Aircooled 3.6 Porsche conversions

[Fastbus]

Although proberly the most expensive of alternative conversions, the 3.6 porsche motor has enough power to take on anything.
In stock form the early 3.6 puts out over 250 bhp which is enough for most people.
For those rev heads like me, the 3.6 engine is proberly the most tuneable engine porsche have built. So as long as you don't mind putting you hand deep in to your pocket you can make this monster motor in to a demon.

Some of you know that over the last couple of years i have built a bus that was running a 993 spec 3.6 with 964 engine management. This was mated to a stock 2.0 box for convenience and cost.
Well the gearbox turned out to be inadequate ( i was warned!) for reliabilty but easy for quick changing.
I drag raced the van at many events this season and had a lot of fun but the gearbox was always an issue (especially when i used the Nitrous )

Well a couple of weeks back i decided to sell me old bus (which i do miss alot) as my money situation was looking a bit on the grim side.
Anyway, out with the old and in with the new as they say. I have started to build a new van which is a Crew cab with bigger 3.8 RS spec Porsche power (360bhp + nitrous) and a Porsche G50 gearbox this time.

If any one has any question on installing an Aircooled 3.6 porsche motor, please don't hesitate to post as i will be of as much help as possible.

Speak soon.
Paul G aka Fastbus.

[t25adict]

hi any idears on getting that kind of power from a 3.2 oettinger?
think we have chatted before..
i may have to chat to you about boxes as what to mate the oettinger to is rather undecided... im just colecting bits at the moment.
its quite posible the engine may end up being run on an aftermarket managment system, rather than the oettinger/vw setup..

[Fastbus]

What happened to the transmission from the bus you claimed the engine from? Was it an oettinger trans or just stock item?
See if he still has it.
You should be able to run your oettinger clutch and flywheel through a 915 trans. You will have a fairly big job fitting the box
ie body modifications, drive shaft adapters, altering brake line and various pipes. So if you can get the oettinger trans your job will be alot more simpler.
The later 964 G50 style transmission that i am using was designed with the dual mass flywheel which is longer in the bell housing area.
you may be able to use a 915 bell housing if you can change the input shaft also? I will look in to this.
Hope this helps.

[t25adict]

im not sure if he has it or not... it was one of a few that were built with an oettinger/vw manual box rather than an auto as most were.. (the auto could take more in the first place..
may end up on a 2.1 box fot the moment but will see about that when i get to it..
is a 915box ok mounting wise onto the wassaboxa mounting points? as want to run a box that wont require an adaptor plate realy..
as to drive shaft adaptors ect thats not to much problem, can do them..

[Fastbus]

Your oettinger engine case has the same dimensions at the transmission end as the standard wbx motor. Porsche flat 6 Aircooled motors use the same diamension as the VW 2.0 type 4 Aircooled and wbx at the transmission point. You will need to source a clutch and possibly a spigot bearing that mates up the wbx to 915 transmission. Fitting the 915 trans is a fairly big job, unless you have the skill to fabricate which will save you some dollar.

Hope this helps

[Pickles]

Have you considered a 996 engine will it fit to a g50 box or do you have to use a 996 box

[Fastbus]

The trouble with the 996 motor is you need to use all the electrical loom from the car for it to run. Everthing including ignition key and all the gubbins. This gets very complicated and even more expensive. Also 996 motors are less tuneable than the 964 or the 993 3.6, unless you can afford the GT3 or a Turbo engines.
996 3.4 engine case is very similar to the 964/993 3.6 case. I personally haven't tried this but i will find out if this is possible.

If your prepared to spend alot more of your money, the 996 motor may be an option.
Personally i think the Aircooled 964/993 3.6 motor is more affordable and you can make these quicker of less of your hard earned cash!
And boy do they go

[Pickles]

I may be getting old as I like my heater
I remember driving my beetle and freezing in winter scraping ice of the inside of the windscreen.
What do you do for heating in a watercooled van with Aircooled engine
Do you use eberspasher or propex
I would want to run the engine on lpg

[Fastbus]

I may be getting old as I like my heater
I remember driving my beetle and freezing in winter scraping ice of the inside of the windscreen.
What do you do for heating in a watercooled van with Aircooled engine
Do you use eberspasher or propex
I would want to run the engine on lpg

Well i didn't have heating in my 3.6 bus, but, as it was an Aircooled bus orginally there was a better chance of rigging up the porsche heat exchangers to the Aircooled bus system.
All that is needed is to make a couple of reduced straight connectors that will connect to the porsche exchangers via the heater transfer pods.
As i only used the bus in the summer it wasn't a problem for me.
If you have a later watercooled van, this will make it a more difficult job to overcome.
As for lpg conversions, you best need to speak to Steve Shaw as he will proberly answer that question for you.

Fastbus.

[PEET]

On a water cooled bus what would be a nice straight forwrd water cooled porsche lump n box to fit?? Then nex question is what would you be looking at costwise to acquire said lump n gearbox? Obviously i'd like to begin with a nice hefty brake conversion, vans lowered already, jus thinking bout it long term n wanted ideas of costs, supplier, tuner etc. Then whats the insurance look like?

[Fastbus]

On a water cooled bus what would be a nice straight forwrd water cooled porsche lump n box to fit?? Then nex question is what would you be looking at costwise to acquire said lump n gearbox? Obviously i'd like to begin with a nice hefty brake conversion, vans lowered already, jus thinking bout it long term n wanted ideas of costs, supplier, tuner etc. Then whats the insurance look like?

Well then, your watercooled Porsche engine's are a lot more complicated than the Aircooled units to install. First problem is that the electriconics are going to need a specialist to work out. You will need a complete wiring loom for the installation were the Aircooled motor will run on with just the engine loom. Aircooled motors were in use up until 1997 and are a far better option. You will need to modify your heating system as well but that will be far easier and cheaper than a full electronics conversion with the 996 motor. Also the early 3.4 996 motors not the most robust of engines where the 3.6 Aircooled unit is a far stronger engine which is a lot easier to tune. But remember, Porsche's are not cheap so tread with care when it comes to finding your engine and transmission. Best route is from experience and thats what i have.
Cost for untested 996 engine £3000 up
Rebuild costs £5000 up pending condition
Cost for untested 964/993 engine £2000 up
Rebuild cost £5000 up pending condition

These are ball part figures and will vary from supplier to supplier.
Hope this helps.