1.6 td in a Syncro Van?

[burnskiez]

Heeello All,
   New here, I've lurked here a bit in the past, mostly been a samba follower since I got rid of my old 84 rabbit diesel.  Now I've got a wild hare to put a diesel in my Syncro Vanagon.  I've been really impressed with some of the 1.6 tds I've seen around here and its got me curious as to how well it would push the syncro around.  I've got no need at all for a hot rod, and my transmission is out due to the 3/4 slider failure so I can regear easily as well if needed.  I'm looking for reliablity, torque for off road use, and economy, hoping for at least 25 mpg.  If this gives you any idea of how I drive and what I require, I was completely satisfied with the 2.1 in the van, it just has low oil pressure issues which seem to be getting worse and I'd like to get back what I lost when I put 15" rims with bfg a/ts on.  I tow a little dirt bike trailer around sometimes as well, but even the 2.1 didnt seem to be too bothered by it, so I doubt its an issue.  I also plan on installing an oil cooler with which ever engine I end up going with.  I've always like the 1.6 na whether it was my pops caddy or my rabbit, and I'd feel much better about running biodiesel through the 1.6td rather than a newer more expensive tdi.  Anyhow, thanks for all the great posts I always read here, makes stuff like this possible for bored hacks like myself.

Kerry

[burnskiez]

Yes, from the start I was a fan of the 1.9 m-tdi swap but it looks like I'll be headed back to school for a year and a half and couple that with some other financial constraints and its got me looking at all my options once again.  Could the 1.6td swap be a good possible interim swap, What I mean being if I converted to the 1.6td, regeared my tranny to optimize mpg, diesel bellhousing, begin the search for the rare diesel syncro fuel tank, could I then swap the tdi in at a later date without any hassle, other than getting the harness modded? 

Kerry

[the caveman]

You could also consider what i did. 1.9 non turbo, with a Giles super pump, and keep the inlet and exhaust large -2 1/2 " . More torque than a stock 1.6 TD which is what you need to push that nose through the air. I have a 5 speed but i'll do a bit of research into what gearing would work for you with your 4 speed.

[the caveman]

  "Caveman, any time you want to race for pinks your 1.9 non-turbo against my 1.6TD vanagon, I'm game. " 

!!!!
  yeah but yours isn't stock. Mine is dead low right off the line, but once rolling, i can more than keep up with traffic. plus i'm a born and bred Montreal driver. If you don't know what that means, just ask around.
 my pal with his intercooled AAZ 4 speed is definitely quicker. But he's always tinkering with it.  i barely even  open the engine cover.

 of course if i ever go down to visit my uncle in  tuscon, i'll  be the guy honking and revving the engine outside your house !

[the caveman]

My girlfriend and I were going to do a big road trip this year to visit my uncle and tour AZ, Utah, Colorado, etc. But it will have to wait until next year as we  to take a trip to Northern Ireland and Scotland this fall. Definitely next year, although i doubt i'll still have my Transporter.

[burnskiez]

Thanks for the replies.  Its a good thing I found out now that the 1.6 and tdi wouldn't enjoy the same transmission, looks like I'll be stickin with my m-tdi plans may just be a while before the whole shebang gets underway though, beats rebuilding my tranny twice though, cost about as much as I paid for the whole van anyways.  The tdi will get much better mileage anyways, I reckon, but for some reason I have a soft spot for those tiny td's, the engine compartment has such a clean simple look and they sure pushed the cars and caddys around fine, but the syncro van will be best suited by a bit more torque and not having to work as hard to achieve it.  As far as the 1.9 aaz goes, I guess everytime I see one of those for sale here in california or anywhere close, they seem to be about the same price as a tdi, and from what I've heard parts arent any cheaper either.  Seems like any good running vdub diesel is hard to pry from the hands of its owner, can't say I've been happy about the few I've had to part with over the years,    , but soon enough the van will be doin its tdi tick down the road, soon  enough.

Kerry

[macka]

what about Mexico? They got AAZ's IIRC

[burnskiez]

Huh, thats a good point.  Anyone got any experience bringing back a diesel engine from mexico?  It'd be really nice if I could grab one in baja, I make frequent trips down anyways.  

Kerry

[Luckypabst]

Where in the Eastern Sierra? Mammoth?

Last time I had my Westy out here, I made right at 25 mpg over about 900 miles from Costa Mesa to Bridgeport and back with 1.6 TD. Sherwin grade will kick your ass every time, though.

Chris

[burnskiez]

Oh hey you're my neighbor practically,  .  I'm in the bishop area, paradise actually up on the hill.  Sherwin always has me in 2nd by the top, its a lot of motivation not to drive north ever unless is really necessary.  The 1.9 tdi will definitely make me happy on that hill though, I'll be so excited to drive over that and tioga and up bishop pass area once I get the project all sewn up.  I'm sure I've seen you around, I drive the olive drab spray-can paint job (previous owner) syncro, got a solar panel and box up top, we've probably passed on the road. 

Kerry

[Luckypabst]

For some reason your van sounds slightly familiar! I left my Westy down south, trying to maybe sell it since I bought an F250 for quicker trips into Saline. Otherwise I drive an 81 diesel Caddy that I bought locally, that used to be serviced up there at Sierra German Auto.

Sherwin was a good drive when they were doing the construction and the speed limit was 35... at least then I had an alibi! It's hard not to make that climb in the summer, when things are heating up down here in the valley. I smoked my brakes one summer coming down Bishop canyon... yikes!

Give me a holler when you get started on that TDi swap... I might have a few things to make it a little easier.

Chris

[burnskiez]

Yeah thats the worst part, you kinda gotta head up to the higher elevations on a regular basis to keep sane and happy in the heat.  I don't even mind driving that slow really, its just the 12-14 mpg that my van seems to get regularly heading up to south lake or sabrina that really drives me crazy.  And comin down those hills I'm always so grateful to have a manual, I hate driving my girlfriend's crv auto, have to ride the brakes a lot around here.  The tdi swap is gonna be a little bit in the future, but who knows, its mostly dependent on when I find a good deal, we'll see what I can come up with.

Kerry

[Luckypabst]

Supposedly there's a late model Golf in the area that was rolled while still under warranty. I already offered cold cash but the lady wanted to hold on to it for some reason. Probably an ALH engine though, not ideal for your swap.

Chris

[burnskiez]

Oh, now thats interesting, wonder if she still has it.  I would love to get my hands on it, I believe the ALH is the engine I want, combined with an m-TDI pump, best performance and economy albiet a bit more startup cost and a lot more of a time investment. 

Kerry

[Luckypabst]

Cool...
I've been working on (well 'was working on', actually) a few parts specific to swapping an ALH into a Vanagon. I've been feeling the itch to pull those projects off the back burner... of course my hard drive self-destructed a few weeks ago and I lost a few key AutoCAD files... Live and learn.

The Golf was a friend-of-a-friend kinda thing. Next time I see that friend, I'll ask about it.

Chris