Club 80-90 Forums

My appologies, I really did think you were being sarcastic!
The WBX the greatest engine VW built, er...

Don't get me wrong, they are alright like, but theres much much better engines than those, and in the grand scheme of things in VW engine reliablity stakes great is not a word I would associate with them.
yes, a great leap forward from Aircooled, so in that regard they aren't the worst engine they built.
VR6 was far superior in everyway except insurance and fuel economy I think you omitted from that last post also.

I know, I know, I just love the flat four, it probably is'nt right, but I do think they suit the character of the T3 syncro. It is,nt a perfect engine in those terms, but what else is perfect about the T3, not the aerodynamics, wind noise, euro n cap crash protection, cross wind stability, so to me a funny old flat four suits them down to the ground. Can you see where I am coming from??

I do agree that a more modern diesel is a fantastic engine, but without sorting out all the other foibles of the T3, I am happy to leave her as she was intended, with a lovely flat four.

[IMG]http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa28 ... 010464.jpg[/img]

You see to me the above is a thing of beauty, but I am obviously in the minority, of a minority group.

You're points make sense to me.

Had nothing but bad luck with my past diesels & turbos, shall be keeping as God intended!

You can have bad luck with anything, it depends on it's previous life.
It's just, to me, the 1.6TD is the best engine out of a poor selection, plus it's an easier base to start from to move to better things (AAZ and TDI)
But, same there, there are good ones and bad ones, it depends where the donor engine came from and how that was treated, and more to the point as I keep saying, it's who did the conversion work.

I have seen lots of engine conversion, majority very poor to be honest, but I have a critical eye and being around VW's for years I just take it for granted that if I do something one way, I just seem to think others would do too, but that comes from product knowledge of contemporary VW's and knowing which bits to rob off what cars to get a good install.

I could go on about the 2.3 Audi conversion we just inspected for the owner that had a home made bell housing or the TDI that had the airbox on the back bumper....

syncro4wd wrote:Hi Russel,

I have a mTDI syncro and a 2,1 petrol, both 16" The TDI is far more superiuer in pulling trailers and offroad, a real workhorse. The 2,1 is better onroad , doesnt make that much noise and is really smooth, the family is happy with the low noise!
The TDI is correctly installed with rebuild gearbox and is done by a well known person in the syncro world.

See, to me the flat four engine was designed by someone with passion, and a commitment to his own design philosophy, and whilst more modern engines are technologically superior I like the thought that my engine has 70 + years of heritage behind it. It is not about outright performance, but that unknown quantity of satisfaction. I find the engine very smooth and quiet, with a great exhaust note, and the fact that it has heritage, and is such a true piece of VW automotive history. Whilst a modern engine is " better" it does not give me the satisfaction of the flat-four.
Now had I been going to the off road weekend and playing serious in the mud, then either a big diesel or a torque converter would have been sensible, but my syncro stays in 2wd just about all the time, which is fine for how I use it.
I think that as the majority of 80-90 ers will have the flat 4 it is disrespectful to continually diss the flat four. As i have said many times, if i were to wish for a diesel then I would go for at least a 6 cylinder like an Audi v6 A6 quattro avant, where all the technology matches, or the series BMW Diesel's capable of 150mph. That is a diesel. Or the bernd jaegar V6 conversion, but at 12000 euros it is just silly.

I've owned a 2.1 Syncro,
and driven a 1.6 jx Syncro, both standard "from Factory"

the 2.1 was hands down more fun and pleasure also sounded betterer, both on and off road

However, having driven Pete Morrils suburu Petrol and Andy simpsons Derv, (both modern, not sure what code on either )they both have more guts and "waterproofness" off road if done properly........

So, Stock, 2.1 everyday, "modern" whatever floats ya boat