Logo
968Forums.com / THE 968 FORUMS PUB / NON PORSCHE 968 RELATED DISCUSSIONS /

Powering a VW Bus


Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Threaded Mode
Powering a VW Bus
Anchorman
Posting Freak
*****
Posts: 2,554
Threads: 49
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation: 0
#1

12-30-2009, 09:24 PM
My son's wife is having an original (1970s vintage) VW Bus customized and rebuilt for her. My son is concerned about having the original 98hp engine in it, and has found out that a Porsche Type IV engine will fit. It's been suggested that this was a 914 engine. Does anyone know?
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
Reply
banditsc
Administrator
*******
Posts: 1,774
Threads: 77
Joined: Jul 2006
Reputation: 0
#2

12-30-2009, 09:28 PM
Yes, that would be the 914 motor. Check out Raby's, there motors are well known... http://www.aircooledtechnology.com/
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
Current:
2016 Cayman S
Former:
94 968 Cab 6 Spd. Black/Cashmere D1R SC
86.5 928 Garnet Red Metallic
Website
Reply
PorscheDude
Posting Freak
*****
Posts: 3,503
Threads: 144
Joined: Apr 2006
Reputation: 0
#3

12-30-2009, 09:32 PM
I've seen a few 3.2 conversions out there. That would be fun.
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
Reply
Anchorman
Posting Freak
*****
Posts: 2,554
Threads: 49
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation: 0
#4

12-30-2009, 09:49 PM
I just found Raby's - that would seem like a wonderful (and expensive?) way to go, but I don't think the time schedule will allow it. From a read of the RAT site (that I'm still doing), it appears that something like a 10-month period is required, and that amount of time isn't available. There must be other engine builders...
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
Reply
PorscheDude
Posting Freak
*****
Posts: 3,503
Threads: 144
Joined: Apr 2006
Reputation: 0
#5

12-30-2009, 09:49 PM
Or you could opt for the 520HP version.
http://volkswagen.indicevideos.com/video/5...an/8XvjVvFdMIY/
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
Reply
Anchorman
Posting Freak
*****
Posts: 2,554
Threads: 49
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation: 0
#6

12-30-2009, 10:01 PM
That is INSANE!!! What a blast!
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
Reply
flash
Administrator
*******
Posts: 28,070
Threads: 711
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation: 0
#7

12-30-2009, 10:04 PM
ok - a buddy crammed a turbo carrera motor in one of those, and i thought that was nuts, but wow!
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
94 Midnight Metallic Blue Cab Porsche 968 w/deviating cashmere/black interior and WAY too many mods to list - thanks to eric for creating www.968forums.com



"It isn't nearly as expensive to do it right as it is to do it wrong."
Reply
banditsc
Administrator
*******
Posts: 1,774
Threads: 77
Joined: Jul 2006
Reputation: 0
#8

12-30-2009, 10:47 PM
They offer kits, those motors are so simple to put together. They are about as basic as you can get..
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
Current:
2016 Cayman S
Former:
94 968 Cab 6 Spd. Black/Cashmere D1R SC
86.5 928 Garnet Red Metallic
Website
Reply
Anchorman
Posting Freak
*****
Posts: 2,554
Threads: 49
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation: 0
#9

12-30-2009, 10:53 PM
That probably would be fun, but this can't turn into a "project". His wife needs to have a vehicle to drive, not to look at and wonder when it will be finished. I'm going to contact Raby and see if - contrary to everything he says - he has an engine available. The alternative is to take delivery of the van with the stock engine, see how good (or bad) it is, and then go the Raby route while at least having something to drive. There must be other builders, though...
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
Reply
968kid
Member
***
Posts: 57
Threads: 18
Joined: Dec 2009
Reputation: 0
#10

12-30-2009, 10:56 PM
Knew a guy in high school who put a 911 engine in a bug, the thing was pretty sweet. Someone once told me that the early VW's and Porsches shared the same engine blocks.
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
Reply
Anchorman
Posting Freak
*****
Posts: 2,554
Threads: 49
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation: 0
#11

12-30-2009, 11:01 PM
I'm beginning to feel like you-know-who. I'm sure there are lots of interesting and funny stories about what folks have done to various VWs, but...does anyone know of an engine builder besides Jack Raby?
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
Reply
PorscheDude
Posting Freak
*****
Posts: 3,503
Threads: 144
Joined: Apr 2006
Reputation: 0
#12

12-30-2009, 11:10 PM
Try google, I'm sure there is someone who rebuild VW engines close by to wherever the bus is going to be kept.
Not rocket science. Engines don't get much simpler.
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
Reply
flash
Administrator
*******
Posts: 28,070
Threads: 711
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation: 0
#13

12-30-2009, 11:14 PM
you used to be able to buy hopped up crate motors in pretty much any size you wanted from a couple of different places - pretty bullet proof stuff too
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
94 Midnight Metallic Blue Cab Porsche 968 w/deviating cashmere/black interior and WAY too many mods to list - thanks to eric for creating www.968forums.com



"It isn't nearly as expensive to do it right as it is to do it wrong."
Reply
Chris Vais
Posting Freak
*****
Posts: 1,335
Threads: 59
Joined: Mar 2006
Reputation: 0
#14

12-31-2009, 05:19 AM
Back when I was a kid I had a VW fan that we used to haul surfboards around California when we went on our surfing safaris. As was their habit the the number three exhaust valve failed due to the rather poor engine cooling typical of the model. We replaced with a 90 hp Porsche engine that we purchased at a salvage yard. Installed, along with an oil cooler and some improvements to the body work to promote better cooling we had a nice surf van that was actually capable of getting out of the way of it's own shadow.

A restored one similar to the one we had, complete with three period surfboards went for something like $70K in the Barrett-Jackson auto auctions last year. If only I had... Oh well.
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
Chris Vais
1994 Coupe Midnight Blue Metallic
2015 Audi Allroad Quattro Brilliant Black
2008 Audi A5 Brilliant Black
Reply
stewhatch
Member
***
Posts: 199
Threads: 15
Joined: Jul 2006
Reputation: 0
#15

12-31-2009, 10:02 AM
There are a few options for Type 4 or Type 1 engines, such as SCAT. I had several old VW Bugs and a few 914's that were lightly modified and the best resource for aftermarket parts / crate motors could be found in any edition of Hot VW magazine. I was thumbing thru a new edition just a few days ago at a local Chapters. IIRC a lot of these businesses were on the West coast though. Try looking up Tangerine Racing www.tangerineracing.com I believe they're in CT.
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
(This post was last modified: 12-31-2009, 10:07 AM by stewhatch.)
Reply
flash
Administrator
*******
Posts: 28,070
Threads: 711
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation: 0
#16

12-31-2009, 12:10 PM
yeah - SCAT was one of the good ones - glad to hear they are still around
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
94 Midnight Metallic Blue Cab Porsche 968 w/deviating cashmere/black interior and WAY too many mods to list - thanks to eric for creating www.968forums.com



"It isn't nearly as expensive to do it right as it is to do it wrong."
Reply
Lonestar968
Member
***
Posts: 225
Threads: 20
Joined: Jun 2008
Reputation: 0
#17

12-31-2009, 12:12 PM
That has got to be one of the most amazing videos I've seen all year! OMG! The feeling of helplessness to see a VW van filling your rear view at that rate of closure, hell at ANY rate of closure for that matter, has got to be humbling. All I can say is WOW...............

I have a VW mechanic friend in Germany who is also crazy about VW vans. That's all he owns. He plucked an Audi 5 cylinder turbo diesel motor out of a wrecked vehicle and plugged it into one of his vans. After some chipping and tuning it was thoroughly scary to ride in but felt very competent going down the road. Solid in fact. Amazing torque! Fun on the autobahn that's for sure!
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
Dan

'95 968 Coupe



"Dream like you'll live forever... Live like you'll die today"

James Dean
Reply
Anchorman
Posting Freak
*****
Posts: 2,554
Threads: 49
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation: 0
#18

12-31-2009, 02:13 PM
Thanks, Stewhatch - off to the newsstands shortly. I've taken a quick look at Tangerine Racing and will contact them. Maybe I'll open them up to a new line of business.
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
Reply
Ryan
Posting Freak
*****
Posts: 1,511
Threads: 51
Joined: Feb 2005
Reputation: 0
#19

12-31-2009, 05:24 PM
My first car was a 66 split window bus w/the 1500cc 53 horse engine. Man...the stories I could tell. I built it to a 1640cc and it was still slow but boy was it fun.
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
92 968 cab (cobalt blue/black top/grey int)

87 944S

19 Audi A6 3.0T

03 Toyota Tundra

 
Reply
Anchorman
Posting Freak
*****
Posts: 2,554
Threads: 49
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation: 0
#20

12-31-2009, 05:56 PM
Her current ride is a Mini Cooper S - and she also uses (and enjoys) their G55. That's why there's concern that the bus being built for her may feel weak. We're trying to get the exact engine specs of the builder's current plan, but don't have them yet. The primary purpose of the bus will be for her to haul their bulldogs.
Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.
Reply
« Next Oldest | Next Newest »


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)