for questions and answers about alternative power transplants on the T25, GTi, Porsche,Subaru etc, this is the place. You must register to post but anyone can read.
I have had a 1.9 tdi conversion and a Subaru twin turbo conversion. The 1.9 tdi cost a fortune and added sweet F.A value.
If it was me I would forget the VW engines and go Subaru.
The tdi only ever gave me 35-40 mpg.
The Subaru accelarates like a hot hatch and still gives me low 20's (sometimes low 10's when I drive it hard, which is always when I come to think about it )
Subaru every day of the week
89 caravelle 2.0 twin turbo subaru
87 Merc G wagon 3.0D
95 Audi RS2
04 Honda civic 1.7td
jimmypatch wrote:I have had a 1.9 tdi conversion and a Subaru twin turbo conversion. The 1.9 tdi cost a fortune and added sweet F.A value.
If it was me I would forget the VW engines and go Subaru.
The tdi only ever gave me 35-40 mpg.
The Subaru accelarates like a hot hatch and still gives me low 20's (sometimes low 10's when I drive it hard, which is always when I come to think about it )
Subaru every day of the week
dont follow your logic there...you recommend the one that gives less than half the MPG.....
why dont you like the tdi? 40mpg for a two tonne brick shaped thing...probably driven hard dont sound bad to me
California Dreamin wrote:
How people can say they get 33mpg out of a 2E engine fitted in a 2000Kg van is beyond me!
Martin
Isn't this the same for Subaru motors, 25-28mpg in the original car but in a T3 they seem to get around 32-35mpg?
Must be the gearing?
Gearing yeah! much lower in a T3 so more engine cycles for each mile travelled hmmmmm so that would mean even LOWER MPG wouldn't it?
I think people just need to be a little more honest with themselves and stop misleading others that maybe thinking of the same conversion.
I know it's human nature to big up the conversion that you have spent money on yourself but bending the truth to justify the expense doesn't help anyone.
I think that if the buyer comes from the T3/T25 community and has experience of the poor performance of the original engines then they would be more willing to consider a conversion. How well the conversion has been done and by whom will affect its desirability. I have the VR6 in mine and it has been done exceptionally well and the engine bay is tidy. It has also been in for quite a few years and has proved reliable. All of these things increase the desirability.
If the buyer is not familiar with these vehicles then they are more likely to go for what ever it came from the factory with. It makes sense. How many of you has had to hunt for a part for your converted engine because you weren't quite sure what it was off. An example of this is the AAZ conversion. It isn't all AAZ. It uses other bits and pieces as well (such as parts from the JX). If you don't know what they are then how do you know what replacement part to get? Most guys who convert don't necessarily catalog what parts were used because they know what they did. Doesn't help the next owner though does it.
That said I sometimes wonder why people get a conversion done. Especially on the 2.1's. They are a cracking engine and suit the vehicle well. I often wonder if people criticise them because they have only ever driven a van with a poorly set up or sick engine. I have had a 2.1mv in a Syncro that ran like a Swiss watch. I would never have considered changing it. Drove perfectly. MPG wise I got the similar figures to the VR6 I have now (well it was slightly better than the VR6). Simple faults can make a massive difference to performance. A crack or rotten exhaust can rob massive performance from your engine. Incorrect timing again can cause problems and sap performance.
I have just had my starter motor replaced and the have always thought that the starter just wasn't up to turning over the VR6 so have investigated getting a starter rewound for more torque. I now realise the old starter was just goosed. The new one has transformed starting. I didn't need a beefier starter just a good starter. This is a good example of what I am talking about. The old starter has been working for the 2 1/2 years I have had it just not well. A well performing standard starter has transformed it. Make sure what you have is working at its best then decide if you need something better. It will save you loads in the long run.
I was bought up on big sixes and V8s and love the sound and effortless power they produce. I know a well set up small capacity engine can produce amazing amounts of power and torque but I just like the big engines. I find the extra power means it is easier to drive in modern traffic conditions. My van will top a ton if I want it too and it will get there quickly but I don't drive it like that. The extra power just means less planning when your trying to overtake! This is why I like an engine conversion.
My VR6 wasn't as well set up as it is now when I bought it. It has taken 2 years of gradual refinement to get it to the point it is now. This has neither been cheap or easy. A voyage of discovery. I enjoy the tinkering and am willing to give most things a go so am happy to consider a vehicle with an engine conversion. Most people however take there vehicles to a garage and that can be very expensive if the vehicle isn't standard. Lets face it most of the younger generation mechanics are really just computer operators who can wield a spanner. They don't know how to identify the root cause of a problem any more. This is a general statement but valid as not everyone has a good VW T3/T25 specialist within spitting distance.
In summary
- Most ordinary people prefer a standard engine and their are more ordinary buyers out there.
- If people want a van with a more powerful engine they would prefer to know it's pedigree (i.e. who did the conversion)
- People need to accept that it is harder to maintain a non standard conversion (because of unknowns) and usually more expensive.
- If you are considering converting ask yourself why and ask is your engine running well.
- An engine conversion can improve its desirability but not necessarily its value. It certainly won't if you put a lovely expensive conversion into a rust bucket!
- The overall package is more important than just the engine.
I paid top dollar for my VR6 Syncro and have spent almost half its value again in improvements and maintenance.
Cheers
Rob.
You only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough.
1987 2.9 litre VR6 powered Syncro - Westy wannabe.
jimmypatch wrote:I have had a 1.9 tdi conversion and a Subaru twin turbo conversion. The 1.9 tdi cost a fortune and added sweet F.A value.
If it was me I would forget the VW engines and go Subaru.
The tdi only ever gave me 35-40 mpg.
The Subaru accelarates like a hot hatch and still gives me low 20's (sometimes low 10's when I drive it hard, which is always when I come to think about it )
Subaru every day of the week
dont follow your logic there...you recommend the one that gives less than half the MPG.....
why dont you like the tdi? 40mpg for a two tonne brick shaped thing...probably driven hard dont sound bad to me
I did'nt like the TDI because it cost a fortune to put in and another fortune to rebuild the engine. The MPG did not make up for the fact that the gearing was awful (even after a gearbox rebuild with different ratio cogs and an Aircooled final drive) petrol engines Subaru or VW tolerate poorer gearing, but seeing that Subaru engines are newer cleaner, more efficient and more powerful, I would go Subaru
89 caravelle 2.0 twin turbo subaru
87 Merc G wagon 3.0D
95 Audi RS2
04 Honda civic 1.7td
just bought a T25 camper 1.6 diesel con verted to a early passet 1.9 TD engine 17/12/11. the last owner did not have any other info. how do find out what engine it is so i can service it.Just completed a 450 mile trip and it was perfect. i assume the engine number would be used to get this info but how ?. thanks
T4 Karmann Colorado
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