Club 80-90 Forums

weimarbus wrote:
It's good to hear some more progress on this, after doing the Clee Hills trial last weekend I'm having nagging thoughts about a Holman 2.5 for the buggy, time to look out for a rebuildable DJ though anyway

Clee Hills was always one of my favourites. Likely to be a rebuildable DJ up for sale in mid March A Holman 2.5 in the buggy would be pretty awesome - look out Marfell!!

silverbullet wrote:
PS I fitted the plenum off the Oetti* Pete, it has more paint on it than your one and the all-important bracket for the fuel pressure regulator...

*I have other plans for that

Thanks Ian. It is getting close now my 'ansome.

Yep. I am very keen to see it running well in advance of when actually needed!

If you want to try out the WBX 2.5, we have a few built in Amsterdam.
Several orders on the assembly, we are going into production on a slightly bigger scale now, having sorted out the blueprints.
USA, DE, UK and NL parts, we've got it sorted, totally. What a fabulous engine!. You can test drive it anytime you like.
It drives beautifully.

OK, now you know.... no more dreams, just drives.

Mojoh, Amsterdam.

PS. Just so everyone is clear. This is a total 'plug & play' upgrade. No mods are needed, a few can be nice,
but only for the enthusiasts who likes a bit of bling. We take your average 2.1, 2 x 4 or 4 x 4, revise the engine to our
version of the 2.5wbx and drive away two weeks later without a problem or a thought. Keep it simple, it works.
We will be selling into the UK market in the next few months, we promise.

Looks like I will have to up my game!

PS Although I am just an engineer and part-time enthusiast engine builder, not a full-time pro

Mojoh, perhaps we should compare engine specifications to give people a choice?

Holman "Oettinger tribute" 2500:
2475cc
UK made 98mm 9.7:1 pistons and liners (Accralite/Omega and Westwood)
Crankcase overbored to closer clearances then OEM to reduce hot "chatter" and improve engine rigidity.
DPR USA 82mm modified full counterweight crankshaft.
Custom wbx-specific hydraulic cam by Newman Cams, UK.
NOS 025 con-rods, modified for clearance.
26mm triple o-ring modified oil pump.
AMC heads, blueprinted with modified valves.
Fan-assisted thermostatic oil cooler with remote filter.

All other parts at customer request.

Sure, everyone has a choice.
Before I go into specs, this is a general point.
We are producing in numbers a 'keep it simple' proven 2.5 wbx engine. It's been
on the production line now for 8 years and in very large numbers.
Because I'm a serious engineer like some of you, I went to the US
to check it out before committing. There are many conversions out there in
tiny numbers, but this is NOT our market. We produce in larger numbers,
quickly and efficiently, for the people who want to drive and not dream.
We give our customers a 3 years guarantee!
Turn around in our Amsterdam shop is about 2 to 3 weeks.
Price is around £5,500 give and take. We deliver to the UK, no problem.

This is what you get.

VW WBX 2.1 Engine as Base. Exchange unit. (with a 2.1).

Total Strip back to the bare bones. Naked.
Minor Modifications to the cases.
No strengthening required at all. Standard.
New Crankshaft, with a stoke increase to 84.5mm (balanced)
Bores and Pistons, 96mm, (so more square in configuration than the original)
Warmed Camshaft giving slightly longer overlap & deeper breathing.
AMC Heads or Original VW, Rebuilt standard.
Polished ports, standard format.
No blueprinting required anywhere.
No Fan assisted thermostatics needed,
Standard High Delivery Oil pump.
Everything Reconditioned or Renewed.
Bolt it in, turn the key, done.

And the results. I am NOT going into figures.
These are just tugging material.
You want to know, come and drive it!

Loads of bottom end torque, so compared to it's little 2.1 brother,
this engine has got balls. 1200 rpm upwards, he pulls beautifully.
Being balanced, the engine is smooth and powerful. Power band is reasonably flat,
so no nasty surges on the way up to 5000 rpm.
He is matched with my 4.14 box with 0.74 top gear. 80mph is a tad under 3000rpm.
Loads of flexibility in the engine to move between 65 - 90 mph.
(our speed limits are higher than those in the UK).
Sounds lovely too. Got a lovely deep voice.
Fuel consumption is the same as before, about 1 on 10kms.

Optional Extra's offered.
90A Alternator.
Pretty Valve Covers (? why bother)
44mm British Build SS Exhaust system. (I like this option)
Major Service of the cooling system.
Upgraded Gearbox (as detailed above)
Building in/out services.
3 years guarantee.

Some photo's of our projects

And the last three.

I think we are on the same page. WBX with lots of torque and nothing left to chance, the engine the T3 always needed. Almost the same money too.

Ok, so your engine building room is a little bigger than mine

Thank you! At last some sensible remarks. I know you are the man 'who' knows. Your reputation is over here too! lol.
I'm VERY excited about the new production, owning 6 T3's myself, having a T3 Garage specialising in WBX & Gearboxes.
(no problem, Aidan is a long way away from me) ((pity)). Our plan is to build these in quantity now we've got it sorted.
I've seen SO many conversions, all be it Golf GTi, Audi 5 cylinders, Subaru, Ford V6, Audi V8's etc etc. But they all share
one thing in common, none are original to the T3. Golf GTi engines were never designed to fit in the back of a van anyway,
and as good as they really are, they sound awful. Audi 5 is a long old brute to wedge in, as is the V8 or Ford V6. Subaru,
I just won't go there!... it's ridiculous to carve up almost all your van for a second hand Jap Engine. Why? If it breaks down when you are actually
driving your bus, chances are you will be trailered home. It's a nightmare unless you are a serious technician.
And then there is value to consider. The T3/T25 is on the up, seriously. Look at the values in the USA. Sky High.
Why? the T3 is a great bus in all sorts of exciting formats. Put the right gear in it and it will go up in value all the time.
mess around with it, wrong engine, wrong gearbox, wrong anything, it's just a toy with a big question mark.

We will be looking further into the WBX development, but for the time being, I/we are happy with the results.
Rock Solid, super reliable and sensible. Next stop, Fuel Injection. We are partnering up with a company who
are going to make a kit to convert our old Digifant into a total digital system. More on that later this spring.

I'm gonna sign off now. I will leave you with this.
I'm a serious crazy English Engineer (ask Aidan) living and
working in Amsterdam. I LOVE the T3's. We build great engines and even better gearboxes thanks to an
exceptional training in the UK. We've got a lot of 'serious' Sycro's over here too and the 2.5 engine goes
in a treat! I will build Special T3 Engines and Gearboxes until I drop dead! Beware. lol

Off to drive my 2.5!... as I always say, Don't Dream.... Drive.
Dream and Drive Amsterdam

Off for a Sunday Drive!

Thank you too! Do I see a cheeky wbx-6 badge there...?

you can buy those cheeky stickers in Germany. They read WBX-2.1i, but we are going to have some new ones made, WBX-2.5i (just for fun!).
I'm off now, See you.