Club 80-90 Forums

Hello all,

I'm looking for some advice before I take the plunge and order myself a recon engine for my 1982 DF engined van.

I understand I can get one from one of three places,

Vege
The Engine Shop
Elite (Although I've read many bad things!)

So my question is can I upgrade to a DG engine without any major issues. The reason I ask is I think whilst I'm changing the engine out, I may as well benefit from an increase in power. I understand I'll need a carb from a DG but are most other things compatible?

Has anybody got any recommendations as to which is likely to be the best supplier, I am swinging towards Vege at the moment, but some recent first hand experience will be very useful.

After doing some reading and posting on the brickyard I suspect I may be better off just getting a recon DF coded engine and swap my current parts over.

Thank you, Greg.

myself i would not re fit a wbx motor i would a more modern engine but if your minds made up i would not use any of the above as they all seem to have a bad reputation theres only one place for a rebuilt wbx motor and thats from marco mancini

Bit of a sweeping statement that faggie re.. the reputations, That's your personal opinion of course.
As I see it, the thing is, you could fit a DJ 2.1 engine in.. or even a subaru, but it all depends on money and time.
So how much have you got

Personally I would elect a DJ engine from elite, as it's relatively simpler/cheaper by keeping it VW flat four...as everything is there.
for me the biggest hurdle is the cooling system, being an early type.. but my mate got around it.
I think also your gearbox would need to be changed too...to handle the extra power

good luck

Thanks for the advice so far.

I'm wanting to keep a wbx in there. I like to keep my vehicles original, and I just love the sound of the engine chugging away.

I could be tempted by a 2.1 but I'd prefer something I can pop in without too much hassle.

I've checked out Marco Mancini, looks like he does a proper job. I wish I bought one of his engines when I saw his sale thread a while ago, but I didn't need one at the time!

Thanks guys.

gregsargent wrote:Thanks for the advice so far.

I'm wanting to keep a wbx in there. I like to keep my vehicles original, and I just love the sound of the engine chugging away.

I could be tempted by a 2.1 but I'd prefer something I can pop in without too much hassle.

I've checked out Marco Mancini, looks like he does a proper job. I wish I bought one of his engines when I saw his sale thread a while ago, but I didn't need one at the time!

Thanks guys.

No different fitting a 2.1 WBx than fitting a DG , identical issues! Just your carb and manifold and the odd waterpe that goes accross your engine with the carb heater switch in it to change . Ohhhhhhhh and the clutch ( assuming you wouldn't fit a second hand clutch anyway that going to be the same anyway)

The zorst and all the other water pipes are a straight swap over

the gearbox would not need to be changed for the slight increase in power a good condition box can handle alot more than what your asking of it , i would pay the extra and deal with marco he does not churn these engines out like the bigger companies his reputation is second to none what he does not know about these engines is not worth knowing ,

60 bhp to 112 bhp is not what I would consider "slight"

the ratios would be better changed, to match the extra power I would have thought

Whats the matter with the DF?

it is slight to me kev

faggie wrote:it is slight to me kev

what engine and box are you running and at what bhp? and pics please

mark