Club 80-90 Forums

Hi Guys,

I have a 1990 T25 Caravelle with a piddly little 1.6 Seat Diesel engine in the back, and to be honest, it's not great

I'm in the process of fitting the van out at the moment with the usual stuff - rock n roll bed, water tank, cooker etc etc, and naturally, the overall weight will be increasing quite a bit, so i need an engine that will provide more power/torque than I have right now, particularly as I'm planning lots of trips to the coast inclusive of some pretty steep inclines.

I'd really like a Subaru 2.2 Legacy engine, but dont feel it will be cost effective on the fuel side of things, so keeping things sensible, I'm thinking of a VW engine.

I suppose the simple question is, which is best? And if somebody could suggest somewhere failry close to Birmingham that could supply/fit, that would be really helpful

Mark

they cost alot to fit etc but i did all mine myself, and i get 30mpg compared to the 20 sih on a vw, but as you have a vw derv why not go for a aaz??? or if you want petrol what about gti??

30 mpg, really! Thats not bad at all.

As I mentioned before, I'd really like a Subaru engine, and I'm even more tempted now.

I imagine the gear box and brakes will have to be upgraded too?

my brakes are standard ,as is my 4 speed gearbox!!! Dunno why but you say subaru and people think your gonna drive at 100mph+ i drive it at the same speed as alot of others in there vans at 65!

Bloody good point.

I'm not interested in driving everywhere as fast as I can. I'm quite happy taking it steady and knowing I have a good engine thats gonna perform when needs be.

How do you get on going up fairly steep inclines with your van?

I'm only asking as I go to Wales quite a lot, and theres quite a few challenging climbs for a fully loaded T25.

We had no problems climbing mountains in Switzerland this year in ours. 135bhp 35mpg on a run. As James said they can go 100mph quite easily but its a bus and should really be driven as such. Helps with overtaking aswell.

The summer after i had fitted my engine i went back to the same campsite in Newquay i had been to the previuose year and theres a steep steep hill near it with the old engine i was screaming up in 1st with the scooby lump i was able to do it in 3rd only right near the top (last 5 metres) did i have to change to 2nd!!!!

I can think of one very steep climb in Newquay. Its the one coming out of town which comes out near enough opposite to Tregunnel Hill. If I could get up that hill in my van, then I think I could conquer the world

Anyway, I reckon I'll definately be getting a Scooby fitted in the not to distant future.

Many thanks for all the info peeps

The average figure my customers come up with for EJ20 or EJ22 powered 2WD T25's is 30mpg on a long journey, and this includes one guy with a fully loaded Westfalia Atlantic with surfboards on the roof, who averaged 30 over a long trip around Europe. My EJ25 powered Syncro does about 23 around town, and 26 on a long run.

Done that Newquay hill and many others this week in Cornwall. Mines a 2.2 1993 Legacy engine in a 1982 ex 1600 Diesel Danbury. Done all the hills this week in the mud and wet. Weather was crap.
Highly recomended upgrade is a Subaru.
Cheers,Mark.

RJES wrote:The average figure my customers come up with for EJ20 or EJ22 powered 2WD T25's is 30mpg on a long journey, and this includes one guy with a fully loaded Westfalia Atlantic with surfboards on the roof, who averaged 30 over a long trip around Europe. My EJ25 powered Syncro does about 23 around town, and 26 on a long run.

Just to clarify there Jaymo, the EJ25 Richard refers to is the 2.5 litre version of the Subaru flat four, and his is even a special version of that, a VVT 2.5 and fitted in his Syncro 4WD hence 26 mpg (but a lovely conversion, oodles of easy torque). Even in the cars, thsoe 2.5s will use it the minute you press that throttle pedal - ask Andy SyncroAndy

I would assume 30/32 is about the best you'd get from a 2.2 and about 25 on short journeys or twisty roads. Definitely better than a 2.1 WBX. But use it's power and you'll be back down to 20/22 or so.

An AAZ diesel won't get you much better than a Subaru 2.2 (25 AT/32 LR) unless it has all the bells and whistles, the only other option is a Tdi diesel that can get you 35 mpg reliably with the right gearing, and sometimes more on a long run in summer.

been think about a engine conversion to, possiable subrau

prob go for a 2.0 though

not sure if it would be much better on MPG than a 2.2

jus want some thing with a bit of power to get a up a hill

If you drive a subaru sensibly it will do well on fuel. If you boot it about it wont. We got 30 on a run to and around cornwall in our 2.2 subaru.

Oh yea, cornwall has some challenging hills man! The Subaru breezed em.

The cheapest option available is an AAZ,but it s getting hard to find a low mileage one,you will need a different lh engine mounting if it comes out of a golf,both if it is passat or audi,the exhaust downpipe will need modding,but is a good conversion.there are a few other mods needed as well

Tdi is complex with wiring,needs same as above but the gearing is all wrong without a modded gear box.there are a few other mods needed as well


Scooby is expensive but worth every penny in my opinion,2.2 s are the best,but low mileage ones are thin on the ground,lower milage 2.0s are more plentiful but less bhp.

pm me if I can help