I personally don't like to challenge my transaxle that much on my long range travel vehicle
_________________