Club 80-90 Forums

Hi- I have a 1981 T25 with a 2.0l Aircooled CU petrol engine. Said engine is knackered and needs replacing. Is there any alternative engines that work or am I looking at paying £3k for a reconditioned CU? Any advice gratefully received!

Hello,

Can you define 'knackered'...

As long as the crankcase is intact..the engine can be rebuilt..

Here is part 1 of a series of videos rebuilding the top end.


There are engine rebuilders to do this..or if you can stand the freight charges.. you could send it to me..

Air-Cooled Bliss
 

My local VW specialist says its not worth rebuilding- I'm replacing it for sure. I just want to know if there's any Golf/Suburu etc engines that work to replace this type of engine

Well yes, what kind of thing are you looking for?

theres going to be a whole lot of work adapting a water-cooled motor into your van,
more sensible to keep to what you have basically.

Unless you know someone who wants to do a conversion and has the experience,
but then you wouldnt be asking, so thats doubtful.

Its also worth thinking about the usefulness of its 40 year old status,
which may only attain the keys to the city if its fairly original motor wise.
 

Its already registered historic. Also its lpg/petrol. Dunno how much that complicates things

If you change to an entirely different power plant you'll lose tax & mot exempt status.
Not sure why your mechanic would say it's not worth rebuilding. Unless it has a conrod through the side or spun a main bearing it's certainly rebuildable, and cheaper to do than a conversion!

Sent from my moto g(30) using Tapatalk

2 friends of mine have converted air cooled to water cooled, one a Subaru and the other a Golf GTi so it's doable, cost and ability is the issue.

Lots of info out there so just spend time reading up on your options.

I would guarantee rebuilding the Aircooled will be far cheaper though.

I have rebuilt my CU engine for no more than €1000 including upgraded pistons and rings, new valves and seats etc..

If you are anyway mechanically inclined these are not hard to rebuild.

Plenty of great info on here and online


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Exactly.

One of the reasons why I've an Aircooled

 
why would you loose mot exempt status for fitting a more efficient and probably better emissions engine?

 

t25adict wrote: ↑27 Oct 2022, 09:06  
why would you loose mot exempt status for fitting a more efficient and probably better emissions engine?

Good question as both the people I know are under the impression it will still stand, I assume it's under the 'not modified' section of the rules?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... n-criteria

"Engine
Alternative cubic capacities of the same basic engine and alternative original equipment engines are not considered to be a substantial change."

 

tobydog wrote: ↑27 Oct 2022, 15:06 https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... n-criteria

"Engine
Alternative cubic capacities of the same basic engine and alternative original equipment engines are not considered to be a substantial change."

 

So a flat 4 scooby or an inline 4 Golf engine is not considered a 'substantial change ' then?

Hopefully so for my 2 mates.

Sorry, but, no?

I'd read it as only engines originally fitted by the manufacturer (VW). I reckon that would definitely rule out a scooby, did VW ever fit inline Golf engines to T25/3's?

tobydog wrote: ↑27 Oct 2022, 21:17 Sorry, but, no?

I'd read it as only engines originally fitted by the manufacturer (VW). I reckon that would definitely rule out a scooby, did VW ever fit inline Golf engines to T25/3's?

Golf Diesel yes, Petrol no.