For information on engine conversions you are better off joining a dedicated forum. I
suggest the 'Non VW Engine Conversion' section at http://www.aussieveedubbers.com/
forum/index.php
There is plenty of info there although it does seem tolean a little towards WRX conversion
in to Beetles!
Also Brad from Custom Off Road (as mentioned by Les) is a moderator. I think their
conversions are $8800 walk in walk out, using EJ22's which would be entirely suitable for a
2x4 conversion IMHO. There may be info there regarding someone in Melbourne who can
help you.
Greg it is possible to get a reasonable amount more poke out of the VW waterboxer \if
that is what you want, but of course it come at a price. A company in Adelaide do some
good work with working the cylindr heads and along with the chip that is available form
Boris in Sydney, added to a decent exhaust and some higher ratio lifter you could make a
damn nice engine, even better if you can lay your hands on an Oettinger crank (hens
teeth!) but you'll get no change from $8k or so. Trying to find someone who will work on a
converted bus is not easy either and you must bear that in mind when considering a
conversion. There are few good reasons for this. IMO it is because many mechanics LOOK
for reasons not to do jobs - including some of my friends.
Dirk,regarding the lack of Diesel conversions here in Aus, I concur completely with Phil ie.
if VW (and Audi) had imported even 10% of their cars as diesel powered vehicles,many
more would go that route. An intercooled, mechanically pumped 1.9TDi would be a
wonderful conversion but, at a guess it would likely cost A$25000 to carry out here!
The lack of revving ability of the TD engines is an issue for some, me included (and I have
owned one).
Regarding my conversion - I have been giving it a real work out over the last few
weekends and taken it in some much softer sand and it performs at least as well as I had
hoped and I am very very happy. I still have not got around to the finishing off I mentioned
in my post from a few weeks ago but I did find the leak I mentioned - I had not sufficiently
tightened up the union for the pressure pipe to the power steering pump and had been
spouting hyd. fluid the whole time. Doh. The SOHC 2.5 Subaru is definately the best
engine I could have chosen for MY purposes.
On another topic, it was nice to see the Vicco (and (Ossyncro) busses in this months AVW
magazine.
My posts always seem so long. Sorry folks!
Regards,
Andy.
Ceduna.
suggest the 'Non VW Engine Conversion' section at http://www.aussieveedubbers.com/
forum/index.php
There is plenty of info there although it does seem tolean a little towards WRX conversion
in to Beetles!
Also Brad from Custom Off Road (as mentioned by Les) is a moderator. I think their
conversions are $8800 walk in walk out, using EJ22's which would be entirely suitable for a
2x4 conversion IMHO. There may be info there regarding someone in Melbourne who can
help you.
Greg it is possible to get a reasonable amount more poke out of the VW waterboxer \if
that is what you want, but of course it come at a price. A company in Adelaide do some
good work with working the cylindr heads and along with the chip that is available form
Boris in Sydney, added to a decent exhaust and some higher ratio lifter you could make a
damn nice engine, even better if you can lay your hands on an Oettinger crank (hens
teeth!) but you'll get no change from $8k or so. Trying to find someone who will work on a
converted bus is not easy either and you must bear that in mind when considering a
conversion. There are few good reasons for this. IMO it is because many mechanics LOOK
for reasons not to do jobs - including some of my friends.
Dirk,regarding the lack of Diesel conversions here in Aus, I concur completely with Phil ie.
if VW (and Audi) had imported even 10% of their cars as diesel powered vehicles,many
more would go that route. An intercooled, mechanically pumped 1.9TDi would be a
wonderful conversion but, at a guess it would likely cost A$25000 to carry out here!
The lack of revving ability of the TD engines is an issue for some, me included (and I have
owned one).
Regarding my conversion - I have been giving it a real work out over the last few
weekends and taken it in some much softer sand and it performs at least as well as I had
hoped and I am very very happy. I still have not got around to the finishing off I mentioned
in my post from a few weeks ago but I did find the leak I mentioned - I had not sufficiently
tightened up the union for the pressure pipe to the power steering pump and had been
spouting hyd. fluid the whole time. Doh. The SOHC 2.5 Subaru is definately the best
engine I could have chosen for MY purposes.
On another topic, it was nice to see the Vicco (and (Ossyncro) busses in this months AVW
magazine.
My posts always seem so long. Sorry folks!
Regards,
Andy.
Ceduna.