Author Topic: 1980 Dasher - what engines/transmissions will fit? (Read 8880 times)

hipifreq · « **on:** January 26, 2008, 01:20:01 pm »

Well, bummer news on my Dasher. My timing belt blew out, and it isn't looking pretty.

Was in the process of taking the head off to check the internals, and saw that the cam shaft broke into three pieces!

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Pretty nasty break, and I haven't dug any deeper. I've gotta let this sink in a little first. Of course, I'm assuming that the nasty break of the cam shaft has probably destroyed the head, any thoughts?

Anyway, I'll continue diagnosing the damage, but am thinking of acquiring another engine to replace the original 1.5L that's in the car (already bored to +0.50mm). There's a 1.6L from an '82 Vanagon that's available around here for only $400 too, so relatively cheap even if I need to do a rebuild.

So on to the question:

What engines can I put in this bay? Will the Vanagon engine fit, or were they laid out differently? Not sure of the tranny code, but it's the stock 4 speed.

RabbitJockey · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2008, 01:23:17 pm »

u can put any vw motor in it the only real difference is that the engine sits on a different angle, the only physical difference is the air box and the oil pan, and a thrown timing belt won't hurt either of those. so all u need is another 1.5 or 1.6 out of anything, switch over your accesories, your pan, and ur air box if they're different i'm not sure if the air box is different or not. then drive ur car

VW Smokr · « **Reply #2 on:** January 26, 2008, 08:22:05 pm »

Have to agree on the above mentioned parts swap. Remember to change the oil pump/pickup also if you use an engine from a Vanagon or Golf/Jetta/Rabbit. No problems with interchanging 1.5 to 1.6. As you know the 1981 Dasher diesel got the 1.6L engines. Make sure the engine mounts are in good shape; a loosey-goosey left mount can send a TD pump's LDA crashing into the underside of the hood. BTDT

Transmission-wise, any of the manual trannies(used with 4-cylinder engines) from the Audi Fox, Audi 4000, Dasher, Quantum, or VW Fox will fit. There is a bit of tunnel re-working to be done to get the 5-speeds in there, but it's not difficult. Ideal trans may be the 5-speed from the Quantum 1.6L TD, due to closer spread of the gear ratios. OTOH the Dasher weighs a few hundred pounds less, model for model, than the Quantum, so even the higher-geared trannies may work OK for you. Just make certain you get the complete shift linkage for whichever trans you'll be using. Here's Adams's list of misc. gearboxes that work & their ratios: http://www.lunaticfringe.org/vwfox/mod/transmission-swap-specs.html

Might want to check out the Dasher Owner Group site http://dog.mp3equipped.com/dog/ for Dasher-specific questions also. Some of the participants there run diesels, but most are 'gassers'; some have both.

Hope the head's still workable. New & used cams are around. PM me soon if you need a used cam; a buddy is pulling the plug on his VW garage after 25 years. He probably has a couple. He's also got a complete factory turbocharged 1.9IDI for sale.

Best wishes.

J.R.

vegfuel · « **Reply #3 on:** January 26, 2008, 09:14:16 pm »

Did they make a 5 cyl diesel for Audi or the Quantum?

If so you should see if you can't find one. If not you should try a TD for extra power in a wagon.

Those little 1.6 NAs make the vanagons slow as hell.

Quantum TD · « **Reply #4 on:** January 26, 2008, 10:12:20 pm »

Quote from: "vegfuel"

Did they make a 5 cyl diesel for Audi or the Quantum?

If so you should see if you can't find one. If not you should try a TD for extra power in a wagon.

Those little 1.6 NAs make the vanagons slow as hell.

In the US, the 5 cyl diesel was available only in Audis, and only up to 1986 I believe. The motor itself will fit into the engine bay, but will not directly bolt up to the original trans in the dasher (4cyl). But if you can get a package deal (5 cyl, trans, radiator, mounting parts, etc), I'm sure that you could make it work somehow...

MJF · « **Reply #5 on:** January 27, 2008, 01:13:53 am »

5 cyl engine won´t fit in Dashers engine bay without big modifications. Engine is just too long.

Turbinepowered · « **Reply #6 on:** January 27, 2008, 04:27:49 am »

Quote from: "MJF"

5 cyl engine won´t fit in Dashers engine bay without big modifications. Engine is just too long.

Ditto what he said. I have a five cylinder Audi diesel (And the transmission for it to, 5-speed manual...). I have a Dasher diesel. Compatibility between these two is not easily attained!

Now, 5-cylinder diesel in a Quantum is easy. Plug and play if you had a five pot gas engine.

Quantum TD · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2008, 11:38:26 am »

Quote from: "Turbinepowered"

Quote from: "MJF"
5 cyl engine won´t fit in Dashers engine bay without big modifications. Engine is just too long.

Ditto what he said. I have a five cylinder Audi diesel (And the transmission for it to, 5-speed manual...). I have a Dasher diesel. Compatibility between these two is not easily attained!

Now, 5-cylinder diesel in a Quantum is easy. Plug and play if you had a five pot gas engine.

I stand corrected

hipifreq · « **Reply #8 on:** January 29, 2008, 11:43:16 pm »

OK, So I went with a 1.6L na from a Vanagon, which I acquired for only $200USD. Got it cheap as I'm giving back the Vanagon specific parts like the oil pan and pump, and replacing them with the parts off the Dasher. Came with the fuel pump too.

Now I'm taking it all apart, checking everything out, and gonna bring the block and head to the machine shop. Hopefully I can get it all together and make it run.

This'll be my first rebuild!

VW Fox · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2008, 07:02:00 am »

I'd suggest you at least get a VW Fox 4-speed transmission to replace the stock Dasher 4-speed because it'll lower your highway RPMs (0.882 vs. 0.778 4th), and since you'll have easy access to take it out with the engine removed. It will bolt up using the Dasher transmission mount and works just fine with the Dasher shifter linkage. It's the same size so there aren't any body modifications necessary. The Fox's gears are a wider spaced so I'd just drop out of boost between gear changes (1.6L TD) unless I revved it out.

When my 1980 Dasher wagon was upgraded with a 5-speed, the "humps" on the sides of the transmission tunnel were cut off and the top of the tunnel cut out and replaced with a custom larger one. In retrospect hammering and/or minor "enlargening" could have sufficed. If you're planning on keeping this car a while and want to make it more enjoyable to drive, a 5-speed will definitely help with that.

I'm running a 5M (0.600 5th); I believe they came in all 1.7L gas Audi 4000s / VW Quantums.

I'm remembering having to get a VW Fox speedometer cable too, but I think that was because I upgraded to a 200 km/h Cabriolet speedometer (and the speedometer end went from a spin-on to a clip-on).

Good luck with the project and sorry to see the camshaft damage.