TDI vs AAZ in Vanagon???

[upchuck]

Just curious which way you guys would recommend going for a swap?

[trent77]

Personally I would love to do a tdi in a bus. but the aaz would be the simplest to swap, due to less wiring. But how cool would a 70's westy be with a tdi... good luck keep us posted on your decision.

[jimfoo]

There would be no more wiring if you made it an m-tdi than there would be doing an AAZ. :twisted:  More power and better mileage.

[BleachedBora]

And for those who say cost is not an issue, there are PD 150 conversion kits for the Vanagon--complete with ECU and everything.
Big Big $$$$$ though--but ~5 have gone for it...
-BB

[upchuck]

well right now this is just in the brainstorm phase - i'm still working out the bugs and other little details to get my 87 jetta 1.6na transplant tip top...

i do have a 78 aircooled campmobile, but i don't think i could use that for the swap - it only has about 15k miles on a rebuilt 2.0 and it doesn't have the pop top style with the bed up top.  so i think i'd prefer getting a later model vanagon with the westy poptop that lets you sleep up top, plus power steering and a solid suspension and sell my bus to fund the project.

i do like the sound of more power and fuel economy with a tdi.  i also like the idea of more set up ease with m-tdi.  but mostly i would be looking to keep costs under control and save money by wrenching and keep it simple.  it sounds like, if i am correct, that a m-tdi would be the most expensive route because of the ip setup costs.  also, i would likely want to run alt fuel like bio or wvo.  i suspect that tdi's would be less forgiving to that?  

so i'm thinking that maybe the aaz would be the way to go?  i don't know much about turbos at all but it sounds like the 1.6 headers with a t3 is supposed to fit well and be reasonably easy to source used.

now trannys...  there's a subject i don't even want to think about right now

thanks for the opinions.  hopefully this will turn into a plan rather than a day dream before too long!
 

[RabbitJockey]

i've seen a tdi swap in a van and helped with some of the process.  it's not really all that bad imo

[Vanagoner]

M-TDI is where I'll end up, but the IDI's are fine engines when in good shape, even non-turbo if you have patience and don't commute over the cascades.  I have enough other things to restore on my camper, and I'll enjoy it IDI 'till I have time and $ for the big engine build.
     A lot of original diesel campers were converted to gas, I'd look for one of those to convert back to D.  Might be cheaper/easier than an original D at this point.
     Tranny's are simple.  If you find an '83 w/5sp. you just won the lottery (and need to have it rebuilt right away).  Otherwise swap in an 091 4 speed out of an air-cooled 2.0 late bay or early vanagon.  do this only if you have enough extra power from stock to push the taller gears.
    My transaxle fantasy is to relocate the trans forward, the engine back, and mount a volvo electromechanical overdrive between them.  Could probably find the right gear with that.  

[Otis2]

now trannys...  there's a subject i don't even want to think about right now

thanks for the opinions.  hopefully this will turn into a plan rather than a day dream before too long!
 

You're going to have to think about the trans if you go TDI.  The Vanagon gears are so low, that the TDI will be turning way too fast at highway speeds unless you rebuild the trans with a higher top gear.  The AAZ engine will run acceptably at higher RPMs than a TDI.

[caddywompus]

We've done several fully electronic TDI Vanagon conversions as well as a few AAZ conversions.  Hands down the TDI engine takes the cake in power, efficiency, tune-ability, etc.  But it is ALOT more work both in wiring, debugging, etc.  This makes cost almost double what an AAZ conversion costs.  Here's a link to some of our conversions:

http://www.greaseworks.org/modules.php?set_albumName=album14&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php


Justin

[RabbitJockey]

do a vr6 swap haha

[subsonic]

do a vr6 swap haha

Heck, just cut some sheet metal, do a bit of fabbing and drop in a turbo charged, EFI small block 350.  Make it a stroker so you get 383.  Straight pipes sticking right out the back.  You could have round metal VW emblams on the end of the pipes as baffles, with the spark plug addition right at the tips-so they can see you at night :shock:  :wink:

Of course you will need to run slicks and add a wheelie bar, but man that would be cool!!

[VicF]

There are quite a few resources for folks putting tdi and idi engines into a Vanagon, my 85 Westy has a 2.2T from a Subaru Legacy in it, did all the work myself but the folks on the subaru vanagon list on yahoo made it possible for me to do this conversion. The best place to get your transaxle done is AAA.

  newbielink:http://www.aatransaxle.com/index.htm [nonactive]

He is excellent in my opinion, going to get him to install the limited slip in my trans which has a taller 3 and 4th.

 There used to be a guy in Quesnel B.C. doing TDI installs into Synchro's but I think he has quit.

His name is David Marshall and he used to be on the yahoo vanagon/TDI site on yahoo a lot, there are a number of groups in yahoo discussing exactly what you want to do, if you search the groups you will find them.

Anything to do with conversions outside of the engine itself I would recommend lurking on the the vanagon list. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people on this list when it comes to stuff like brake kits etc.

newbielink:http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/subaruvanagon/ [nonactive]

For a bell housing conversion plate I am sure these folks can help you out.

newbielink:http://www.kennedyeng.com/ [nonactive]

Lots of good stuff here.

newbielink:http://vanagon.com/ [nonactive]

Cheers Vic.