Club 80-90 Forums

Hi All,

At the moment, my '84 T25 can only manage 0-60 in 10 minutes, downhill with a following wind. She has a normally aspirated 1600 diesel engine.

I would like to change to a better diesel engine, not sure whether to go for another 1600, but turbo, or try a 1900 turbo. Any thoughts gratefully received.

Also if I have the lump changed, would I need to upgrade braking systems or gearbox? At present she has a 4-speed box.

Cheers, jill

The cheapest option is just to resign yourself to your fate.
Yes, the n/a diesel is slow, very slow. But if you don't hammer it within an inch of its life every minute it is also very durable and quite reliable.

Putting in a different engine only to find that it isn't in prime health any more and gives you one headache after another is a risk that's always present when you opt for a different engine of unknown origin and new or properly refurbed engines aren't exactly cheap.

You mention in a different post that you aren't too happy with your brakes.
Do you have servo assisted brakes? Because some early n/a diesels came without servos (used to have one). Putting a faster engine into one of those without upgrading the brakes as well would be bordering on suicide.

Thanks peasant.

She used to be a petrol engined gal, I don't think the brakes have servo, but not being a mechanical type I can't tell by looking. I know they don't stop me as quickly as I feel they should, and I'm definitely not a suicide jockey!

I've had her a year, and, as I have just received a reasonable inheritance, would like to treat her, but before I start on paint jobs, I want to get the essentials right, so that I, and any passengers are safe.

I am lucky enough to have a mechanic locally who knows his Wedges, he has just seen her through the MOT, but I would like to discuss the options with others before settling on the upgrade of engine/gearbox/brakes.

Cheers, Jill

Don't get me wrong ...but might you not be better off looking for a different van altogether?

You're not perfectly happy with it as it is ...engine, brakes and roof could all be different.

By the time you're done paying for all those changes AND "do her up", you might as well pool your money into one single upgrade to something that ticks all your boxes.

JILL it sounds to me , as though you need another bus as you also mention in another post that you would like to change your roof theres not going to be much of the old bus left once all this stuffs been changed ,,,, or is she one of those sentimental girls

Hi,
Yes I am a little sentimental about her, she's my first camper. My Father had a Bay, my uncle had both a Splitty and a Bay, so I guess we're aVW family.

I could look for another one, but she's just gone through the MOT without a prob, I have to keep her for this summer at least, as the inheritance won't be available for a few months, so I guess I'll get the brakes done and leave her at that, start looking for a newer one in the autumn.

Cheers, Jill

If you do not mind me asking - what did you do in the end with your engine issue- did you go for a replacement engine?

Muckamore