‘82 Aircooled Westfalia Engine Upgrade/Replacement

[rolis17]

Hey everyone.

I wanted to get everyone insight on either replacing my air cooled engine with another (not sure how difficult they are to source.) or Subaru swap it. I’ve read up on the process for the last month and a half and if I do decide to water cool swap it, I’d be doing it myself. I’m not in a hurry to replace it, compression is great, no fuel injection leaks, no overheating. Everything runs great so far, however I am looking towards the future and what I want to do.

Does anyone know where I can source reliable air cooled engines, either used or rebuilt for the vanagon or any tips on Subaru swapping my westy? Or if finding another air cooled engine not specific to the vanagon and swapping it in.

Thanks!

[khughes]

Well, there are two in the Classifieds: a rebuild for $3500ish from Noname garage in Eugene, and a used one for $750 (but it appears to be very flexible) in the Soquel area a bit closer to you.

Personally, I'd do the swap - faster, better climber, much better mileage. Have fun!
_________________
'86 Westy FAS GenV Turbo (Marvin)

[rolis17]

[GoEverywhere]

I've got experience doing both. When I bought my '80 I blew the original motor a week later and had to replace it. I swapped it for an upgraded aircooled engine. It worked out fine, pushed it up to 150HP. Unfortunately I cracked a crank in it 40k miles later. At that point I did the whole watercooled Subaru swap. Honestly, its WAY better. The 150HP engine pushed it around just fine and was a good upgrade from stock, but it still wasn't FAST. It still lost speed up long grades, it still got passed by most things...

With the Subaru I built (I went with a turbo EJ20x, so more power than most builds) its absolutely night and day difference.
I can ACCELERATE up any grade I like in 4th gear, I don't have to downshift and floor it to maintain speed. I barely have to give it any throttle at all. Now, your usual Subaru *NON* turbo swap won't have as much pep as mine does, but its still going to be a massive change.

I don't think honestly I'd EVER reinstall a stock aircooled engine in a Vanagon. Ever. 67HP just isn't enough to push them around.

[rolis17]

[markswagen]

l've done a few air-cooled to subaru conversions, the last one, was manual to 3 speed automatic while l was at it.
my advice, start collecting parts, keep the majority of the cooling system stock, it works, and go late model where you can.
as it was an improvement over the early stuff.
at the front you'll need
1, upper radiator mount, it'll have to be cut from a donor shell, and lower radiator mounts, and their speed nuts, or what ever they are called.
2, radiator, there are different quality ones out there, ones an inch thick, the other an inch and a half.
3, 1987 and newer 70amp fan, shroud, and it's wiring harness, relay and 2 speed resistor.
4, late model front heater assembly, replace the fan, and heater matrix and the valve
5, stainless coolant pipes, l prefer the RMW pipes over the rest, if you are doing a conversion order the syncro / conversion pipes, they also have a stainless pipe that goes from the thermostat housing up to meet their pipe.
6, late model instrument cluster with a tachometer, you will also need the #42 relay for it's warning of an empty cooling system, and over heating, l did one where the owner wanted his stock cluster, and had me put in 2 gauge pod so he could have oil pressure and temp, coolant temp and a tachometer, it cost him more $ than a late model cluster, and it looked too busy.
7, now, with double the horsy powers, if there's an unknown issue with your transmission, it'll find it.
l recommend a rebuild, while the van is down, rather than waiting until the conversion is running.
and my preference l'd convert to a late model transmission, for ease of the conversion if nothing else, the kennedy intake boot for an aircooled, l think must be more restrictive than the later water cooled ones.
_________________
markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.

619 201 0310

[GoEverywhere]

[markswagen]

note that the OP is in Berkley, l assume california, so he needs to be CARB compliant, that puts a big hole in most plans, only conversions l know of that are CARB legal, is the EJ22 from kennedy, and the 1.8t, from SAH, l don't think anyone else has the EO to run a conversion.

[GoEverywhere]