A toyota 3C TE in a 81 vanagon

[T3TE]

Hey guys... I am a newbie here, just bought an old 81 vanagon without an engine...

I cannot have any vw engine in my country as there are none available, I am thinking of installing a 3C-TE from a Toyota Lucida Estima, it produces 128BHP. Has anyone done this? The engine is very suitable as it lies on its side nothing needs to be cut!

Your input is appreciated!

[toomanytoys]

Please fill out your location in the profile as we will know where in the world you are

IIRC they have been fitting some toyota engines in them in South Africa... there are none here in the UK and if it hasnt been done you will need a good engineering shop to make an adapter plate...

Then there are things like gearbox upgrades to think about as none of the original engines produce as much torque, you also have to consider the gearing required too... Its an awfull lot of work to do...

[Russel]

The toyota engine you are talking about wont fit. The VW engine bay is not wide enough.
The toyota engines fitted in SA are the upright ones and use a custom cast bellhousing made by 2 different companeys.
Cant remember the engine moddle right now.
Russel

[T3TE]

Thanks for the reply. The engine I am talking about lies on its side.. and it fits like it belongs there!

A friend of mine here has a syncro with the same engine and it has no issues what so ever!!

[shepster]

Thanks for the reply. The engine I am talking about lies on its side.. and it fits like it belongs there!

A friend of mine here has a syncro with the same engine and it has no issues what so ever!!

Ask him then!

[Russel]

As said above ask your friend then.
If he has one he will have all your awnsers.

I know of 2 people who attempted this conversion in SA as it is a logical engine because of being tilted so far over. But that is also its down side.
Bothe party's gave up as there were to many complications making it not worth the hassle.
Russel

[T3TE]

He snot a techinicla person so he doesnt knw much. But Im gna get it done by the same mechanic...

He plans to cut the bell housing of the vw and cut 3c-t3 bell housing as well.. And weld them together so that no adapter plate is required!

[toomanytoys]

OK, so you have a mechanic that can do it and you have a friend that has it done... you need to see them...

We would like to see some work in progress pictures though...

So how many T25's are out there?? and how did they get there???

[T3TE]

kewl I will post pix once work starts on it!! Engine is coming in tomorrow!

Yeha not a lot but one gets to see one in once in a whuile!

Most of them are either ambulances or other basic models which were imported by various govt. departments. Were used for as long as they cud and then auctioned off when there were almost scrap.

Mine has the same history!

[T3TE]

Hey ppl...The YOTA lump is now in and runs absolutely fine!

I am attaching some pictures of the engine bay and the rest of the car. I'm sure most of you wont like it as it looks like crap at the moment but the car has a clean body with no rust and most of the things are there which I have taken off.

I already replaced all the susp. bushes, brake master cylinder kit, wheel cylinder washers, brake caliper rings, rotors, pads, linings, clutch hydraulic washers, clutch disc, pressure pate, bearing and some other petty stuff.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26223372@N06/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Let me know what you guys things of the conversion.

Cheers!

[asahartz]

That looks like a good conversion - do you have any pics of the bellhousing joins under the car?

It's a great engine which will run & run; we have one in a Previa (our third Previa). You probably know that they only have one known weakness, which is cylinder heads cracking (they don't like overheating); make sure the radiator & pipes are in good condition and you should be OK.

I had a spare Previa engine when I broke my last Previa; unfortunately that was before I had the camper or I would have thought seriously about it myself. I bet it makes that VW shift along quite rapidly!

[Aidan]

be interesting to see more of the engine
the doka on the slideshow is marsala red I think LH3D is vw code

[T3TE]

That looks like a good conversion - do you have any pics of the bellhousing joins under the car?

It's a great engine which will run & run; we have one in a Previa (our third Previa). You probably know that they only have one known weakness, which is cylinder heads cracking (they don't like overheating); make sure the radiator & pipes are in good condition and you should be OK.

I had a spare Previa engine when I broke my last Previa; unfortunately that was before I had the camper or I would have thought seriously about it myself. I bet it makes that VW shift along quite rapidly!

Thanks man! This is like the 4th conversion here, this engine sits perfectly in the bay and looks like it belongs there! There are quite common here but people dont use these for other normal cars cuz of them lying on the side so they are left alone for people like myself and therefore are pretty cheap as compared to the upright 3C. I also have a friend who has the same engine in a syncro but thats without the electronics.

Nopes I didnt know about the head cracking! I will be careful with that but sourcing a head is easy and thats one of the reason I went for this Toyota engine because vw parts are non existent in this country whereas Toyota bits are in abundance.

The vehicle is pretty rapid i test drove it for like 150 kms; I will upload a video once I have the turbo, intercooler and exhaust connected along with more pictures of the conversion. But the gear box is a close ratio one since it was originally a 1.6D so have top speed issues so I plan to order new 3rd and 4th gears.

There is an adapter plate between the engine and the tranny which was made by a local machinist.

be interesting to see more of the engine
the doka on the slideshow is marsala red I think LH3D is vw code

Thanks man for the color code.

[T3TE]

Okay so my project is done now and I am really happy with the 3C-TE toyota motor.

Let me know if any of you wants to install this motor and have any queries. I'd be more than happy to help!

Cheers!

[nevill3]

Just taken a look at the finished project, I would love to have mine looking half as good.....great job and happy v-dubbing