Club 80-90 Forums

So I have just bought an 87 Vanagon GL Multivan to add to my 81 Aircooled panel van. It runs pretty well, has minimal rust as it's a US import via Lithuania (still on LT plates). Now the chap I bought it from (a Lebanese dentist with a Lithuanian wife living near Aberystwyth - what a wonderfully cosmopolitan world we live in!) assured me that it's a 2.1 but that the standard problem with 'wrong anti-freeze' had occured, necessitating a new set of cases. A used set of DG stamped (1.9) cases were sourced, and the 2.1 engine rebuilt around these, so effectively I have all the internals of a 2.1 in 1.9 cases.

Is this plausible?

What makes me wonder is since the stroke of the 2.1 is 7mm longer than thatof the 1.9, would the rods not clout the cases unless the cases were machined out? I have a leaky exhaust and it looks like I may have to repair or replace some parts soonish, and I am keen not to order the wrong bits.

All informed commentary most welcome!

trotsky1116 wrote: Is this plausible?

Yep, DG & DJ etc etc cases are the same ... crank, cams, pistons & liners etc etc differ IIRC wbxer case halves don't.

Ian

The basic difference between a 1.9 and 2.1 is the crank and the pistons.. longer stroke crank and 3mm different pin height on the pistons.. (yes there are a few other miinor differences, but I wont go into them)
So yes.. a DG case can be made into a 2.1 MV/DJ/SS.. BUT.. the case must have a "B" at the end of the partnumber on the side of the sump.. if it doesnt have a "B" then its harder to make the 2.1 crank fit as the case needs clearancing..

The only way to identify (othe than an experienced "seat of the pants" drive and not taking it apart) is to measure the stroke...

But.. it would be easy to drop a DG 1.9 into place.. does he have any kind of reciept for the engine??

@ Ian Hulley thanks for the advice my friend!

@ toomanytoys , ditto, and thanks for the explanation. The 'crank clearancing thimg' was what made me a little suspiscious in the first place, based on 30 years of tinkering with motorcycles! Is there a major difference between the MV/DJ/SS engine codes?

I've no paperwork for the work done in Lithuania, although they did usefully put an LPG set-up on her whilst they were there, protect the lower six inches of her with stonechip paint , fit mud & snow tyres and raise the rear suspension about 2"

Engine technical data

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/VehicleSpec ... engine.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As in the specs pages (Cheers Bob)
Compression ratio and type of fuel injection (Digijet/Digifant) are the differences on the 2.1's DJ is the "full fat" high compression engine, MV is a "semi skimmed" lower compression (for cheaper fuels) and emission controled engine for most of world, SS is a swiss even more emission controled version as far as i can tell ( I've never seen one)

Stroke will tell you if its 2.1, only way to tell what pistons is in there is to have a head off.. and measure the piston dish volume

Thanks again guys, my one was originally supplied to the USA in late 87, so I guess it's probably an MV? No cat on it though, but it coukd have lost that in later life.

I guess that the way to tell is that if it is Digifant it is an MV, Digijet it is a DJ? So how do I tell these apart?

It looks just like this, so have I got a Wolfsburg Edition?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vanagon_wolfsburg.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

here's mine:

Digifant it is an MV, Digijet it is a DJ? So how do I tell these apart?

MV has lamda probe in exhaust, I dont think digijet was available in the US.

Thanks BOB, that makes sense, mine has a lambda probe, so it looks like an MV