| Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
| Yes |
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38% |
[ 32 ] |
| Yes - if there was a full kit |
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47% |
[ 40 ] |
| Intriguing but No |
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8% |
[ 7 ] |
| No way |
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5% |
[ 5 ] |
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| Total Votes : 84 |
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| Author |
Message |
Pchill2
Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2021
Posts: 406
Location: Georgia
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 Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 4:01 pm Post subject: Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
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I’ve been cruising around for close to a year now in my K24 powered syncro and I absolutely love it. It seems to me that some of the more traditional Vanagon swap platforms are getting expensive or hard to find and I think the Honda motors could be a viable option.
My build thread outlines all of the parts necessary and costs associated with a complete conversion along with a few pictures of the parts I had to fabricate to install the engine and exhaust. I know some of you all are pretty savvy and could easily do the same but how many out there would actually take the plunge if a mount kit was available? How many would take the plunge if a full plug and play kit was available?
Build Thread:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=766259
I bring this up because I know there’s at least one on here for sure (I won’t name names). I’ve been thinking through a redesign of my motor mount system that would be pretty easy for me to fabricate if there’s some interest.
_________________
87 Syncro Westy
Honda K24 swap
Last edited by Pchill2 on Wed Jan 11, 2023 10:11 am; edited 1 time in total |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Pchill2
Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2021
Posts: 406
Location: Georgia
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 4:20 pm Post subject: Re: Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
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I removed the thick foam sound deadening and replaced it with a thinner dynamat style sound deadening material and also trimmed some sections of the ribbing. An aftermarket low profile valve cover was also necessary. No raised deck lid necessary.
_________________
87 Syncro Westy
Honda K24 swap |
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Pchill2
Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2021
Posts: 406
Location: Georgia
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 4:25 pm Post subject: Re: Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
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_________________
87 Syncro Westy
Honda K24 swap |
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thatbaldwinlife
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2011
Posts: 777
Location: Out exploring
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 4:44 pm Post subject: Re: Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
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How is the ground clearance vs stock or other popular swaps? That is more important to me than raised deck lid.
nate
_________________
1987 Westy
Insta: @Thatbaldwinlife
Vanagon Adventure and DIY videos:
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Pchill2
Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2021
Posts: 406
Location: Georgia
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 4:50 pm Post subject: Re: Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
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| thatbaldwinlife wrote: |
How is the ground clearance vs stock or other popular swaps? That is more important to me than raised deck lid.
nate |
I believe it’s still more ground clearance than a Subaru with a high clearance oil pan but it’s hard to tell based on info I’ve seen on here.
I’m running 215/70R16s
Oil pan clearance at ride height:
Hub center to wheel lip:
Ground to Wheel lip:
_________________
87 Syncro Westy
Honda K24 swap
Last edited by Pchill2 on Tue Jan 10, 2023 7:32 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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outcaststudios
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2015
Posts: 1732
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 5:40 pm Post subject: Re: Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
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personally i would cast myself whatever i needed, or fab my own, but i realize not everyone has a shop like that so this seems like a good source for folks who want to focus on the swap and not the 'figuring it out'. what are the mounts made from? are you going to make them, or do you farm that out?
_________________
'88Doka JX td
'69 westy
(rip)couple bugs
(rip)three type III"s
(rip) '81 vanagon
a bunch of french stuff,and 9 motorcycles.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2573791 |
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Pchill2
Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2021
Posts: 406
Location: Georgia
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 7:06 pm Post subject: Re: Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
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Welded tube and plate. Very similar to an old school 911 engine bar.
_________________
87 Syncro Westy
Honda K24 swap |
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ALIKA T3
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2009
Posts: 6360
Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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outcaststudios
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2015
Posts: 1732
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 7:29 pm Post subject: Re: Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
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| Pchill2 wrote: |
| Welded tube and plate. Very similar to an old school 911 engine bar. |
what thicknesses/material? i only ask because you had said on your build thread that you had some issues with your mounts twisting from stress when you first ran your swap? was curious what you changed about these.
_________________
'88Doka JX td
'69 westy
(rip)couple bugs
(rip)three type III"s
(rip) '81 vanagon
a bunch of french stuff,and 9 motorcycles.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2573791 |
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Pchill2
Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2021
Posts: 406
Location: Georgia
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 7:37 pm Post subject: Re: Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
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The isolators were too soft allowing more rearward compliance than I’d like during acceleration. I chose the cheapest aftermarket isolators I found but it didn’t have anything to do with the actual engine cradle.
I used 1/8” wall tube and 3/16” 4130 plate. The structure is plenty strong.
_________________
87 Syncro Westy
Honda K24 swap |
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Pchill2
Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2021
Posts: 406
Location: Georgia
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 7:42 pm Post subject: Re: Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
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| ALIKA T3 wrote: |
| The clearance can be measured from the lowest of the engine to the chassis, or say the skirt to have a reference anybody can use. |
Added a third reference measurement (ground to fender lip) so you guys can gauge what clearance you would based on your ground to fender lip measurement with your suspension and tire setup.
_________________
87 Syncro Westy
Honda K24 swap |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2023 5:49 am Post subject: Re: Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
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besides lack of familiarity of honda cars and parts
what years & models we're the viable K24s used in?
most of the other older donor vehicles are aging out and getting harder to find viable donor vehicles.
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Pchill2
Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2021
Posts: 406
Location: Georgia
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Borg
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2012
Posts: 120
Location: Western Washington
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| Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2023 12:00 pm Post subject: Re: Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
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As someone with a lot of miles on a now tired EJ22 the thought of swapping to something else is intriguing.
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shagginwagon83
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016
Posts: 3803
Location: VA/TN
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| Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2023 12:08 pm Post subject: Re: Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
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| Borg wrote: |
| As someone with a lot of miles on a now tired EJ22 the thought of swapping to something else is intriguing. |
Thought about doing a new OEM EJ25 short block with your current heads?
But even with my EJ22 I am still interested in the honda K-swap.
_________________
Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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joetiger 
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5078
Location: denver
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| Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2023 12:18 pm Post subject: Re: Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
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This makes me want to buy another van just to put one of these in it!
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"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
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2023 12:59 pm Post subject: Re: Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
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also a question in the engine management.
for a swap these would be a stand alone system?
or harvest the harness and ECM from the donor car?
trying to get a idea on the DIY levels here..
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| Abscate wrote: |
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Pchill2
Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2021
Posts: 406
Location: Georgia
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| Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2023 2:13 pm Post subject: Re: Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
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| danfromsyr wrote: |
also a question in the engine management.
for a swap these would be a stand alone system?
or harvest the harness and ECM from the donor car?
trying to get a idea on the DIY levels here.. |
K-Tuner, Hondata K-Pro, Haltech, or AEM ECU would be required for the swap.
I am running Hondata K-Pro but I believe all of the ECM manufacturers have pre-loaded base maps available to get you running. Likely every tuner with a dyno has used and is familiar with K-series engines and tuning them. I am running a base map with a tweaked fuel compensation value without issues and it makes plenty of power and low end torque.
I've pulled together a complete parts list on my build thread with costs. Basically 90% of the swap is done using off the shelf aftermarket parts that are readily available, including the wiring harness which I've seen on amazon for $79 (my harness is motorsport grade $$$$). The fabricated components were the engine cradle and the exhaust pipe which I'm pondering making a few sets.
The ECM to Vanagon adaptor harness is a Hybrid Racing universal K-swap harness pinned to the Vanagon black box gauge cluster connector. I believe it was only 5 wire connections to get everything running properly.
In my opinion, this swap is about as DIY friendly as it gets with the exception of the full plug and play $15k+ options out there. I did mine for just over $6k but already had most of the parts from my other car. Costs could come down significantly with the cheaper harness and plumbing with something other than expensive AN fittings like I did.
_________________
87 Syncro Westy
Honda K24 swap |
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MsTaboo
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 4098
Location: East Kootenay, British Columbia
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| Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2023 2:25 pm Post subject: Re: Any interest in Honda K-swap motor mount kit? |
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It's an intriguing engine, very similar to the Zetec used by Bostig, but a bit more modern. You may want to check out the Bostig site to get the idea of a full kit.
One question, it looks like you didn't use a catalytic converter? How will that play with people who need to pass emissions checks?
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Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec
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