Aircooled vs watercooled engine

[xpress]

hi there I was just wondering if any one could list the pros and cons of each engine and has anyone put an Aircooled in a watercooled van? thanks.

[ermie571]

Mate,

this has been done to death.....and yes, there have been aircooleds in a watercooled....but from what I have read its a different gearbox AND linkage. Clutch MAY be cable, so you have to play with the bell housings on the gearbox.

Power right down....and a whole host of other worries. Heating....say goodbye to you internal heater - need damn good heat exchangers ....at about £150 a side. Need cooling flaps and thermostats....not easily obtainable. Knowing whether the bugger is overheating....and the issue of two carbs to balance and maintain. Good engines becoming hard to locate, costs of heads ££££££ and they come from Brazil (pooh).....and try changing the spark plugs under all the tinware!!!

But, if you have a dead watercooled, and a running Aircooled sat doing nothing with exhaust, gearbox and linkage...well....its an option.

Loved my Aircooled....but mainly because of its heritage....not because of its power, cruising ability, heating etc etc....been thoroughly spoilt with the old water cooled.....doesn't mean I wouldn't go back if I could afford another.

Em
xx

[kevtherev]

hi there I was just wondering if any one could list the pros and cons of each engine and has anyone put an Aircooled in a watercooled van? thanks.

CT 1,6l 4-cyl. Flat4 air-cooled 79 to 82 37Kw / 50bhp.

CU 2,0l 4-cyl. Flat4 air-cooled 79 to 82 51Kw / 70bhp.

DG 1,9l 4-cyl. Flat4 water-cooled from 82on 57Kw / 78bhp

MV 2,1l 4-cyl. Flat4 water-cooled with injection and cat from 85on 70kw / 95bhp or 89bhp with auto-box.

DJ 2,1l 4-cyl. Flat4 water-cooled with injection (and retro carb fitting) from 85on 82kw / 112bhp.

It's all about power, comfort, reliability and availability of spares for me.
The water cooled engines win win every time. The only thing they lack is VW kudos, but an Aircooled in a T25 has less than a bay imy opinion.

If you want to go back into the prehistoric period then be prepared to dig VERY DEEP into your savings... I would have thought it was easier to BUY an Aircooled van

[xpress]

thanks for the info. i guess i was interested because i like 2 stroke mopeds and wondered about the aircooleds for tuning and tweaking etc!

[kevtherev]

VW Aircooled engines aren't two strokes mate

but you can tune and tweak them... just like water cooled four strokes

same engines ...just added water.

[xpress]

i love the flat four. any probs with the head bolts on aircooleds?

[kevtherev]

Nope

[xpress]

oh well, the watercooleds live long so: long live the flat four!

[billybigspud]

hi there I was just wondering if any one could list the pros and cons of each engine and has anyone put an Aircooled in a watercooled van? thanks.

CT 1,6l 4-cyl. Flat4 air-cooled 79 to 82 37Kw / 50bhp.

CU 2,0l 4-cyl. Flat4 air-cooled 79 to 82 51Kw / 70bhp.

my CU 2,0l 4-cyl. Flat4 air-cooled 79 to 82 51Kw / 7bhp.

DG 1,9l 4-cyl. Flat4 water-cooled from 82on 57Kw / 78bhp

MV 2,1l 4-cyl. Flat4 water-cooled with injection and cat from 85on 70kw / 95bhp or 89bhp with auto-box.

DJ 2,1l 4-cyl. Flat4 water-cooled with injection (and retro carb fitting) from 85on 82kw / 112bhp.

[xpress]

what's it like billy?

[billybigspud]

ran like a bag of poo til i took it to a pro and now it is great. have not driven it in the winter so dont know about the lack of heating but it trundles along great. haven't driven a w/c ( thats water cooled not toilet )
so cant compare but now i am over the initial learning your engine period and i trust it i really like it. like said by em, the heritage thing is also there as well which is nice.