The most obvious issue is that there is no clear place to put a radiator.
Would need or at least want the gearing from the vanagon and probably some additional bracing.
But would it even fit?
OK it appears that the answer is "possibly" because there is some evidence that it may have happened:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=439807Amusing thread does make the point that maybe what i really want is a TDI swapped Iltis.
Also the guy saying the peugot 1.6D is better -- isn't that engine a licensed copy of the VW 1.6D?
no idea.
There was a guy on here that put a VW diesel into a porche and had it on TV for some fuel mileage challenge. It maybe similar.
they make adapters for the later 4 cylinder watercooled engines to bolt on to air cooled transmissions. there have probably been tons of air cooled gas engines installed in vw things, or atleast other air cooled cars for u to get an idea of how it is usually done, since they'd face basically all the same challenges as someone installing a diesel.
As someone who's owned both; I'd say yes, but it's gonna need some cutting at the rear apron to clear the timing cover. Height-wise you could probably even get away with a 15-deg install.
Stay with a T2 or T3 transmission (which is what the 181 was originally spec'ed to have along with reduction axles) and you can simply change the bellhousing to a diesel Vanagon piece and bolt it right up to the engine without adapters. DV (diesel Vanagon) trans would be the no-brainer here.
You need D.V. engine carrier bars and engine mounts, all readily available. The bars mount to the frame rails on the Vanagon, so you'll need to figure out a mounting scheme, or design custom items.
The radiator isn't a big deal; since the spare is mounted up on top of the trunk well and not in front like a Beetle, just mount it right up front and cut air vents on front for intake and exit thru the bottom panel with some basic shrouding and an electric fan to direct the flow. Marine hose for cooling, or Vanagon piping parts. Don't forget a Vanagon rear heater... now you can have real heat in the winter!
Thanks!
Though, having dug around the internets some more, I think maybe what i really need in my life is an Iltis.
Thanks!
Though, having dug around the internets some more, I think maybe what i really need in my life is an Iltis.
Yeah, that would be the much easier route, be a bad-ass vehicle with a nice TDI in it. Not only was it the replacement for the 181, it's the originator of the Quattro drivetrain.